1784.]
Death of Chatham to the First Ministry of Pitt.
31
and rhetorical, but it concluded with a definite scheme, as comprehensive and as thorough-going as any which has been put forward by the most advanced Radicals at any time. It included the well-known "five points" of the Chartists,[1] and proposed a plan of electoral divisions similar to that recently proposed by the Rev. Mr. Fowle,[2] and which seems to possess the merits of equalizing the voting power, whilst recognizing the local associations of the counties which have existed from the very commencement of our Parliamentary system. There were sixteen recommendations, which were to the following effect:—
- Each county to be divided into as many districts as it is entitled to elect representatives, each district choosing one representative.
(The number of members for each county was set out, but was to be subject to periodical revision according to the relative increase of population. See V.) - Each district as far as possible to contain an equal number of males; the name of the district being taken from the parish containing the greatest number of electors.
- Annual Parliaments to be elected on the first Tuesday in July each year, the election to commence between eight and eleven, and close before sunset of the same day.
- All male inhabitants of this country (aliens, minors, criminals, and insane persons excepted) to vote.
- Makes first allotment of members to counties, in all 513.
- Regulation as to register.
- Grand inquest in each county to allot members to districts.
- Election to take place in principal town or village of district.
