said Francis. "If it is brought forward I must say
that I cannot at present vote for extension of the suffrage."

"Oh! we thocht ye were an oot-an'-oot Leeberal--nane o' your finality
Whigs that took ae bit step in the richt direction, and then durstna
venture further. Ye maun vote for the five-pound vote if ye are to be
oor man," said Sandy Pringle.

"We thocht ye would be for a baulder step than a five-pound vote," said
Jamie Howison; "ye're said to be the puir man's friend. Is it fair that
the like o' huz, that mak the country what it is, should hae nae voice
in the elections? We're for manhood suffrage, an' the ballot, and we
look to you to be oor advocate, for we thocht ye was to be oor member.
If so be as we had had our richts, and had votes to gie, ye should hae
them a'."

"It's fear--it's fear of the earl and the Freeburgh gentry that keeps
him frae speakin' oot his mind," said Sandy Pringle; "but his heart is
a' richt. He kens what's wanted, and if he's no thirled to the Elliotts
and the Greys, he can vote as he thinks fit. I think we can depend on
him."

"My friends," said Francis, "I wish to show no fear and no favour. I
would not say to you what I would not say to the earl, nor to the earl
what I would be sorry or ashamed to let you hear. I wish you to know,
as clearly as I can explain them, my political principles, so that I
may raise no unfounded expectations and disappoint no one wilfully or
designedly. I think with you that it is a great evil that the working
man has no voice in the election of the members of the Legislature. I
hope to live to see the day--and I will labour to advance it--when
every man shall feel his influence in greater or less measure in that
most important part of the duty of a free people; but have any of you
ever seriously considered the effect which would follow the adoption in
Great Britain, at present, of manhood suffrage, or even of reducing the
franchise to a five-pound vote?"

"There would be far mair economy in the public service," said Sandy
Pringle.

"There would be far less jobbery an' corruption in government
pawtronage," said Jamie Howison, the Newtown weaver.

"They couldna swamp the consteetuencies by makin' fictitious votes,"
said Sandy.

"They micht bribe, if the franchise was limited," said Jamie Howison,
"but with manhood suffrage an' the ballot, a man micht vote just as he
liked, and huz working men hae oor richts, an' oor feelins, an' oor
interests, j