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ftripped of every thing, as if I had fallen into the hands of robbers, ruined, and in debt, I return to my native country, where I fhall be obliged to do penance for my foolish prodigalities.

The prefent State of the Reprefentation of England and Scotland.

THE glorious privilege of being go

our affent, is, we are told, the ineftima-
ble birth right of an Englifhman. As
this principle is generally admitted, and
as it is allowed on all hands that vari-
ous abufes have been introduced into
the reprefentation of the country, it
feems highly proper to invefligate the
real fate of fuch reprefentation; for
without fuch an enquiry, it feems moral-
ly impoffible for the moft fenfible and
acute politician to prefcribe a remedy.
In doing this, it becomes neceffary to
fearch into the ancient flate of each re-
prefented body, their political charac-
ter, right of election, number of voters,,
and, lally, into that which is in fact the
great caufe of all the abuses, into who
is the patron or prevailing power in each
county, city, borough, &c.

That power was originally in the people, is a fact that no one in his fenfes will deny; and that in order to fecure the liberties and properties of individuals, it becomes neceffary for every community to delegate fuch power to fome one man, or body of men, to enact laws, and regulate occurrences. In the British conltitution, this power is confided in the parliament, confifting of the king, the lords fpiritual and temporal, and the commons, or reprefentatives of the people. To preferve to the people their hare of the legislation, it is neceffary that fuch reprefentation fhould be kept free and independent of the other itates. Our bufinefs, therefore, in the ensuing enquiry, will be to fee how far fuch independence has been maintained or trefpaffed upon.

The constitutional form of parliaments, confifts in every Englishman poffeffing the privilege to be prefent either by himself or reprefentative. peers fit in the upper houfe, and leMate in perfon. The other part of the

The

community legiflate, as they neceffarily muft, by reprefentation. The neceflity, therefore, of keeping this part of the conftitution free from the influence of the other two, must be evident. Yet from various circumftances we are com pelled to confefs that an influence does prevail; and to fee to what extent it prevails, and how far the houfe of commons of England reprefents the whole following.

Without entering into the queftion at what time the commons of England exercifed the right of electing reprefentatives, we have the moft undoubted proof, that all the northern_nations were governed by their own confent, and they entrusted to the chiefs the conduct ing of leffer affairs. Tacitus tells us, "De Minoribus rebus principes confeltant, de Majoribus omnes." And Xephiline tells us, "Apud hos (Britannos) populus magna ex parte principa tum tenet."Among them (the Britons) the people exercife the chief fovereign ty.

The Saxons had their Wittena Ge mote, or affembly of wife men, which conftitution, it is true, was fubverted by the feudal fyftem; and it has been the labour of ages, between the conquest arc the revolution, to reftore to the peopl: their just rights.

Our bufinefs is now to exhibit the prefent ftate of the reprefentation; and to fhew one inflance in which it is incomplete, we fhall firft give a lift of boroughs which once fent members 10 parliament, and do not at present; although many of them are till places of great population and confequence.

Dunstable, Bedfordshire, tummoned 4 Edw. II. when difcontinued not known.

Newberry, Berkfhire, fummoned 30 Edw. I. difcontinued 11 Edw. IIIEly, Cambridgeshire, fummoned 23 Edw. I. difcontinued 27 Edw. IIIWifbeach, Cambridgeshire, not known when fummoned or difcontinued.-Polurun, Cornwall, furamoned 11 Edw. III. difcontinued 12 Edw. III.-Egremont, Cumberland, fummoned 23 Edw. .I. difcontinued 24 Edw. I-Bradaetham, Devonthire, fummoned 6 Edw. II. difcontinued 7 Edw. II-Crediton, De

