m: the specific
proposition of which was to transfer the right of election from
thirty-six rotten boroughs to the counties and great unrepresented
towns; giving a compensation in money to the owners and holders of the
rotten boroughs so disfranchised; the bill also proposed to extend the
right of voting in county elections to copyholders. It has been doubted
whether Pitt, at this time, had any sincere desire for parliamentary
reform, although he had pledged himself to exert his influence to the
utmost for securing the measure. There does not seem, however, to be any
good reason for this doubt; for it is a well-known fact that he brought
it forward, if not in direct opposition to the wishes of the king, yet
at least without his expressed approbation. Knowing the aversion which
his majesty felt to disturb this part of the constitution, he laid the
heads of his plan before his royal master, from whom he received this
honest and candid reply;--"Mr. Pitt must recollect that though I have
ever thought it unfortunate that he had early engaged in this measure,
yet I have always said, that as he was clear of its propriety, he ought
to lay his thoughts before the house; that out of personal regard to
him, I would avoid giving an opinion to any one, on the opening of the
door of parliamentary reform, except to him: therefore I am certain Mr.
Pitt cannot suspect me of influencing any person on this occasion. If
others choose, for base ends, to impute such a conduct to me, I must
bear it, as former false suggestions." Yet, notwithstanding the king was
so cold upon the subject, Pitt brought it forward with great energy in
the house. At the same time, his speech seemed to indicate that he was
not sanguine of success, although he felt assured that the minds of men
were more enlightened upon the subject than at any former period. He
remarked:--"The number of gentlemen who are hostile to reform, are
a phalanx which ought to give alarm to any individual upon rising to
suggest such a measure. Those who, with a sort of superstitious awe,
reverence the constitution so much as to be fearful of touching even
its defects; have always reprobated every attempt to purify the
representation. They acknowledge its inequality and corruption, but in
their enthusaism for the grand fabric, they would not suffer a reformer,
with unhallowed hands, to repair the injuries which it has suffered from
time. Others, who, perceiving the deficiencies that have arise