ENGLISH PRECEDENTS FOR THE BALLOT. TO LORD JOHN RUSSELL.
Kent, 2Sth January 1533.
Mv Loan—Having always placed considerable reliance on your judgment, I WM much sutpriseci to find that you joined the cry first raised hy the Tories, that • the use of the Ballot in elections was " un-English." Has it escaped your Lordship's recollection, that the members of the Royal, the Antiquarian, tho.Linnrean, the Astronomical, the Statistical, the Geographical, the Zoolo- gical, the Geological, all the numerous Law and Medical Societies of London— of the Philosophical Societies of Cambridge and the Ashinolean Society of Oxford University, of the Royal Antiquarian, Wernerian, Phrenological, and other scientific societies of Edinburgh—of the Adieu:cum, the United Ser- vice, the Junior United Service, and the Cambridge and Oxford University Club of London, - and the Clubs of Manchester arid Liverpool, are all elected beltallot ? You may assure yourself of this fact, by looking at their laws : I speak of it from my own k lllllllllllll having been present at most of those above named while the members have been so elected. I am also informed by some members of some of the societies of less note, formed by the mechanic, as the Mathematical Society of Spitaltields, the London Philosophical Societys,— and the provincial societies, as the Philosophical Society of Hull and Leeds, Manchester, &c. that there the members are also so elected. Indeed, as far as I can learn, this method of election, which has been branded with the name of " un-English," is used in every society which is collected together for either scientific, academic, military, or convivial purposes. where it is intended that the members (or electors) should lace the power of expressing their own individual opinion, that the election is always by BA LLOT. Indeed, my Lord, after a most rigorous examination of the subject, I am convinced that the election of the Members of Pediment by the Ballot, is the only safeguard that the rich man can have against the violence of the mob, and the only protection that the poor aid honest conscientious vote: has from the intimidation of the rich and overbearing. I am, my Lord, A NONCONFORMIST.. I-am infiwired by friends, that the members of the far-rained Carlton Club are also elected by Ballot ; as also the members of the various Glee and other Musical Clubs.
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