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vonfhire, fummoned 35 Edw. I. dif- ed 11 Edw. III. difcontinued 12 Edw. continued 36 Edw. I.--Exmouth De- III.-Spalding, Lincolnshire, summoned vonshire, fummoned 14 Edw. III. dif- 11 Edw. III. difcontinued 12 Edw. III. continued 15 Edw. III-Tremington, Waynfleet, Lincolnshire, fummoned Devonshire, fummoned 6 Edw. III. dif- 11 Edw. III. difcontinued 12 Edw. III. continued 7 Edw. III.-Liddeford, De- -Bamberg, Northumberland, fummonvonfhire, fummoned 28 Edw. I. difcon- ed 23 Edw. I. difcontinued 24 Edw. I. tinued 30 Edw. I.-Modbury, Devon--Corbrigg, Northumberland, fummonfhire, fummoned 34 Edw. I. difcontinued 23 Edw. I. difcontinued 24 Edw. J. ed 35 Edw. I.-South Moulton, De- Burford, Oxfordshire, fummoned 34 vonihire, fummoned 30 Edw. I. difcon- Edw. I. difcontinued 35 Edw. I tinued 31 Edw. I.-Teignmouth, De- Chipping Norton, Oxfordfhire, fumvonshire, fummoned 14 Edw. III. dif- moned 28 Edw. I. difcontinued 34 Edw. continued 15 Edw. III.-Torrington, I.-Doddington, Oxfordshire, fummonDevonthire, fummoned 23 Edw. I. dif- ed 30 Edw. I. difcontinued 34 Edw. I. continued 45 Edw. III.-Blandford, Whitney, Oxfordthire, fummoned Dorfetfhire, fummoned 23 Edw. I. dif- 33 Edw. I. difcontinued 5 Edw. IIIcontinued 22 Edw. III.-Winborn, Oxbridge, Somerietfhire, fummoned 23 Dorfethire, not known when fummoned Edw. I. difcontinued 17 Edw. III.— or difcontinued.-Sherborn, Dorfetfhire, Chard, Somerfetihire, fummoned 28 fummoned II Edw. III. difcontinued Edw. I. difcontinued 3 Edw. III.-Dun12 Edw. III-Milton, Dorfetfhire, fter, Somerfetfhire, fummoned 34 Edw. not known when fummoned or difcon- III. difcontinued 35 Edw. III.-Glafton tinued.-Bere Regis, Dorfetfhire, not bury, Somerfetfhire, fummoned 12 Edw. known when fummoned or difcontinued... III difcontinued 13 Edw. III.-Lang-Chelmsford, Effex, fummoned 11 port, Somerfetfhire, fummoned 33 Edw. Edward III. difcontinued 12 Edw. III., -Alresford, Hampihire, fummoned 23 Edw. I. difcontinued 35 Edw. I.-Alton, Hampfhire, fummoned 23 Edw. I. difcontinued 4 Edw. II-Balingitoke, Hampshire, fummoned 23 Edw. I. difcontinued 4 Edw. II-Farnham, Hampfhire, fummoned 34 Edw. I. difcontinued 36 Edw. I.-Odiham, Hampfhire, fummoned 28 Edw. I. difcontinued 36 Edw. I-Overton, Hampfhire, fum-, moned 23 Edw. I. difcontinued 2 rey, fummoned 4 Edw. II. difcontinued Edw. III-Bromyard, Herefordshire, 47 Edw. III.-Bradford, Wiltshire, fummoned 33 Edw. I. difcontinued 34 fummoned 23 Edw. I. difcontinued 24 Edw. L-Ledbury, Herefordihire, fum- Edw. L-Mere, Wiltshire, fummoned moned 23 Edw. I. difcontinued 34 23 Edw. I. difcontinued 1 Edw. II.Edw. I-Rofs, Herefordshire, fum- Highworth, Wiltshire, fummoned 26 moned 33 Edw. I. difcontinued 34 Edw. Edw. I. difcontinued 27 Edw. IV.1.-Berkhamftead, Hertfordshire, fum- Bromfgrove, Worcefterthire, fummoned moned 11 Edw. III. difcontinued 15 23 Edw. I difcontinued 24 Edw, I.--Edw. III-Storteford, Hertfordshire, Dudley, Worcefterfhire, fummoned 23 fummoned 4 Edw. II. difcontinued 15 Edw. I. difcontinued 24 Edw. I.-KidEdw. III.Greenwich, Kent, fummon- derminster, Worcesterthire, fummoned ed 4 and 5 Philip and Mary, difconti- 23 Edw. I. difcontinued 24 Edw. I—— nued 6 Philip and Mary.Tunbridge, Perfhore, Worcefterfhire, fummoned 23 Kent, fummoned 23 Edw. I. dilcontinu- Edw. I. difcontinued 24 Edw. I.-Doned 24 Edw. I.-Manchefter, Lancashire, cafter, Yorkshire, fummoned 23 Edw. I. fummoned during the commonwealth, difcontinued 24 Edw. I.-Jervale, YorkI when discontinued not known.-Mel- fhire, fummoned 23 Edw. I. difcontiton Mowbray, Leicestershire, fummon- qued. 24 Edw. -Pickering, Yorkiire,

