92 nister. fected without the intervention of a special mi-her-whether any denial or such protraction of rcdress have occurred on her part, as to render it ne It will be in your recollection, sir, that in our cessary or justifiable, the perseverance in an edict, fust interview, I stated the condition, which makes which when not necessary or justifiable, assumes the subject of the present letter, before I was in-a character of aggression; and whether, on the reformed by you that the president of the United sult of these considerations, the present negociaStates would consent to the separation of the two tion can be resumed on the part of his majesty, subjects. with a due regard for his own honor, or with a prospect of a more successful termination. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, and most humble servant. (Signed) G. H. ROSE. Revolutionary Public Papers. THE DECLARATION BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED I had trusted that the exposition, which I added in my letter of the 26th of January, to the verbal explanation I had before offered, of the grounds of his majesty's demand, was both in its purport, and in the terms in which it was couched, such as to prevent a suspicion that they were in their intention derogatory to the honor, or calculated to wound the just sensibility of the nation. I may add that such a supposition could not be reconciled with the various ostensible and unequivocal demonstrations of his majesty's good faith and anxiety, that this transaction should be brought to an amicable termination, which were exhibited even prior to any remonstrances on the part, or by the order of this government. The other topics which I felt myself] If it was possible for men, who exercise their authorised to advance in that letter, in illustration reason to believe, that the Divine Author of our of that amicable disposition on the part of the king, existence intended a part of the human race to hold were brought forward from the conviction I enter- an absolute property in, and an unbounded power tained that they must be of a nature to be satisfac-over others, marked out by his infinite goodness tory to this government, and therefore such as it was particularly my duty to enforce, but not with a view to rest upon them the right to advance the claim which I have stated. Now met in congress at Philadelphia, setting forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms— July 6th, 1775. and wisdom, as the objects of a legal domination never rightfully resistable, however severe and oppressive, the inhabitants of these colonies might at least require from the parliament of Great Britain I may here remark, it is obvious that far from some evidence, that this dreadful authority over requiring that the first step towards an arrange-them has been granted to that body. But a revement of reparation should be taken by the United rence for our great Creator, principles of humanity, States, Great Britain has already made them openly and the dictates of common sense, must convince and distinctly: they are indubitable testimonies to all those who reflect upon the subject, that governthe respect borne and decidedly marked by Great ment was instituted to promote the welfare of manBritain to the ties of amity subsisting between the kind, and ought to be administered for the attaintwo nations-and of her cordial desire to maintainment of that end. The legislature of Great Britain them unimpaired; and as such alone they were however, stimulated by an inordinate passion for a urged. power not only unjustifiable, but which they know As his majesty would have derived sincere satis-to be peculiarly reprobated by the very constitution faction from the evidence of corresponding feelings on the part of the United States; so it would be the more painful to me to dwell upon a series of insults and menaces, which without any provocation or warlike preparations on the part of Great Britain, have been for months accumulated upon her through the United States, and but too frequently from quarters whose authority necessarily and powerfully commanded attention. of that kingdom, and desperate of success in any mode of contest, where regard should be had to truth, law, or right, have at length, deserting those, attempted to effect their cruel and impolitic purpose of enslaving these colonies by violence, and have thereby rendered it necessary for us to close with their last appeal from reason to arms. Yet however blinded that assembly may be, by their intemperate rage for unlimited domination, so to slight I ought perhaps to apologise for adverting to an justice and the opinion of mankind, we esteem ourincidental expression in your letter, if I did not selves bound by obligations of respect to the rest of tank it right to remove any ambiguity respecting the world, to make known the justice of our cause. the nature of the claim which Great Britain main- Our forefathers, inhabitants of the island of tained to her seamen, native citizens of the realm, Great Britain, left their native land, to seek on who have deserted from her service to that of other these shores a residence for civil and religious freepowers: it is, that on demand they shall be dis-dom. At the expence of their blood, at the hazcharged forthwith, and consequently they shall in-ard of their fortunes, without the least charge to stantly be freed from their newly contracted obligations. the country from which they removed, by unceas ing labour and an unconquerable spirit, they effectBefore I close this letter, allow me to state to you, ed settlements in the distant and inhospitable wilds sir, that I have felt it my duty to transmit to his of America, then filled with numerous and warlike majesty's government, the exposition contained in nations of barbarians.