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    his official situation ) been so distinct and prominent , as those of the first named Peers . Yet his name is undoubtedly one of the elements of public reliance and security . Politicians may do well to note how far an honest man ' s character and word will go . The cleverest tactician has no trick to match them . The whole

    year has been a continued demonstration , on the part of the people , of prompt , generous , and almost unbounded confidence in two or three individuals of unimpeached integrity . In this , the last month of the year , that confidence has been rewarded and strengthened by the early assembling of parliament , and the introduction of a bill , alter et idem , which varies in nothing that materially affects its efficiency . Speedy and triumphant be its progress !

    Another most honourable circumstance to the people is the unanimity which has hitherto been so well preserved . Every attempt to scatter the seeds of dissension has been frustrated . False friends and open enemies have been alike defeated . As soon as it was seen that the ministerial plan would give the Commons of England the preponderance in their own house , though that preponderance maybe but a bare majority over the

    representatives of individuals or privileged classes , from that moment all other schemes were thrown aside , the badges and symbols of party were lowered , and points for which men had been battling all their lives with the zeal of missionaries and martyrs , were quietly postponed and put in abeyance . The good sense and good feeling which have been evinced in this particular are above all praise . Some of the questions thus postponed must emerge

    from the oblivion into which they have been cast ; those , for instance , which relate to voting by ballot , and the duration of parliaments . It is possible that the new arrangements may preclude the confusion , oppression , and immorality which havfe prevailed so disgustingly in election contests . Unless they do , the subject of secret voting must and ought to come again into discussion . Nor can it be supposed that a reformed parliament will

    deem the Septennial Act too sacred to be touched . But people generally are well content that the great experiment which has been proposed should be fairly tried ; that even such [ points as these should be withdrawn from the present conflict ; and that they should be referred from the season of party strife and heat to that in which the consciousness of power to dispose of them according to the dictates of justice and utility will ensure their calm discussion .

    The people have done themselves honour not only by their forbearance but by their activity . The energy and the sacrifices which distinguished the late general election ought not to be uncommemorated j especially following so closely as they did upon the similar exertions of the preceding year . The voters , it should tie remembered , are a select and irresponsible body ; in some

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    M Staie and Prdspeds t > f the Country .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1832, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1804/page/6/