I. difcontinued 36 Edw. I.-Montacute, Somerfetthire, fummoned 33 Edw. I difcontinued 34 Edw. I.-Stoke Curcy, Somerfetfhire, fummoned 34 Edw. III. difcontinued 35 Edw. III.-Watchet, Somerfetfhire, fummoned 30 Edw. I. difcontinued 31 Edw. I.-Were, Somerfetfhire, fummoned 34 Edw. I. difcontinued 36 Edw. L-Farnham, Surrey, fummoned 4 Edw. II. di continued 38 Hen. VI.-Kingston upon Thames, Sur

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fummoned 23 Edw. I. difcontinued 24 Edw. I-Ravenfer, Yorkshire, fummoned 33 Edw. I. difcontinued 12 Edw. III. -Tykhull, Yorkshire, fummoned 23 Edw. I. difcontinued 24 Edw. L-Hallifax, Yorkshire, fummoned during the Commonwealth, when difcontinued hot known. Whitby, Yorkshire, fummoned during the Commonwealth, when difcontinued not known.-Leeds, Yorkfhire, fummoned during the Commonwealth, when difcontinued not known. -Calais, in France, fummoned 27 Hen. VIII. difcontinued 3 Ph. and Mary.

To proceed in our detail of the right of reprefentation, we fhall begin with the County of Bedford. Here, as in all the county elections, no perfon has any abfolute power over the voters, but ftill we find a very ftrong influence prevail, which in general carries the day, and is in most counties ariftocratic. In this county the Duke of Bedford can always retuin one member, and the other feat has been warmly contefted between Lord St. John and Lord Ongley.

Bedford Town fent burgeffes to parliament 23 Edw. I. This borough had, for near a century, been under the influence of the Bedford family; but in 1768, the corporation, by exerting their right of making honorary freemen, recovered their independence, and kept it for a time; but the Duke of Bedford has again recovered his intereft, although the number of voters are 1400. The right of election is in the burgeffes, freemen, and inhabitants, being houfeholders, and not receiving alms.

Berks County. Lord Craven's intereft prevails here fufficiently to fecure the return of one member.

Abingdon fends only one member, and feems to keep ittelf pretty free from ariftocratic influence or corruption. It received its charter, anno 1557, from Phiip and Mary, and the inhabitants, paying fcot and lot, to the number of about 600, have the right of election. In 1698, the Houfe of Commons refolved, that the proceedings of William Hucks, Efq. making ufe of the authority of government to be elected a burgess for the faid borough, is a fcandalous reflection on government, and tends to Subvert the freedom of election. We

with the Houfe Commons were now to make a few fimilar refolutions.

Reading, like its neighbour, has net given up its independence, but has been faid to have advanced a little in t paths of corruption. It has fent mem bers fince 23 Edw. I. The right a election is in the inhabitants paying foot and lot, and their number abo 6oo.

Wallingford has no great claim to is dependence, for the ingenious author d the Hiftory of the Boroughs tells a that corruption is here brought to a cor plete fyftem. The firft writ on record a 23 Edw. I. The right of election is l the corporation and inhabitants, to t number of 140.