—Societies or governments, your letter of the 5th instant of the various de-vested with perfect legislatures, were formed under mands on the honor and good faith of Great Britain, charters from the crown, and an harmonious interon which the complaint is made, that satisfaction course was established between the colonies and the has not been afforded to the United States, and on kingdom from which they derived their origin.which conjointly with the affair of the Chesapeake, The mutual benefits of this union became in a short you inform me that the proclamation of the pre-time so extraordinary, as to excite astonishment. sident of the United States of the 2d July, 1807, is It is universally confessed, that the amazing infounde . It will be for his majesty's government crease of wealth, strength, and navigation of the to determine on the part of Great Britain, whether realm, arose from this source; and the minister, any and what obligations remain to be fulfilled by who so wisely and successfully directed the me sures of Great Britain in the late war, publicly de-indignation of the Americans was roused, it is frue; clared, that these colonies enable her to triumph but it was the indignation of a virtuous, loyal, and over her enemies. Towards the conclusion or affectionate people. A congress of delegates from that war, it pleased our sovereign to make a change the united colonies was assembled at Philadelphia in his councils. From that fatal moment, the af- on the fifth day of last September. We resolved again fairs of the British empire began to fall into con- to offer an humble and dutiful petition to the fusion, and gradually sliding from the summit of king, and also addressed our fellow subjects of glorious prosperity to which they had been advan-Great Britain. We have pursued every tempeced by the virtues and abilities of one man, are at rate, every respectful measure; we have even prolength distracted by the convulsions that now shake ceeded to brake off our commercial intercourse it to its deepest foundations. The new ministry with our fellow subjects, as the last peaceable adfinding the brave foes of Britain, though frequently monition, that our attachment to no nation upon 'defeated, yet still contending, took up the unfortu-earth, should supplant our attachment to liberty. nate idea of granting them a hasty peace, and of This, we flattered ourselves was the ultimate step then subduing her faithful friends. of the controversy; but susequent events have shewn, how vain was this hope of finding moderation in our enemies. entirely prohibited from the fisheries in the seas near their coasts, on which they always depended for their sustenance; and large reinforcements of ships and troops were immediately sent over to general Gage. These devoted colonies were judged to be in such a state, as to present victories without bloodshed, and all the easy emoluments of statuteable Several threatening expressions against the coplunder. The uninterrupted tenor of their peacea-lonies were inserted in his majesty's speech; our ble and respectful behaviour from the beginning petition though we were told it was a decent one, of colonization, their dutiful, zealous, and useful and that his majesty had been pleased to receive it services during the war, though so recently and graciously, and to promise laying it before his par amply acknowledged in the most honourable man-liament, was huddled into both houses among a bunner by his majesty, by the late king, and by par- dle of American papers, and there neglected. The liament, could not save them from the meditated lords and commons in their address, in the month innovations. Parliament was influenced to adopt of February said, that "a rebellion at that time the pernicious project, and assuming a new power actually existed within the province of Massachuover them, have in the course of eleven years given setts Bay; and that those concerned in it, had been such decisive specimens of the spirit and conse-countenanced and encouraged by unlawfnl comquences attending this power, as to leave no doubt binations and engagements, entered into by his concerning the effects of acquiescence under it. majesty's subjects in several of the other colonies; The have undertaken to give and grant our money and therefore they besought his majesty, that he without our consent, though we have ever exercised would take the most effectual measures to enforce an exclusive right to dispose of our own proper-due obedience to the laws and authority of the ty; statutes have been passed for extending the supreme legislature."