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We take the following facts from a political writer on the subject, as further illustrating the vile fraud, which was committed by the oligarchic faction, and which it could not have perpetrated, but for the encroachment of the aristocracy upon the democratic branch of the Legislature. A comparison of the population of towns returning members, with others in the same counties, the inhabitants of which are without the franchise, exhibits some startling facts. In Surrey, Guildford and Reigate, with 25,039 and 14,321 inhabitants, have the franchise; while Croydon, with 31,901, Epsom, with 10,150, and Richmond, with 15,906, are without it. In Kent, there are eleven towns, with more than 15,000 inhabitants, all without the franchise; Canterbury, with 14,000, has it; the Isle of Thanet, with more than twice the number, has not. In Sussex, Rye, with 12,352, has it; nine more populous districts are without it. In Hants, there are Christchurch, with but 8,481, and Petersfield, 7,814; and on the other hand, nine other towns with far greater numbers of inhabitants, without the franchise. Cambridgeshire has but one borough, and yet has four towns, with more than 20,000 inhabitants. In Cornwall, Launceston, with 16,800, is enfranchised, while Redruth and Penrith, with 50,000, are without franchise. Somersetshire has eight unenfranchised districts with more than 20,000; Staffordshire and Leicestershire have four, and Lincolnshire nine. In Warwickshire, Evesham, with 14,163, sends two members; but Stourbridge, with 57,000, none. In the northern counties, unenfranchised towns of considerable size are very numerous. In Lancashire there are eight, and in the West Riding six, with more than 30,000 inhabitants.
And the enfranchised places with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants, and returning 559 of the 641 members, whom do they return? Any booby member of the aristocracy whom their owners order them to elect. As to the large towns, exceeding the others in population not by hundreds, but by tens and twenties of thousands, they were defrauded of their political rights because the people belong to the working class, and are consequently infinitely more intelligent than the electors of the majority of these contemptible boroughs, some of which return two members. Had not the lords annihilated the poor remains of the democratic branch, or had the worth and intelligence of the country been represented, the civil and military administration of England would not have been the contempt of the people, and the laughing-stock of Europe, during the whole of the war.
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