+ 1819 Sept. 30

Parl. Reform Bill

§.3. Eligible who

Art. 3 Certifiers six-twelve

True it is that, in favour of the number of twelve, here proposed for the maximum, no very decisive reason applies to the exclusion of any other particular number. But by its accidental associations with Jury trial twelve is a number naturally recommended to the favour of all friends to the universal interest: and in so far as Reason is silent Imagination may be allowed to speak. The unanimous suffrage of twelve distinguished persons for in ordinary cases where there is any chance of success, such of course they will be – presents the idea of a sort of antecedent trial of appropriate aptitude.

II. Avoidance of inconvenience in the shape of delay vexation and expence.

In §.6 Provision is made for composing for circulation out of the several particular Recommendation Certificates delivered in favour of the several proposed Members, the General Recommendation Certificate paper of the District, to be posted up in placard and circulated in Newspapers. Let on the one hand the Certificates, on the signatures to each be conceived to be to a certain degree numerous, placards and corresponding articles in Newspapers will be seen to be swelled to an impracticable length.