-Soon after, the commercial jurisdiction of courts of admiralty and vice admi-intercourse of whole colonies, with foreign counralty beyond their ancient limits; for depriving us tries, and with each other, was cut off by an act of of the accustomed and inestimable privilege of trial parliament; by another, several of them were by jury in cases affecting both life and property; for suspending the legislature of one of the colonies; for interdicting all commerce to the capital of another; and for altering fundamentally the form of government established by character, and secured by acts of its own legislature, solemnly con- Fruitless were all the entreaties, arguments, and firmed by the crown; for exempting the "mur- eloquence of an illustrious band of the most disderers" of colonists from legal trial, and in effect, tinguished peers and commoners, who nobly and from punishment; for erecting in a neighbouring strenuously asserted the justice of our cause to province, acquired by the joint arms of Great Bri- stay, or even to mitigate the heedless fury with tain and America, a despotism dangerous to our which these accumulated and unexampled outrages very existence; and for quartering soldiers upon were hurried on. Equally fruitless was the interthe colonists in time of profound peace. It has also ference of the city of London, of Bristol and many been resolved in parliament, that colonists charged other respectable towns in our favour. Parliament with committing certain offences, shall be trans-adopted an insidious manœuvre calculated to divide ported to England to be tried. us, to establish a perpetual auction of taxation, But why should we enumerate our injuries in where colony should bid against colony, all of them detail? By one statute it is declared, that parliament uninformed what ransom would redeem their lives; can "of right make laws to bind us in all cases and thus extort from them at the point of the bayowhatsoever." What is to defend us against so enor-net the unknown sums that should be sufficient to mous, so unlimited a power? Not a single man of gratify, if possible to gratify, ministerial rapacity, those who assume it is chosen by us; or is subject with the miserable indulgence left to us of raising, to our controul or influence; but on the contrary, in our own mode, the prescribed tribute. Wha they are all of them exempt from the operation of such laws, and an American revenue, if not diverted from the ostensible purposes for which it is raised would actually lighten their own burdens in proportion as they increase ours. We saw the Soon after the intelligence of these proceedings misery to which such despotism would reduce us. arrived on this continent, general Gage, who in the We for ten years incessantly and ineffectually be-course of the last year had taken possession of the sieged the throne as supplicants; we reasoned, we town of Boston, in the province of Massachusetts remonstrrted with parliament in the most mild and decent language. Administration, sensible that we should regard these oppressive measures as freemen ought to do sent over fleets and armies to enforce them. The terms more rigid and humiliting could have been dictated by remorseless victors to conquered enemies? In our circumstances to accept them, would be to deserve them. Bay, and still occupied it as a garrison, on the 19th of April, sent out from that place a large detachment of his army, who made an unprovoked assault on the inhabitants of the said province, at the town of Lexington, as appears by the affidavits of a great, number of persons, some of whom were officers, Divine favour towards us, that his providence would and soldiers of that detachment, murdered eight of not permit us to be called into this severe controver the inhabitants, and wounded many others. From sy until we were grown up to our present strength, thence the troops proceeded in a warlike array to had been previously exercised in warlike operations, the town of Concord, where they set upon another and possessed the means of defending ourselves.party of the inhabitants of the same province, killing With hearts fortified by these animat.ng reflections, several and wounding more, until compelled to re- we most solemnly, betore God and the world, treat by the country people suddenly assembled to DECLARE, that, exerting the utmost energy of those repel his cruel oppression. Hostilities, thus com-powers, which our beneficent Creator hath graci menced by the British troops, have been since prose-ously bestowed upon us, the arms we have been cuted by them without regard to faith or reputation. compelled by our enemies to assume, we will, in The inhabitants of Boston being confined within defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness that town by the general their governor, and having and perserverance, employ for the preservation of in order to procure their dismission, entered into a our liberties; being with one mind resolved to die treaty with him; it was stipulated that the said in-freemen rather than to live slaves. habitants having deposited their arms with their own Lest this declaration should disquiet the minds of magistrates, should have liberty to depart, taking our friends and fellow-subjects in any part of the with them their own effects. They accordingly empire, we assure them that we mean not to disdelivered up their arms, but in open violation of solve that union which has so long and so happily honor, in defiance of the obligation of treaties, subsisted between us, and which we sincerely wish which even savage nations esteem sacred the governor ordered the arms deposited as aforesaid, that they might be preserved for their owners, to be seized by a body of soldiers; detained the greatest part of the inhabitants in the town, and compelled the few who were permitted to retire, to leave their valuable effects dehind. By this perfidy, wives are separated from their husbands, children from their parents, the aged and the sick from their relations and