New Windfor. This borough is pe liarly fituated. Near to the royal dence, we are not to wonder that a tain high influence prevails. Wi was chartered 5 Edward I. and members in the 30th of the fame rig From the 14th Edw. III. the prin of electing their reprefentatives was termitted until 25 Henry VI. fince which it has regularly returned them. Irhabitants paying foot and lot vote here, the amount of 280, and the mayor i returning officer. The patron of t borough is too well known.

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Buckingham County. The Duke a Portland, and Marquis of Buckinghar have mutually fettled the elections this county, and each appoint thus we fee that where an ariftocracy fuffered to prevail, every right of people is either directly or indirefi annihilated.

Buckingham Town. This is complet ly a rotten borough, the corporation cor fifting of the dependents of the Mas quis of Buckingham, who has the tex difpofal of the borough. It fent mes bers in the 11th Edw. III. but di continued under that king, and the p vilege was again refumed 36 Hen. VII The voters are only 13, viz. a baili, and 12 burgeffes.

Aylesbury Town has preferved foure degree of independence. It was incar porated the 1ft of Mary I. and the election is in the houfholders. It is faid there is a kind of filent bargain ma here for votes, and that the candidate, in

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is canvas, holds up as many fingers as means to give guineas; and there is aid to have been an inftance of a cerin member having fuddenly left the own after his election, without making his promife.

Great Markow. This borough fent members to parliament feveral times bere 3 Edw. II. and then ceafed for 400 rs, until reftored 21 James I. The ight of election is in the inhabitants, aying foot and lot, their number about 23; but as the borough is the joint proerty of William Clayton and William e Antonie, Efqrs. they have no other ivilege than voting as thofe two gentleaen please.

Wendover. This borough has the hoour to be bought and fold as often as s mafter pleafes; and a fhort time bere his death, the late Earl Verney fold to its prefent poffeffor, John Baker hurch, Eiq. The late poffeffor being ppofed by Sir R. Dalling, who obtained majority of votes, the Earl in revenge nftantly rejected thofe who had voted gift him out of their houfes, and ey were obliged to promife good behaiour in future before they were admitdback to their habitati ons. This bough was reprefented in the time of dw.Iut under Edw. II. intermitted ading members, until reflored again James I.

Agmondeham is wholly the property the Drake family, of Shardeclores, ing bought by their ancestor of CharII. They rule the elections comletely, and the father and fon are now embers. Young Drake has often deared, he fees no neceflity for a reform, parliamentary reprefentation, This rough is ancient; fent members under d. I and II. and then intermitted til reftored by James I.

(To be continued.)

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Fatima was abforbed in grief for the lofs of her father, yet they agree in this, that it continued long inceffant. At the end of about fix months, her hufband Ali going one day into her apartment, beheld her employed in kneading dough, for bread, mixing up a compofition for her children's hair, and making preparation for washing their garments. Ali, aftonished at the novelty of the scene, addreffed her, O! worthy to be ferved by men and angels! O fole daughter of the prophet, and laft of apoftolic women! O! mother of the two martyrs! never yet have I beheld your attention engaged by two employments at a time, and now I fee it taken up with three.-What myfery does this conceal?The holy Fatima, (her eyes bathed in tears) replied, O! prince, diftinguished in the plain of La Futtah, and furnamed of the Almighty, the Lion of God! O! bud of the gar den, and line of Abu Taleb! the hap pinefs of our union draws to a clofe; the hour of feparation is arrived, and the period of abfence is about to commence-aft night I dreamt I beheld my father, flanding on an eminence, and looking round as if in expectation of fome one's approach. I called out, "Whence are you, O my parent! my heart is afflicted, and my body wafted with anguifh, on your account." He re plied, "I am now come for you; the time is arrived, in which you must wean your affections from the flesh, and break the bonds of your earthly habitation; in which you must remove your tents from the ftraits of earth, to the world of hea◄ N 0 T E. implies, of ten fuch narratives as that here prefented to our readers; each containing an account of the death of one of the Mahommed on patriarchs, or fome other diftinguished perfonage. A por.ion of this book is read daily, during the Afhocrah, or folemn Mourning, celebra ted by the Muffulmans on the first ten days of the month Mohurrum.-The narrative, here felected, is a pleafing and even useful fiction, inculcating in a very beautiful and pathetic manner, the wif dom and happiness of fulfilling the relative duties, incumbent upon us in this tranfient period of our exiftence.

