I will not here discuss how far it of classes took place. The week after the Royal assent Now, my lord, the Warwickshire Reformers could sup­ was just, generous, or politic, thus to reflect on the was given to the Reform Act, I was one of a large Reform interest in town and county. M r. K n i g h t pos­ sesses several thousands a year of landed estate in ply you Liberal substitutes, of ancient countly family and Birmingham magistracy, when you could not possibly body who withdrew from the association on a public large landed possessions, for a third of your excessive ma­ declaration stating our objects to be attained. During War­ wickshire. He had commenced in 1792 the Whig be fully informed of all the circumstances of their oppo­ sition in W arwick, as a candidate against your jority of Tories. I the whole three years of political agitation I did not will now examine the truth of your animad­ versions arduous duties and conduct, and when probably your father's interst, though unsuccesfully. This political sin utter a word nor do an act of which I am ashamed, on Lord John R ussell, for partiality in the appointment lordship would not have so reflected, or held them up to was visited upon him by his exclusion from the commis­ or of which I repent. I incul­ cated in public and of the M unicipal Magistrates of Birmingham. T h e WARWICKSHIRE AND disrespect as political partisans, if you had then been private respect for the rights of pro­ perty, and resort sion, although in the year 1797 he had served the o ffice of sheriff in W arwickshire, and also in Montgomery! Town Council presented for approval a list of 21, fully informed that three of the magistrates (Tories) in only to moral force. I represented that the W orking including 7 County Magistrates acting for Birmingham. BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRACY - LORD WARWICK AND Classes were above all others most in­ terested in Can you deny these facts, or justify the wrong? I might Of these 21, two were Tories; five were Whigs, and the your county commission (also municipal magistrates), the maintenance of law and order, as they w e r e and can multiply examples of political exclusion, but MR. JOSEPH PARKES. TO HENRY remainder (14) Whig-Radical and Radical. The Go­ were among the most active and most re­ sponsible of the almost always the greatest sufferers in revolutions. the following summary of your p rese n t ro ll w ill b e s t RICHARD GREVILLE, vernment reduced the list to 19, retaining all the County I was too well informed of the mighty relations of expose its party character. On inspection of the commission acting justices on the lamentable occa­ sion of the riot. Magistrates presented. Of 22 County Magistrates, acting EARL BROOKE AND WARWICK, DOCTOR OF credit - of the awful evils consequential on the fa ll o f (and the county has to thank you for public a tte n tio n Further, you might have given the magistrates credit, for Birmingham, seven were therefore presented by CIVIL LAWS, &c., LORD-LEIUTENANT AND CUS­ our monetary system, and the non-employ­ m e n t o f being called to it through your gratuitous abuse o f m e), the town council. Mr. R ic h a r d S po o n e r , D r. B o o th , as they all deserved, for days of anxious labour, and for labour to advocate violence or riot. At the same time, my I see that including 15 noblemen, 6 honourables, an d 1 4 TOS ROTULORUM OF THE COUNTY OF WARWICK. M r. W . C . A lsto n (Tories), were added by Lord Jo h n lord, I avow that had war been made on the Reformers baronets, you have in gross 157 lay magistrates. In th is M y L ord - Your lordship has twice, within the suppressing the disturbances without sacrifice of human number I find 49 Liberals only, many of the latter as R ussell; and also M r. H e n r y S m it h and M r. W il lia m life. It is very fine, my lord, in thoughtless political at that eventual moment by Tory successors of Lord last twelve months, condescended to introduce my name non-residents not acting! Now to your clerica l p o rtio n P h ipso n (W hig county magistrates), thus making 24 G r e y , I was, with my fellow- townsmen, prepared in gross numbers of the municipal justices. Half the furies, to advise "sabreing and shooting Englishmen of Parson Justices. Few counties can compete with you in debates in Parliament, on the subject of the county and to stand or fall by the P eo ple. I have been for years Tory commission was, there­ fore formed from the county on the first outbreak of a riot, as humanity and ultimate in number or proportion of clerical magistrates. S ix t y municipal Magistracy of Warwickshire. Your unpro­ voked misrepresented as an instru­ ment of the W hig ministry list! The