*** romarks made upon the last Bill, which are equally applicable to the present.

But in reading this Third Section, with the Schedules A and B attached to it, we observe a great superiority over the corresponding one in the former Bill; a subject for praise, which greatly removes the cause of blame, a measure which, by displaying the attention, care, and conciliatory disposition of the administration, creates an unwonted degree of confidence. Nor can we roltam from expressing gratitude to Munsters for the compensation so genetously, silently, and unobtrusively afforded for the partial disiranchisement of four fourishing

Vi candid perseus who lock to the welfare of the county at large, must admire those who coscas a duit, and gradiv embrace an Or

their respective shires, are, by a most wise Sect. 3. and just provision, permitted again to exercise the elective franchise for a member for two other counties, Clackmannan and Kinross.

Now this is as it ought to be. The deficiency of one part is balanced by the superfluity of another. The injury inflicted upon some is redressed by benefits conferred upon others. What liberal man can object to this? Yet some discontented individuals may be disposed to cavil, to accuse Government of "in"advertence" and even of partiality, 66 ' to "receive all such concessions with reproaches," and, for odious purposes, to institute inquiries into the circumstances attending the late elections. They may be inclined to ask whether the inhabitants of the favored district were strenuous supporters of the unsuccessful candidate for the county of Perth, or evinced a desire to be represented by the ministerial member for the joint counties of Clackmannan, and Kinross, and thence to hint at a cause for such a peculiar and pre-eminent distinction.

From such persons every unbiassed man ought to stand apart, and without inquiring into the merits of the case, openly to acknowledge the generosity of Ministers, who a few nights since conceded to themselves another Whig member for the borough of Saltash, and who now pursue the same fair and conciliatory course. Surely the disfranchised counties of

Sect. 3. Scotland will join with every one who perceives the justice of this proceeding, in extolling so wise, so generous, and so impartial

a measure.

Sect. 4.

SECTION IV.

This Section, and the Schedules therein referred to, enumerate the several Burghs and Towns which are to return Members after the passing of the Act.

Sect. 5.

SECTION V.

This Section is so far an improvement upon the former Bill, that it places the rights of those who, before the 1st of March, 1831, were infeft in lands conferring the necessary qualification, upon the same footing with those who were actually enrolled at that time. Thus, whereas the last Bill wrested such property from the possessor, and deprived such claimant of his right, the present Bill merely drowns him, along with the old electors, in a torrent of new voters; it reduces a freehold to a life interest; it renders that for which he gave from 400l. to 2,000/. now of no comparative value, and holds up the phantom of justice, while it destroys the substance.

SECTION VI.

This Section also is certainly much amended by four months revision; but still it is rather curious to observe what will be the effect of a passage in this well considered and revised Bill. By the exception of "debts heritably secured," it is evidently intended to prevent the mortgagee from having a vote in respect of his mortgage; and thus, in case the mortgage swallows up the entirety of the estate, the property, how great soever it may be, shall be of no value to any one in respect of giving the elective franchise; the mortgagor has lost his right; the mortgagee, though having the entire interest in the property, has no vote. So that here, by the system of equal representation, there may and will be many estates, to the value of ten or twenty thousand a year, unrepresented. Hence, the honourable man in embarrassed circumstances, who grants his creditor an heritable bond over his whole property, in order to secure the payment of his debts to the utmost of his power, shall have no vote, though he be in possession of his property; while the fraudulent knave similarly situated, and who is less anxious about restoring to others their due, and who therefore reserves a portion of his property to himself free and unincumbered, enjoys that right. Thus the man, whose debts amount to 10,000l.

Sect. 6.

Sect. 6. and whose property and securities are equal, has no vote, while he whose debts are 10,000/. and whose property is 5,000l. shall have a vote. What will the Society for the Suppression of Vice, or that for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, say to this?

In discussing this Sixth Section, as well as the Eighth Section, we are naturally led to the inquiry,under which of the three professed principles of Reform,-Population, Property, or Taxation, ought we to class the enactment, that the same piece of land, of the yearly value of 107. the lowest sum conferring a single vote, should, if let to a tenant for a certain term, confer a double vote? A leases land worth 10. yearly to B for sixty years,it is expressed by the Bill, but is it intended by the framers, that the landlord and tenant should each vote upon this one piece of land of the yearly value of 10.? Of the propriety, consistency, or expediency of this part of the Bill, we need say nothing.

But if it be classed under the head of Population, it is in opposition to both the principles of property and taxation; if under the rule of Property, it is equally at variance with itself and with taxation; and if under the principle of Taxation, it is not less irreconcilable with justice than with sense.