friends, who wish to attend and comfort them; and those who have been used to live in plenty and even elegance, are reduced to deplorable distress. to see restored. Necessity has not yet driven us into that desperate measure or induced us to excite any other nation to war against them. We have not raised armies with ambitious designs o sepa rating from Great Britain, and establishing independent states. We fight not for glory or for con quest. We exhibit to mankind the remarkable spectable of a people attacked by unprovoked enemies, without any imputation or even suspicion of offence. They boast of their privileges and civilization, and yet profier no milder condition than servitude or death. In our own native land, in defence of the freeThe general, further emulating his ministerial dom that is our birth right, and which we ever enmasters, by a proclamation bearing date on the 12th joyed till the late violation of it-for the protect.on day of June, after venting the grossest falsehoods of our property, acquired solely by the honest inand calumnies against the good people of these dustry of our forefathers and ourselves, against viocolonies, proceeds to "declare them all either by lence actually offered, we have taken up arms.name or description, to be rebels and traitors, to We shall lay them down when hostilities shall supercede the course of the common law, and cease on the part of the aggressors, and all danger instead thereof to publish and order the use and of their being renewed shall be removed, and not exercise of the law martial.” His troops have before. butchered our countrymen, have wantonly burnt With an humble confidence in the mercies of the Charlestown, besides a considerable number of hous-supreme and impartial Judge and Ruler of the es in other places; our ships and vessels are seized; the necessary supplics of provisions are intercepted, and he is exerting his utmost power to spread de struction and devastation around him. universe, we most devoutly implore his Divine goodness to protect us happily through this great conflict to dispose our adversaries to reconciliation on reasonable terms, and thereby to relieve the Malthus on Population. An on ly ical review of the "Essay on the principle We have received certain intelligence, that gene-empire from the calamities of civil war. ral Carlton the governor of Canada, is instigating the people of that province and the Indians to fall upon us; and we have but too much reason to apprehend that schemes have been formed to excite domestic enemies against us. In brief, a part of these colonies now feel, and all of them are sure of feeling, as far as the vengeance of administration can inflict them, the complicated calamities of fire, 1 sword and famine. We are reduced to the alterna- Our author next adverts to the state of the anci tive of choosing an unconditional submission to ent inhabitants of the North of Europe, but we sta the tyranny of irritated ministers, or resistance by deem it unnecessary to pursue him closely through orce. The latter is our choice. WE HAVE COUN- the long detail of historical facts, by which he FIND arrives at the proofs of the proposition upon which TED THE COST OF THIS CONTEST, AND NOTHING 80 DREADFUL AS VOLUNTARY SLAVERY he set out; namely, that there is a constant tendenFosor, justice and humanity forbid us tamely to sur-cy in population to increase beyond the means of render that freedom which we received from our gal-subsistence. To this tendency, is obviously to be lan ncestors, and which our innocent posterity have traced, the long and bloody wars which continued a right to receive from us. We cannot endure the in-for so many centuries, to ravage all the fairest parts famy and guilt of resigning succeeding generations of the earth, and which finally caused the overthrow to that wretchedness which inevitably awaits them, and complete destruction of the Roman empire: if we basely entail hereditary bondage upon them. The laws and customs of the ancient German na Our cause is just. Our union is perfect. Our tions, of which Tacitus (13) has left us an entertaininted resources are great, and, if necessary, fo- ing as well as a very learned account, were emireign assistance is undoubtedly attainable. We gratefully acknowledge, as signal instances of the (1) Ta his book De moribus Cermanorum. nently calculated to promote the spirit of procrea- | and past recovery." (15) From the prevalence of the tion. The women were treated with the most mark-venereal disease, we are induced to believe that those ed attention and regard, and indeed ever held in who are unable to purchase wives, do not on that veneration, for they were considered as endowed account lead a life of chastity, promiscuous interwith a foresight of future events, and as being in-f course must take place, which is, at all times, un terpreters of the Divine will. They sometimes car favorable to population. We are to consider, thereried their women with them to the field of battle, fore, in addition to wars and famine, this restramt where their presence served to animate them with from inability to obtain a wife, licentiousness of martial ardor, and often to turn the fate of a battle, manners, epidemics, and the discases incident to when they would have ingloriously retreated or suf-poverty, as the principal checks which keep the fered themselves to be taken captives. (14) Marria-population down to its proper level. ous woman. ges were every where strongly