gone through the remedial operation
as it was called, of the Grenville act, so that, as he had sounded all
the shoals and shallows of the system, it was not wonderful he should
be a great advocate for an alteration. The question was this: ought the
house to be an assembly of retainers of the crown, or of representatives
of the people of England. The bill was opposed by Messrs. Feel, Twiss,
Maberly, and Stanley. Mr. Twiss said, that a scheme had never been
produced so happily calculated to ridicule parliamentary reform,
although it was of course far from the intention of the noble lord by
whom it had been introduced. Mr. Peel also amused the house with remarks
on the title of the bill, and said that he would never be a party to a
wholesale depreciation of the elective franchise, or assent even to the
first stage of the bill, which devolved on a bal-lotted committee the
power of destroying all boroughs which they might think ought not
to send members. Lord Althorp moved as an amendment, "That it is the
opinion of this house, that a reform in the representation of the people
is necessary," should be substituted for the motion, for leave to bring
in a bill; but both the amendment and the original motion were negatived
without a division.

THE CASE OF EAST RETFORD.

During this session the proposal for transferring the franchise of
East Retford to Birmingham was ultimately rejected, and the privilege
extended to the adjoining hundred. During the debate Mr. Peel expressly
disclaimed the imputation which had been thrown out, that this selection
had been made with a view to increase the influence of the Duke of
Newcastle, whom the Catholic relief bill had now thrown into the ranks
of opposition. There were circumstances in the case of East Retford
which should induce parliament to extend the franchise to the adjoining
hundred. One element in the case which weighed with him, was the
consideration that the county of Nottingham sent only eight members to
parliament; and he saw no good reason why that number should be reduced.
Lord Howick declared, that though he would vote for the transfer of the
franchise to Birmingham, he thought it useless to inflict punishment
in individual instances, when it was notorious that a large majority of
members obtained their seats by venal means. The proper remedy would
be to adopt a general measure; and he, therefore, moved the following
resolutions:--"That bribery has been repeatedly and