THE ROTTEN BOROUGH OF PETERSFIELD, HANTS.
As the above borough has long been celebrated for commanding the highest price for seats in the market, considerable interest was excited during the four days appointed for the registering the various claims of voters.
The late much respected Sir James Macdonald, and other gentlemen in the neighbourhood, for the purpose of relieving the borough from the usurpation of a century, formed themselves into an association for the purpose of improving the towns and suburbs, bought a freehold field to let out for building on, and that many might feel an interest in the borough, divided the property into 1,500 shares of 5l. each, which was sold to all parties indiscriminately. The holders of these shares, residing within 7 miles of the boundaries, are decided by the barristers to be good votes. Another class of voters (shareholders in the Red Lion Inn) consented to the consideration of the votes being adjourned until the next registration, the promises for the reform candidate, Mr Lefevre, being about 2 to 1 over Colonel Jolliffe, the patron of the borough.
Votes registered, 255; neutral votes, about 20; promises to Mr Lefevre, 160; Colonel Jolliffe, 75; majority for reform candidate, 85.
In this borough the stones in the marketplace used to give votes for the patron and his nominee; for nearly 50 years they never knew or ever saw the nominee.
It was reported, when I left, that there were 255 good votes admitted, but I cannot pledge myself to its accuracy.
At this celebrated place, legal proceedings in every form have constantly been before the public since 1818, and the borough had very near being totally disfranchised in the Reform Bill.