inculcated, and ma- In different parts of Africa, we have reason to be trimonial infidelity was acarcely known. The man astonished at the principle of increase which is who debauched a woman was obliged either to mar-found to be sufficiently powerful to keep up the ry her, to give her a portion, or to suffer death: population under so many rigorous impediments. and no qualification of youth, beauty, or riches The exportation of slaves has all times acted as a could procure a husband to the prostitute. These considerable drain to the population of Africa, and people were called barbarians: how unlike the ci-yet as Dr. Franklin has observed, it would be diffivilized people of the present enlightened age! who cult to find the gap made by an liundred years excan mile at seduction as a fashionable pastime, &portation of negroes, which has blackened half encourage the harlot to look down upon the virtu- America. Like the savages of North America, the people subsist chiefly by fishing and hunting, and It will be readily conceived that in a state of so-must, of course, during some seasons of the year, ciety like this, population would increase rapidly, suffer greatly from want; and being divided into and that as the people were ignorant of agriculture, numerous petty states, independent and jealous of or practised it only in a very inconsiderable degree, each other, wars frequently originate from trifling it would be necessary for them to resort to arms, provocations, and are carried on with the most either to extend their territory, or force to them-destructive animosity. Longevity is rarely to be selves a settlement in other countries. The fertile met with among the inhabitants of Africa, a circumstance which our author is inclined to attribute provinces of Spain, Italy, and Greece, offered an enticing field for these emigrations; but for many chiefly to the heat of the climate: arriving sooncenturies they were unable to resist the valor of er at maturity, he supposes, they must naturally the Roman arms; as fast, however, as one host perish sooner than the inhabitants of colder counwas destroyed another succeeded; "clouds of bar-tries. But we do not find this to be the case in barians seemed to collect from all parts of the nor-other hot climates. In the West Indies, in South thern hemisphere. Gathering fresh darkness and terrors as they rolled on, the congregated bodies at length obscured the sun of Italy, and sunk the western world in night." We can be at no loss to discover the checks to population among a people who were never at peace; war, and its attendant famine, were the means by which it was kept down to the level of their scanty means of subsistence. America, and in some of the South Sea Islands, under favorable circumstances, the people live to extreme old age. We remember to have seen some years ago in the Island of St. Christopher's a woman who had attained her one hundred and twentieth year, and who possessed the use of all her faculties unimpaired. Buffon, with great proprie ty, attributes the shortness of life in Africa, to the early intercourse of the sexes. The children are In the countries of China, Persia, Tartary, Syria,so debauched and so little under the constraint of &c. where the inhabitants lead a pastoral life, and their parents, that from the age of ten or eleven where, from the nature of the soil and climate, and they give themselves up to every species of lustgreat scarcity of water, pasturage must be scanty;ful practices. (16) Fevers of the most violent kind, it is evident, infringements of territorial right and plagues, small pox, &c. are common in various consequent war would be frequent. War of itself, parts of Africa, and annually rage with desolating however, would be insufficient to repress the super-violence. Under such circumstances, in a climate abundant population among a people whose very re-naturally unwholesome, the checks to population ligion teaches them the blessings that flow from must be too obvious to need being pointed out. fruitfulness. Every man who has ten children is promised the lasting enjoyments of Paradise; but, as in the islands of the South Sea, the women are here considered as the absolute property of the father, and are held up to sale until such an offer is The House of Lords and House of Commons, are made as will induce him to dispose of them--the con-known by the general name of "the parliament." sequence of this custom is, that the poor (and they The house of lords consists of an indefinite numin all countries constitute the largest portion of the ber of persons called dukes, marquisses, earls,' people) live single, and the rich are permitted to viscounts, barons and bishops, all o. whom, except hold as many wives as they choose to purchase. the latter, the king (at once the the fountain of If a greater number of children are born than the wisdom and honor, may make as many as he father is able or willing to maintain, he may dispose pleases; and it frequently happens, when a favorof them to the traders for money, or exchange ite measure is to be carried, that a "batch of peers" them for necessary conveniencies, or murder them; is created to secure a majority. At present the for "when they have not wherewithal to maintain House of Lords may be considered as the most them, they hold it a piece of charity to murder in-servile body of men in Great Britain-now and fants new-born, as also they do such as are sick, (TO BE CONTINUED.) British Parliament. 