ABSTRACT
The Speaker of the House of Commons being ill, and Lord Castlereagh attacked by the gout, these are deemed good and sufficient reasons for further adjourning Parliament for a fortnight. “The Earl of Lonsdale has several times attempted to influence election of Members for this town, and to add its representation to the nine Members he sends for other places; but generally without success. If the right of election for this town was in the householders, the number of voters would be 5000; as it is, the number is not above 1800, and those of poorest order, being mostly journeymen shipwrights or cabinet-makers, not half of whom are housekeepers or tax-payers. By the charter, freemen only have a vote; but the most glaring corruption lies in making those freemen. “Providence, which foresaw, which appointed, indeed, necessity to which human affairs are subjected, hath contrived, that, whilst fortunes are only for few, the rest of mankind may be happy without them”.
