hat, if the feelings of the house were strongly shown in a desire to
keep up the present number, they might not be induced to relax their
determination on that point. If it should appear to be the sense of
the house that the whole number of six hundred and fifty-eight members
should be retained, the government would not feel that they were
altering a vital or essential part of the measure by agreeing to that
proposition." On the following day Mr. Stanley, when adverting to the
same topic, to prevent any misconception that ministers, though they
might consent to retain the numbers, would leave them to the boroughs,
stated, that they were determined to adhere in all circumstances to
the disfranchisement of every borough whose population did not reach a
particular standard, and the partial disfranchisement of every borough
falling beneath a certain other standard; the number of members to be
added should be given to such populous towns as might be considered in
that event to have a fair claim to representation.

On the 18th of April, Lord John Russell moved that the house should
resolve itself into a committee on the reform bill. In doing so he
stated the alterations which had been recently made in it by ministers.
According to his statement, it appeared that five boroughs had been
transferred from schedule A to schedule B, and allowed to retain one
member, and that seven of those in schedule B were allowed to retain
their two members, in consequence of its having been ascertained that
the population returns had not accurately represented the number of
inhabitants. On the other hand members were to be added to the following
counties: namely, Bucks, Berks, Cambridge, Dorset, Hereford, Hertford,
Oxford, and Glamorgan. Members were also to be added to the following
towns: namely, Oldham, Buly, Bochdale, Whitby, Wakefield, Salford, and
Stoke-on-Trent: Halifax was restricted to the township, and to return
only one member, the parish being twenty-five miles in extent. Sons of
freemen entitled to the privilege of freemen, and apprentices having
entered into indentures in the same manner, were to retain their
franchise on taking out their freedom, being resident, and registered
under the provisions of the bill. General Gaseoyne moved as an
instruction to be given to the committee, "That it is the opinion of
this house, that the total number of knights, citizens, and burgesses
returned to parliament for that part of the United Kingd