1 (15) Sir John Chardin's travels. Harris's col. b. (14) History of women, by William Alexander, iii. c. ii. p. 865. M, H. vol. 1. p. 155, ct sequent, (16) Vid. Buffon's Historie naturelle de l'Homme. then a light shines through the gloom that envelopes | A person may be a member of parliament and them, but a large majority are generally found on hold any office in the gift of the crown, those bethe side of the minister, be he whom he may. Six-longing to the judiciary and to the church exceptteen Scottish peers are elected by their brother-no-ed.-Hence the corruption of that body. A man bles, to serve during the parliament; the twenty may also be a member and have employment in Boeight Irish peers are elected for life. The bishops tany Bay or Nova Scotia. There are from 50 to 60 hold their seats ex-officio, having the dignity of ba-members of parliament with the British armies at rons attached to their ecclesiastical preferments. this time in Spain and Portugal. The House of Commons, before the union with| Treland, consisted of 558 members elected, or appointed, and designated as follows. ENGLAND. 12 counties WALES. 4 represent. 16 barons. 12 knights. Further, and completely, to shew the nature of the representation of the people in the British parliament, let us pursue the subject: The county of Cornwall (see the table page 11) in 1801, contained 188, 69 inhabitants London, comprehending the city, with Westminster, and what is called Southwark, &c. the same year contained 864,825 inhabitants Yorkshire (which is divided into three districts in the table page 11) called "Ridings," the same year had a population of 858,892 souls Cornwall sends forty four members to parliament. -to wit: for the county 2; and two for each of the following boroughs: Bodmyn, Bossiney, Callington, Camelford, East Looe, Fowey, St. Germans, Grampound, Hellestone, St. Ives, Launceston, Leskeard, Lestwithiel, St. Mawes, St. Michael, Newport, Penryn, Salash, Tregony, Truro, West Looe-44. London (as above) sends eight members-to wit: 12 boroughs-(Pembroke two, 12 burgesses. the city (proper) 4; for Westminster, 2; for South Merioneth none) 33 shires SCOTLAND. wark (a borough) 2;-total 8. 30 knights. 64 33 cities and boroughs-one cach 33 GRAND TOTAL 2 1 The town of Manchester with 100,000 inhabitants, does not send one member. The borough of Old Sarum, consisting of the ruins of one old house, standing on a private estate, and uninhabited,* sends two members! 658 MEMBERS. Of the 658 members it rarely happens that 400 attend. The most numerous assemblages known Mr. Brugh gives a list of 28 boroughs in which for many years, took place when the notorious Mrs. the majority of electors is below 20--these boClark (the Duke of York's "dear angel") was ex-roughs send 56 members to parliament. amined as a witness at the bar, touching certain ap- According to his statement, and there is every pointments she had made in the church and army reason to believe it correct, 354 members are reat this time more than 500 members were general-turned by 5,772 voters. ly present; but the average number does not amount Aylesburgh, one of the boroughs, was a royal mato 300. Less than 100 members often decide the nor of William the conqueror; he gave it to one of most important questions. his favorites provided he should find litter and straw The members of parliament do not receive any for the king's bed chamber, and furnish him with compensation, by law, for their services; but it is three eels in the winter, and two green geese in the said that some of them contrive, by selling ayes and summer, whenever his majesty came into the neighnoes, to carry on a pretty profitable commerce. Per-borhood. For these supplies, though we have not haps, two thirds of them are placemen or pensioners, heard of their being latterly demanded, one person of one kind or another at least a majority of the has the right of sending two members to parliament. attending members are calculated to be so. It is It is the practice, when a member becomes trouwell known that seats in the British house of com- blesome to the ministry for his talents, to attempt to mons are disposed of with as little ceremony as bags corrupt his virtue. The famous Edmund Burke afof wool; and that the ministers dictate to the elec-fords a memorable instance of this-but it is useless tors, as well as the elected, in many cases. Proofs to particularise cases; they are "as plenty as blackof these things, and of plain, positive, palpable bribe-berries." Andrew Marvel was the last of the Briry, have been frequently offered to be laid before tish representatives that was paid by his constituents the house, but always voted down without a hearing. It is possible a majority of the members have a fellow feeling on all such subjects, and would not care to establish a precedent that might bring themselves into difficulty! For seven years-but the king, or rather his ministers, dissolves it at will. This is always done when the members are troublesome. Has only 14 voters-Rye has but six, -he lived about 150 years ago, and was a man of great talents and probity. The minister of the day (the Duke of Newcastle) if my memory serves me, Except on the day of election-when the owner, with great gravity, takes possession; appoints himself judge or inspectos of the voters; puts his own solitary ballot into his hat, and solemnly declares such and such persons to be representatives of the people in parliament! |