The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

From the Political Register, of May 1768.
Number 44.

ACCORDING to the Constitution of this Country, the House of Commons ought to consist of Representatives freely chosen, either by the Freeholders of the County, or by those Inhabitants of the Cities and Boroughs who by virtue of ancient Customs have a right to Vote. This Assembly, when chosen were intended to be a check on the Power of the Crown, to keep down the turbulent Spirit of the Barons, which in former Times was so formidable, to take care of the public Good in the first Place, and afterwards to be particularly attentive that no Injury be done to those Parts of the Country they severally Represent. Have these great Ends been answer'd at the late general Elections. Have not Custom-House-Officers, Excisemen, &c. &c. &c. so great a Sway in some Places, as to give the Crown an absolute Power to appoint the Members? Have not great Peers, who have no legal right to interfere in Elections at all, taken upon them to nominate the Members for Counties? Have they not at this Time the Command of most of the Boroughs in England, where Lord's Sons, Chaplains, Cousins, Tenants, and even Servants residing at a distance are chosen Burgesses, to the great prejudice of the Inhabitants? Have not honorary Free-men been so multiplied in other Places; as in a Manner to annihilate the Votes of those who reside there? If this is any where, or should at any Time, be the Case, I would recommend, that, for the future, instead of the usual Style of our News-Papers. A. B. was on such a Day elected for such a Place, it ought to be, Wednesday, March came on the Election for the Borough of -i--j when, in Pursuance of an Order from the Treasury C. & D. were chosen by a great Number of Custom-House Officers, Excisemen, Tide-Waiters, &c. &c. and a few others without Opposition: Thursday,, March - Lord C. sent down his Mandamus to the Borough of D. to choose his eldest Son for their Representative, when in obedience to his Lordship's Command, he was elected accordingly: His younger Son, two Chaplains, his Cousin, and two other of his Relations, who, by his Lordship's Interest had been appointed Burgesses, were present as usual, to preserve the Freedom of Elections. N. B. The above mentioned Persons amounted to near half of the number of the Voters in this Borough.
Friday March - Lord D. sent down his Mandamus to the Borough of E. to two of his Chaplains, six of his Domestic Servants. four of his Tenants, and a few other abject Fellows, who were mean Enough to be dictated to, and in Pursuance of his Lordship's Order, two Nabobs who had attracted with his Lordship for the moderate Sum of £. 7000 were returned by his Lordship's Steward, the Mayor, without opposition.
Monday March - There was a great contest between the Duke of -- and the Earl of-.. at F. when after a hard struggle, the Candidates nominated by his Grace were elected by a great Majority. Tuesday March --- a great Body of honorary Freemen, collected from most of the different Counties in England, marched into the Borough of W. and by the Assistance of a very small number of the Inhabitants, obliged the Town to return M. and S. for their Representatives.
Wednesday, March -- The long Dispute between the Marquis of S. and Lord M. ended this Day, when it was determined, that the Marquis shall be Dictator, and appoint Members for the next seven Years, and he appointed them accordingly.-
Are these Things so? If they are not, I hope some other Pen will contradict them; for the Inferences to be drawn from the above Hypothesis, must strike every Reader, but are too melancholy to be express'd.