ven; make hafte for I cannot depart without you" I replied, "O my father, this event is my wifh, the confummation of which I have conftantly fighed for." "Ufe no delay, then," he repeated again, "for to-morrow night you muft accompany your parent," I here awoke, with my heart entirely abforbed by the defire of the world to come, and am certain, that the clofe of this day, or to-morrow evening, will be the period of my diffolution; I am therefore making bread to-day, as grief on my account may render you incapable of doing it to-morrow, and my children in confequence may hunger in vain; I wafh their garments now, knowing not who will attend to the wants of my orphans hereafter; and I am preparing to clean their hair at this time, ignorant whom they will have to clean it when I am gone.'-Thus, Fatima was anxious to keep their hair from being polluted by common dirt; had the beheld what afterward happened, their graceful ringlets defiled with duft, and their enchanting countenances itained with blood; how would he have fupported the heart-rending fight!

When Ali heard her to a conclufion, the tears running down his checks, he replied, O my beloved, hardly yet have I recovered from one wound, when lo! another is inflicted on me and to the death of your father, is the lofs of you now to be added.' Fatima defired him to be comforted under both, and not to leave her, as the moments of her life were numbered, and their next meeting would be in the world of eter nity. She put the garments of her childer in water, and bedewed their heads with the fondeft tears of maternal love; Would to heaven!' fhe exclaimed, I were ignorant of the cruel fate which awaits them; and of the extent to which it will be carried! Go,' fhe continued, my children, to the burial ground of Buckea; and employ your prayers to heaven in behalf of your mo

ther.'

When they were gone, the extended herself on the bed, and defired Ali to fit down by her: he called for Afinah, the daughter of Awmife; and defired inner might be ready by the time her

fons would return, and served up to them in another apartment; that they might efcape the mifery of feeing her in her laft agonies. Afmah did as the had been directed, and on their retura brought up dinner. The princes in a tonifhment, demanded, if ever the had feen them fit down without their mother, and wherefore the fuppofed they would do it now; Afmah faid, her miftreis being indifpofed, they had better not wait for her; but they replied, that without their mother's company, no refreshment could be palatable to them, and went ftrait toward her apart ment.

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On feeing them approach, Fatima defired Ali to take them away again, to the tomb of her father, that they might humble themfelves before God; while fhe endeavoured to repofe heridi. When they were gone, the defired Ali to take her head to his bofom, for her life now ebbed faft. Ali replied he had neither heart nor refolution to behol her in fuch a fituation; or to attend to language fo affecting. O! Ali!' fhe anfwered, the road which I am going, is a road which all muft travel; and the fullnefs of my grief is fuch, as muft, of neceffity, be allowed utterance. Be patient then, and imbibe the bitter draught of my diffolution.' Ali took her to his bofom; when, in the affliction with which he was overwhelmed, a dropped on her cheek; the opened be eyes, and feeing the violence of his grief, obferved, that the prefent was rather a feafon for testamentary duties, than unavailing forrow. O! first ef women! he quickly replied, reveal your will.' I have four requefts' continued Fatima: Firft, If I have milbehaved myself toward you, or ever g ven you uncafinefs, that you forgive me.' He answered, God forbid ! during the time we have lived together, neither in word nor in act, have you done aught to give my heart a pang: you have been my perpetual folace; not my forrow: my comforter in affliction; not the dif turber of my repoip. In you, I have found the faithful miftrefs, not the it perious tyrant: poffeffed of the fweetneis and fofinefs of the rofe: not the harpnefs and annoyance of the thorn."

• Secondly,

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