Birmingham county magistrates omitted were Vicars, Rectors, and Curates are in the commission, saving of life." Our country­ men are not bloodthirsty; at that period in Birming­ ham. The accusation is false. - M r. P r ic e , M r. L e e , M r. B e a l e , M r. B l a k e w a y , and uncourteous reflections on me personally me­ rit and forming upwards of a fourth of the entire county magistracy! and it is not only the christian, but the prudent, policy I was scarcely personally known to a member of that an d M r. C a d b u r y - all five advanced in years, and receive only my contempt. If they gratify your lordship you With a good knowledge of the county and the help of cabinet or government on its formation, except to Lord four of the five being Liberals. Two clergymen were of English civil and military forces to suppress riotous local friends, we find that in the sixty priests you have are welcome to repeat or vary them, in or out of Parliament B r o u g h a m . Neither with L o rd B r o u g h a m , n o r a n y om itted, being ineligible under the 98th sec. of the attempts to destroy property without bloodshed. But, b u t f iv e Liberals!!! True, that liberal clergy are not - provided you will not wrong my pub­ lic reputation by any member of the administration had I any private or Municipal Act. M r. Is a a c S p o o n e r an d M r. G r im e s very ubundant in any county; but as you have lately put in expression of your lordship's good opinion. I am too much first, to your lordship's observations above cited written communication, excepting on two occasions. were also omitted, and are non-residents. The only two a new comer, the Rev. C. P il k in g t o n , an active Tory on myself, on which I will be brief. Your lordship's On one occasion, unsought by me, a Peer to w h o m I other names omit­ ted of the county list were M r. accustomed to the salutary licence of liberty of speech partisan, we can find you a few Liberal county clergy, was personally unknown, wrote to me deprecat­ in g F . L l o y d an d M r. D a n ie l L e d s a m (Tories). Thus, m anner or style of using my name does not degrade me, not in the commission, of "old families," and better and freedom of the press in this country to complain of the the local plan of arming proposed in the Union in the in truth, the real o m issions from the county list were but yourself. You exhibit only a want of real nobility of qualified than some Conservatives in your clerical muster common lot of all who mix in the collisions of public life; autum n of 1831, as injurious to the popular cause. seven, viz., four Liberals and three Conservatives. So roll. As my startling assertion of the gross number and mind. If your lordship uses perso­ nalities, unbecoming Icommunicated the letter to M r. S c h o l e f ie l d b y th e much for your lordship's cor­ rectness and knowledge and if I regret any public act it is an action I once brought for po­ litics of your reverend magistrates may not be credited, a man of rank, I will not reply by any vulgar retorts leave of the writer at m y own special request, and slander. If, therefore, your lordship's parliamentary speeches Ihereunder give a list of their names - some of them, of your own commission. Now, my lord, as to at­ tending the next week the Union Council the project your charge, that I manufactured the Birmingham had simply applied to myself personally, I should not have unbefitting the character of a gentleman. I can account for be it observed, not residing in the county:- was unanimously abandoned after my address to the Commission of the Peace, and obtained a lib e r a l your lordship's spleen. You owe me and my commoner members representing the illegality and impolicy of the 1 Lord Aston, vicar of Tar­ 31 Rev. J . Lucy troubled you with this reply; but when your lordship, by misrepre­ debigg, Worcestershire majority - I have already exposed your partia­ lities for ancestors no political good will. For nearly a century past intended or­ ganization. After the reinstatement of Lord 32 Rev. T. Levett sentation of my individual acts your fa­ mily and mine, hereditary political enemies, 2 John Davenport, D.D. 33 Rev. R. Lickorish Tory majorities; I will now contrast my own co n d u c t G rey's cabinet I did form some public acquaintances and with yours. As London agent of the memo­ ria lis ts and conduct, publishes false accusations of others, I am have in a small way resembled the Guelphs and Gibelins, 3 C. R. Bloxham, D.D. 31 Rev. F. Mills friendships; but so far from being u s e d for agitation, I 4 L. Gardner, D D. who in the 12th century kept up a perpetual agitation in 35 Rev. E. Miller soliciting the Charter of Incorporation, I was w ritte n