d be better to maintain the Poor of this Kingdom by
Charity or Rate?--By Charity."

"Whether Publick or Private Punishments are to be preferred in a Free
Country?--Publick Punishment preferred, August 27th, 1787."

"Whether a Man can or cannot be a real Christian, and at the same time
a gentleman in the World's esteem?--Joseph Beldam, senr.--Can 13,
Cannot 11."

"Whether the Art of expressing our thoughts by written characters is
not superior to any other art whatever?--John Walby."

To the above question is given the very curious answer--15 for Writing,
9 for Agriculture. Evidently there were some farmers of the old school
in the forum!

The character of the schools of the period is reflected in the
following:--

"Whether a Public or a Private Education for youth is to be
preferred?--Unan. for a private one, in favour of virtue."

"Whether the use of well-composed forms, or extempore prayer in
dissenting congregations be most agreeable to the Dignity of Religious
worship, and the general Edification?--2 for Forms, 16 for Extempore."

"Which is the greater Evil, to Educate Children _above_ or _beneath_
their probable station or Circumstances?--5 above Circumstances, 9
below."

Here we get a hundred years' old opinion that in effect it is better to
educate children above their probable station and let them take their
chance in the competition of life than to educate them below it. This
was evidently a vigorous reforming opinion for those days, considering
that Board Schools were yet nearly a hundred years off!

Fifty years even before the Reform Bill it was possible to get such an
opinion as the following upon the suffrage:--

"If we could get a Reform in Parliament would it be expedient or just
to exclude any Order of subjects from giving their vote for a
Representative in the House of Commons?--John Fordham (Kelshall).--Yeas
2, Noes 7." That is seven out of nine were in favour of universal
suffrage!

Here is an instance of the logical and discriminating faculties which
these forums called forth in such a high degree:--

"Is good sense or good nature most productive of Happiness--taking both
the Individual and Society into the Account?--Good Nature to
Individuals 13, Good Sense to ditto 8; Good Sense to Society 19, Good
Nature to ditto 1."

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The foregoing answer is a very nice discrimination and involved a
"reasoning out" which is in striking contrast with most modern debates
in which the fa