countries of the world, the best calculated
for the general protection of the subject." In 1830 he (the Duke of
Wellington) had pronounced an opinion in parliament on the subject of
reform, of which the noble earl disapproved. What he said was, that he
approved of the constitution of parliament; and if he were to invent a
constitution for parliament over again, he would endeavour to frame one
like it, in which property should preponderate. The noble earl had said
that it was this sentence which had created the spirit of reform
now pervading the country. It was not so; the spirit of reform had
originated with the French revolution. Ever since the American war, the
minds of the people had been occasionally disturbed by the spirit of
reform; and when any insurrection grew up in Europe, a desire for reform
was sure to be exhibited. Concerning the measure before the house,
the noble duke asked whether it was founded on the principles of the
constitution? He thought not; he thought the bill violated both the
principles and practice of the constitution. It went to establish a
new system of representation in every county, borough, and town in the
United Kingdom, with the exception of the two universities. The town
representation would be placed in the hands of close, self-elected
committees, like that which had appointed itself in the metropolis
at the close of the last session, and which dissolved itself only
in consequence of the notice which its proceedings had attracted in
parliament. The undue enlargement of the powers of the town constituency
would entirely destroy the balance of the agricultural representation of
the counties. The towns already exercised an extraordinary influence in
the election of county representatives, and the evil would be aggravated
tenfold by the clause of the bill which gave votes to leaseholders and
copyholders. The noble duke entered into the details of the measure at
great length, and concluded by eulogising the constitution as it now
existed. Under it, he said, we enjoyed the largest commerce, and the
most flourishing colonies in the world. There was not any country in
the universe in which so much happiness, so much prosperity, and so much
comfort, were diffused amongst all the various classes of society; none
in which so many and such large properties, both public and private,
were to be found as in England. There was not a position in Europe in
any degree important for military purposes, or