bound to expose your lord­ ship's untruth and injustice. Last had during the whole progress of the national movement 5 T. Arnold, D.D. 36 Rev. C. Newsam to respecting the number and political character o f th e Germany and Italy. We are the last successors to the old session, on the 17th of July, 1838, your lordship took part in the reason to believe that in the view of the government some 6 Rev. H. Adams 37 Rev. T. V. R. Nicoll intended presentment. I replied to the present m a y o r family feud. For twenty years I have not remitted the of our agitations were much disapproved. And now, my 7 Rev. T. C. Adams 38 Rev. F. Palmer Lords' debates, reflecting on Lord Cot­ tenham for certain spirit of my forefathers. You are vainly striving to keep that I strongly recommended them n o t to present an lord, what is our present political condition but C lu b la w , 8 Rev. A. Annesley 30 Rev. R. B. Podmore exclusive party list; that keeping their majority they should appointments of Warwickshire county magistrates, under the up the feudal system, I successfully (in the long run) to 9 Rev. T. Blyth high and low? Look around you and see everywhere 40 Rev. J . T. Parker present a considerable and unmixed political number pull it down. The original and present object of contest 10 Rev. T. R. Bromfield 41 Rev. F. D. Perkins powers of the Great Seal. I copy from the Mirror of Parliament p o l it ic a l u n io n s , of all parties and classes of your from the county magis­ trates acting for Birmingham; is, whether the E a r l s o f W a r w ic k shall nominate the 11 Rev. E . A. Bagot 42 Rev. C. Pilkington country - Conservative and Reform Associations - that I was confi­ dent that Lord J o h n R u s s e l l w o u ld Re­ presentatives in the C o m m o n s House of Parliament 12 Rev. W. R. Bedford 43 Rev. P. S. W. Porter (Part 489, p.5568) the following extract from the report of Radical and Chartist Unions - Registration Associations otherwise add county magistrates to their presentment, of our native town, or whether the independent E lecto rs 13 Rev. T. Ballard 44 Rev. J . Roberta your lordship's speech:- The Earl of Warwick: "I think I have - Corn-law and Anti-Corn- law confederacies, shall freely choose their own Representatives. The end in 14 Rev. I. Boudier 45 Rev. J . Seagrave and not approve a rank party list; and that if they (the a right to complain of the manner in which magistrates have unhappily dividing the rural and town populations. The 15 W. D. Bromley 46 Rev. R. Sadler town council) acted partially in their selection, they been in­ serted in the commission of the peace for the county view is the prevention or gain of improved and popular London journals of this present month have reported 16 Rev. H . Bella irs 47 Rev. T. L. Snow institutions of government. Your lordship must admit could not justly complain of your conduct in the county. of Warwick, and also under the Municipal Corporation Bill. a Common Pleas verdict against your lordship o f £ 2 0 5 17 Rev. G . Champigne 48 Rev. J . Scholefield The subse­ quent town council presentment I did not I believe I can state from whom the recommendations for that in our generation your party has been the loser. In 10s. 6d. at the suit of a creditor of the Warwickshire 18 Rev. R. S. Carles 49 Rev. S. Y. Seagrave consider wholly proper; and all my connection with the these appointments proceeded; at any rate, if I cannot name 1826-7, in conjunction with some public-spirited burgesses T im es - an unsuccessful newspaper, it appears, set up by 19 R ev. T. H. Chamberlain 50 Rev. H. W. Sitwell the individual, there is no person in the county of Warwick of W ar­ wick, I professionally, by quo warranto an d commission was accompanying the local deputations you lordship and Mr. G eo rg e L u cy (one of your lordship's 20 Rev. A. Clive 5 1 Rev. J . Short who does not attribute them to a certain whipper- in, or active 21 Rev. C. Davenport 52 Rev. H . Townsend to the Home- Office, as their agent, and where I openly criminal in­ formation, ejected from the old corporate county magistrates, the descendant and heir of S h a k - canvasser, as the noble and learned lord on the woolsack body, of which your lordship was then recorder, your 22 Rev. J. Ellis 53 Rev. E. J. Townsend stated such my opinion. Pending the settlement of the would say - a Mr. Joseph Parkes, who, being secretary of the p e a r e 's Justice Shallow ) in conjunction with the W ar­ commission, I again wrote to personal friends in the brother, Sir C h a r l e s G r e v il l e , and several of your 23 R ev. F. Ellis 54 Rev. J . Venour corporation commission, has, perhaps, only acted fairly in w ic k s h ire Conservative Club ; and thus, my lord, y o u nominees; and we published the before hidden charters, 24 R ev. T. L. Freer 55 Rev. P. S. Ward town-council, repre­ senting the policy and justice forwarding the views of the ministers. All that are a member of a p o l it ic a l u n io n , and one of "the 25 Rev. G . R. Grey 56 Rev. W. Wheeler of having a more mixed poli­ tical magistracy in times &c., of incorporation. We returned two Liberal members has been said respecting the magistrates might with equal gentle­ men of the public press!" Now, my lord, to your 26 Rev. S. B. H em ing 57 Rev. H . Wise of riot and political excitement. On the 19th of July, propriety be applied to the appointment of sheriffs; and the in support of the Re­ form Bill and two for the county. public acts as Lord Lieutenant of W arwickshire, and to 27 Rev. C. Holbech 58 Rev. E. Webb since the riot of the 15th inst., an in­ telligent Liberal whole patronage of the county seems We subsequently, in 1833, successfully petitioned against those of your predecessors. Your lordship's father was 28 Rev. C. J . Hume 59 Rev. W. C. Wilson the return of your brother, and ousted him from his seat magistrate has written to me expressing his s e n se o f to be dispensed with an entire regard to party feeling." On a lord-lieutenant for a quarter of a century up to his 29 Rev. W. M. Lully 60 Rev. H. R. Woolley my better opinion, and stating his consolation that three Tuesday, the 16th of this month, within twenty- four hours - exposing in 1833-4 the scandalous corruption of the death in 1816. The late M arquess of H e r t f o r d th e n 30 Rev. T. Lea constituency by your lordship's money. The result of the It is fair to say that three or four of these gentlemen of your county magistrates in the borough commission after the riot in Birmingham, your lordship (instead of being succeeded him, and on the death of the latter nobleman in shared, as Tories, in the responsibility and anxie­ ties Corporation Commis­ sion in municipal reform displaced 1822, your lordship succeeded him in the office. I have are called to another world; but they were all alive when in Birmingham as Lord-lieutenant, chiefly and specially your old governing body of the town and placed its powers placed in the last (1837) commission. I may have made a of the week. To verify my assertions of the injustice heard that at the period of the Birming­ ham riots, in 1791, of your lordship's accusations, I offer to show you entrusted with the conservation of the peace in the county in an elective town council, disfranchising you as the there was but o n e Liberal in the county commission of mistake in the name of one Doctor of Divinity, but I know Recorder. In these retrospective matters, and my humble you have four of that degree, Dr. A r n o l d being the my corres­ of Warwick) spoke in the House of Lords, denounced the the peace - the father of General J o h n s o n . Subsequently pondence. Such has been your lordship's conduct; professional [????] of them, I have, my lord, incurred your one other Liberal was added. The commission was full only liberal. For some years two Tories, the Rev. Mr. political composition of the Bir­ mingham magistracy, and displeasure. Hinc illœ Bou­ d ie r , vicar of St. M ary's, W arwick, and M r. and such my part as to the Warwickshire of Tory Clergymen of the Esta­ blished Church. Your magistracy. My lord, the entire Municipal System of took credit to yourself for anti­ cipation of the consequences. lachrymœ. On one other personal part of your attacks Staunton were the only county magistrates resident father refused to accept, on their own application, three the Counties ere many years must and will be changed. On Thursday night last week your lordship, still in London, I will only observe. Your lordship denounces me as a of the most learned and ac­ complished divines in the in the borough. I will not here, in a letter so necessarily long, remark on the inconsistent and injurious func­ The system of an unpaid and amateur magistracy must, again addressed the House of Lords on the same subject - not former member of the Birmingham Political Union. I assure kingdom, living within five miles of his castle, viz., Dr. tions of a magistrate of the peace and a Christian minister your lordship that I deem my relation to that association Parr; Rev. H. W illia m s, a descendant of Bishop B u r n e t ; as in other countries, be superseded by competent forbearing to introduce my name. I extract from the Times of Peace. I could prove that it is contrary to the ancient no dishonour, but a credit. I incurred great unpopu­ and the Rev. Mr. W il l e s , son of Chief Justice W illes - functionaries properly remunerated for dispensing of the following day parts of your speech:- larity on the first formation of the union, in 1829, by op­ all of them men of irreproachable character and property spirit of the Constitution; and you would do w e ll to justice to the people. The return of the gross County "The Earl of W arwick hoped to be allowed some por­ observe the signs of the times in 1640, when the H ouse posing as a Radical its organization; first, because it was independent of their preferment, and the latter gentleman Rates levied in England for the year 1834, ending 5th tion of their lordships' indulgence while he occupied their possessed of a large landed property in Leamington. They of Commons passed a resolution "that for bishops, or any January, 1835, was the enormous sum of 651,972 l. attention for a very short time, as his conduct has been taken founded on the M arquess of B l a n d f o r d 's project other clergymen whatsoever, to be in the commission died within the last few years, never having been in the 3s. 1¾d., if which W arwickshire contributed 15,336 l. notice of us as improper - in that he had not sought for correct of parlia­ mentary reform, which without the Ballot I of the peace, or to have any judicial power in th e S tar com m ission. I challenge your lordship to publish the 4s. 1d. W ill the country allow this enormous local information on the subject of these disturbances from her deemed decep­ tives; and secondly, because the main Chamber, or in any civil court, is a hindrance to th eir correspondence of these three distinguished c le rg y m e n taxation to be irresponsibly levied and irresponsibly Majesty's government. It has been stated, or at least insi­ object of its projectors then was to depreciate the currency. spiritual function, prejudicial to the common­ wealth, and nuations had been thrown out, that in the official situation with your father, on the subject of their rejec­ tio n o n administered? The Liberals demand popular control and The present Town- Clerk and myself were the only two fit to be taken away by a bill; and that a bill be drawn for which he held he had not done his duty, and that he had not p o litic a l grounds. They were Liberals, who had p a s s e d municipal and county institutions adapted to the wants inhabitants of Bir­ mingham who had the moral courage that purpose" (Commons Journals, vol. ii., p. 102). A bill given that support in the country to her Majesty's govern­ ment to address a crowded, and excited public meeting when through the severe ordeal of alarm of the first F re n c h of the present age; and they will, sooner or later, compel which he ought to have done. He was perfectly satisfied that was brought in, though it did not pass. It recited- "W hereas the Lord-lieutenants and Squirearchy to yield u p the Union was formed and to state our objections. I Revolution, holding by their political principles - o p p o sed he need not call on any noble lord for corroboration, when to your family "interest" in the borough - and disdaining bishops and possession of this ill-exercised power - a defective sys­ he stated that such was not the fact. The noble viscount op­ also further objected to the organization of the people in other persons in holie orders ought not to be intangled to barter their opinions for aristocratic counte­ n a n c e , tem adhered to only to maintain abuses and electoral posite knew very well that when he filled the office of Home Clubs. But circum­ stances, my lord, changed. Public with secular jurisdictions, the office of the m in is try Secretary, he stated everything that he thought could be of events rolled for­ wards in rapid succession, as they will magisterial honours, or church preferment. Dr. P a r r being of such greate importance that it will take u p th e influence. do in the next few years. Tories, Whigs, and Radicals died in 1825: your lordship never placed him in th e whole man, and for that it is found by long experi­ I have now publicly answered your Lordship; and service. He had never allowed himself in the exercise of as I despise anonymous attacks, I shall affix my name had petitioned Parliament in vain for the transfer of com mission. He had not been a "violent politician." ence that theire intermeddling with secular jurisdiction to this letter. Your lordship's private character justly the East Retford franchise to Birmingham. By a most Though nobly upholding the Birmingham Dissenters hath occasioned great mischeifes and scandel both to the duties of his siutation to be swayed by political feelings. com ­ m ands the respect of your neighbours; but He should confine the expression and the influence of num erous public m eeting of all parties, I had been when plundered and burnt out in the Church and King church and state, his Majesty, out of his religious care still, my lord, you are no Prophet in your own country. those feelings to the place in which he now stood, and he appointed a joint-secretary (with my Tory friend Mr. riots, he had, by well-known pamphlets, discouraged of the church and soules of his people, is graciously could only say that in the appointment of magistrats, or in th e d e m o ­ cratic spirit of the tim es. Indebted to Sir pleased that Although you had the advantage of a Scotch university Unett, the present undersheriff of Warwickshire), of the it be en­ acted," &c. I will not detail many local facts any thing else, he could look from one end of the county to the local com ­ mittee, advancing our common political F r a n c is B u r ­ d e t t for the generous presentation education, and were the pupil of an eminent Liberal in my knowledge of unpopularity and misconduct in (the late Professor S tew a r t, of Edinburgh), your fellow other, and say that politics had nothing to do with the exe­ object; happily the aristocracy and your lordship's party to the rectory of Graffham, in 1800, the following letter cution of his duty as lord-lieutenant [hear!]. He felt that it clerical magistrates, be­ because I do not desire to students held you in no great intellectual respect. A prevailed against us; and as fortunately the successive of D r. P a r r d is­ plays his temperance of opinion, and would not, perhaps, be becoming if he were to go into any bring the clergy into contempt: it is your lordship who Warwickshire friend of mine (now alive) once told me, motions of Lord Jo h n R ussell, to give representation to his foresight of the volatile character of that eccentric further statement with respect to the unfortunate occurrences does that in Warwickshire, by th u s that meeting the late Lord D u d l e y , his lordship said the large unre­ presented towns, also failed of success. member of Par­ liam en t:- " D e a r S i r F r a n c i s which had taken place, because it was understood that there swamping your lay magistracy. I will here only add to him, "You know B r o o k e , I suppose; ah, ah, poor The French Revolution followed in 1830, with its natural B u r d e t t - M y heart aches for you. I cannot assent to would be an investigation, and he hoped that it would prove that I never directly or indi­ rectly communicated with satisfactory. If his information, however, were true, and he and attendant excitement in Great Britain. His Grace the the principles or approve the spirit which appear in B r o o k e ; he would never be taught any thing, even Lord Cottenham on the subject of a county or any other had not the slightest doubt that it was correct, no magistrate D u k e o f W e l l in g t o n (leading Sir R o b e r t P e e l ) your advertisement. I do not forget that you were in by Dugald Stewart!" magistracy, and that I did not know that eleven liberal was present in Birmingham till the houses were all burnt. He in the new Parliament of that year committed the fatal the most disinterested manner my patron. I shall never I have the honour to subscribe myself, names were added to your commission in June 1837, Your Lordship's most obedient and humble did not mean to attribute blame to the magis­ trates, but their move of declaring the boroughmongering system to cease to keep in view the nobler qualities of your lordships knew full well that blame must be due somewhere, be a perfect representation. You thus pulled down your mind. M uch I lament your errors, and I tremble at the until I read the list on Friday last in the Crown office. I servant, Westminster, July 28, 1839. JOSEPH PARKES. and all he wanted to know was where it rested. He had been prospect of their consequences. I think it my private can only suspect from your anger that the Liberals then own house. The public mind resolved to overturn the P. S. Any provincial Liberals may inspect county com­ blamed for saying that the political unions were only one duty to tell you so, and my public duty to support the were quartered on you against your will - illustrating missions of the peace, at the Crown-office, Roll's-court, nuisance, and the Wellington Cabinet broke up. Lord shade distinct from the Chart­ ists; and he had blamed her adm inis­ tration which you, to my surprise and sorrow, your family motto, Vix ea nostro voco; - translated, "I for a shilling fee, and procure copies at a small cost. G r e y succeeded as a prime minister. His declaration Majesty's government for having appointed as magistrates have deter­ mined to oppose. From the bottom of my can scarce call these our own." - I never directly or persons so deeply implicated in the transactions of those of liberal principles of government and promise of soul, dear Sir Francis, I wish you health and every worldly bodies, that they were actually seen walking arm in arm Parlia­ mentary Reform called for the most active blessing, and I pray Almighty God to deliver you from indirectly, while the Great Seal was held by Lord Broug­ with individuals belonging to them [hear, hear!]. It was not and bold sup­ port of the mis-represented classes. I did councillors who mean little good to you, and will do h a m , communicated with him except on two names. to be expected that when magis­ trates, who had gone as not then join, but I acted with the Union. With others I less to their coun­ tr y . I shall strive to give m y vote In July, 1833, a county representative showed me near the wind in treason as they possibly could, appeared to a liberal list of your then ostracised Liberals, proposed conditioned th a t th e B a l l o t should be adopted as for you and Mr B y n g on M onday. Farewell, Heaven enforce order, that they would be obeyed. The honourable is witness to my sincerity when I subscribe myself, with to be sug­ gested to Lord B r o u g h a m . The county part of our creed, and from the autumn of the 1830 I member for Birmingham now said that he was no agitator. great respect, your well w ish er, " O c to b e r "S . P a r r . member asked me if it comprised expedient additions, attended the public meetings, and enforced my views of He (Lord Warwick) did not know what agitation meant, if and to name any other gentlemen illiberally excluded. I representative reform. Those opinions were - household 3 1 , 1 8 0 2 ." N o , D r . P a r r was not rejected from the the honourable member's ad­ dresses for the last eight or suggested one gentleman of landed property who had ten years did not mean it, and he must say that what had suffrage, as the broad and safe basis of the electoral body Warwickshire m agistracy sim ply because of political happened had been created by the encouragement given to - secret voting, as its essential and only protection - opinions, but specially because he, M r. W il l ia m s , a n d served all the public offices in Birmingham, and one this description of persons. They had used these individuals Equal division in the districts of the Elec­ toral B ody, M r. W il l is politically op­ posed your family to "open who is now a member of Parliament. Both were added; as their handmen, and they had appointed as secretary to the without which an elector cannot be truly represented - A the borough". And if Sir F. B u r d e t t some day becomes the latter I knew most politically objectionable to your Municipal Corporation Commission a person of the name triennial and fixed duration of Parliaments, not subject a peer, shall you, my lord, impeach a Tory ministry lord­ ship, and, therefore, particularly eligible. Thus, of Joseph Parkes, who had belonged to the political union to the royal prerogative of dissolution as plea­ sure, or calling him up to the House of Lords, because, like me, but for the "pressure from without" (not as your lordship [hear, hear!]. He un­ derstood that a return of the magistrates falsely represented from me), half the few Liberals in the of Birmingham, Manchester, and Bolton, had been moved by the demise of the Crown - All elections to take place S ir F r a n c is B u r d e t t w as a member of the Birmingham on one and the same day - R esid en ce, an essential to Political Union, which he was for three years, and presided roll gained entrance, among them no Liberal clergymen. So for in the other house, and he should certainly move for a much for your lordship's imputations against two Lord return also of the magistrates of Coventry and other towns in the right of franchise - A r e d u c tio n o f t h e n u m b e r s at one of its largest m eetings, being paraded through C hancellors for making magistrates under my influence. Warwick, which would show that the government had been o f t h e H o u s e o f C o m m o n s , and the abolition of th e the town to his great delight? You are now politically influenced by the same motives in the appointment of all these Property Qualifications for English Members. These fraternising with "Eng­ land's Pride and W estminster's I turn next to your last commission of Deputy-Lieu­ magistrates [hear, hear!]. It had been declared in another were then my political principles; I hold and profess Glory," late a member of the Birmingham Political tenants. There I discover the same party discolouration, place that the appointments of the magistrates of Birmingham them now, and I shall do so, despite the power, the Union, although you view me with so much distemper. which I did not know of till your lordship, by your Par­ had been made in a most liberal way [laughter]; and it was frowns, or the temptation of the Aristocracy. I deemed the I proceed with your municipal biography. Before L o rd liamentary self-defence, directed my attention to its further stated that he had written a letter on the subject to the original Reform Bill of the G r e y C abinet aristocratic; G r e y came into office, I believe I am correct when I com­ position. You have Thirty-six in number, of whom Home-office. Now, he happened to know what sort of per­ I so publicly declared in 1831; and in speeches and in the say that you had not a dozen Liberals in the country five-sixths are Tories, and one-sixth only Liberals! You sons the magistrates of Birmingham were, and he should have contrived to find but seven Warwickshire county just like to acquaint the house with the facts of the case. public press I stated the consequences of the destructive magistracy, and only o n e Dissenter. This scandalous As soon as the town-council sent in their list of magistrates alterations of the original measure. Nevertheless, in partiality of selection, and the non-admission of many gentlemen of Liberal politics! To prove my assertion, for the town, among whom there was only one solitary common with the Liberal party through­ out the country, county gentlemen of large landed properties, but W h ig Igive their names, marking the Liberals with a star:- Conser­ vative, another application was forwarded to the I wished practically to obtain all we could from the grasp politics, was strongly represented to Lord B r o u g h a m , 1. Lord Hood 19. W. J . Harding *20. D. Heming Home- office, with respect to which he was requested to make of the aristocracy. I did not then enrol my name in the then Chancellor. I have looked over the roll of your 2. Lord Liffo rd some representation to the Home Secretary. He complied 3. Hon. C. B. Percy 21. W. Holbech Union; in truth, I was afraid lest, by any illegal step of a Commissions at the Crown-office, and I find that five or 22. H . Holden with the request, because he knew the parties recommended numerous political club, I might be removed from the 4. Sir F. L. H . Goodricke in that list to be respectable, and because he believed that, six Liberals were added in March, 1831. In July, 1833, 5. Sir E . E. C. Hartopp 23. J . F. Ledsam taking it all in all, a fairer list was never sent to the Home- roll of attorneys - my pro­ fessional means of subsistence; about seventeen Liberals were further added, I under­ 6 . Sir J Mordannt *24. Lord Leigh office. But it was said in another place that an equally fair but I always publicly declared that on any peril to the stand accepted by your lordship, though most of them * 7. Sir F. Shuckburgh 25. J . Ward list was ultimately approved of. Now, let their lordships Re­ form Bill I would then join the association. Ac­ forced on you by Lord B r o u g h a m . Am ong the * 8. Sir G . Skipwith 26. J. W. Lellingston consider whether this was really the case. Of the magis­ cordingly on the 8th of May, 1832, the day following the number were several Birmingham Dissenters. In this 9. I . M. Boultb e e 27. F. Lloyd trates of Birmingham ten were retained out of twenty-two; destructive motion of Lord L y n d h u r s t , which post­ ad­ dition were comprised the names of M r. T o m e s , 10. T. Caldecott 28. F. S. M iller and out of those ten, four were Conservative. To these were poned the consideration of the disfranchising clauses of many years representing the borough, a banker o f la rg e 11. W. S. Dugdale 29. R. E. E . Mynors added thirteen new magistrates, all of whom belonged to the bill till the enfranchising clauses had been discussed, I fortune. Also the name of Mr. K n ig h t , o f B ar­ rels, then 12. H. Elliott 30. F. Newdigate, jun. that description of men connected with political associations joined the Political Union, heading a public declaration of representing the borough of Wallingford. Now, w h y w e re 13. J . B. Freer 31. S. F. S. Perkins [hear, hear!]. Thus there were nineteen magistrates of one between two and three thousand of the middle-classes of * 14. T. T. Galton *32. G. R . Philips party, and only for of the other, and yet this was called a fair these two gentlemen previously excluded from th e 33. E. J. Shirley and liberal constitution of the magistracy [hear, hear!]" the town, who also enrolled themselves members. And for­ commission? They were L ib e ra ls, old leaders of the 15. B. G ranville tunate, my lord, was it for the Aristocracy that such union *16. A. F. Gregory 3 4. W . Staunton 17. H. Grimes 35. J. Taylor 18. F. B. Hack et 36 . H . C. Wise.