Piing in Ot Mar.

A. R017G11 GLANCE AT PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. Liverpool, January 1854. SIR—Having derived considerable pleasure in glancing over your-Sup- plement of last week on the Statistics of Representation, I think that if the late census returns were adopted as the basis on which to raise the su- perstructure of Parliamentary Reform, it would be the surest and most train- worthy guide to the settlement of this difficult, perplexing, and much- needed reform.

To please all parties is impossible, whether Conservative or Liberal; but a ilisotwbalancan balance ofballe ainecomreraltissill the great point to be aimed at. the first place, it ewill be requisite to look to the aggregate of what we have ; and then see, secondly, how it can be so modified that it may accurately meet the requirements of the age. Now, the population of Great Britain and Ireland are the parties 'to be represented in the Imperial Parliament ; whether rich or poort high or low t powerful, or weak, all ought to be represented, relative to their temporal welfare and happiness, 14 the councils of this ,nighty empire. What are their numbers ? In round numbers they are as follows—nearly 28 millions.

Mullions. Millions.

England. 17 ... proportion 2-3ds .... males 8 ... say 1-5th, age 21 = 1,600;000

Ireland.. 6 ... „ 1-6111 .... „ 3 ... PP = 600,000

Scotland. 3 ... „ 1-9th .... „ 14,.. ,. = 800M0 Wales ... 1 ... „ 1-27th .... „ i... = 11414100 _ —

27 millions 13 Males of age = 2,600,000 Now we look at the registration list (vide Spectator) 1852.

Ecigland ..Cities, &c 399,178 .... Counties . 471,287 = 870,465

Ireland... .. PO 149,345 = 178,979 Scotland .. PP 47,960 .... PP 50,833 = 98,793 Wales .... PP 11,751 .... PP 36,467 = 48,218

Total 488,523 707,932 = 1,196,455 Rough estimate (no data) of total male population of age 2,600,000

Registration-list for 1852 of the United Kingdom, &c 1,196,455

Difference. . 3,403,546

But from this we should have to -deduct out of the entire population allpri- goners, insane persons, persons receiving Poor-haw relief, hospitals, 10. &a tice., all of which would greatly reduce the difference ; besides the restric- tions relative to vagranoy and vagabondage, viz. no person who has not been residing in the parish, &c. for twelve months previous to the elections to have votes—rent-books evidence. No person out of employment to have a vote. All these, again, would reduce the aggregate number of electors. The next question will be, how will you regulate the majority, with their little stake at risk, with the rich, who are few; and who have immense wealth at stake ? Simply by the majority having one vote each, and the few, according to the taxes paid, 6, 10, 16, 20, 60, 100, and so on accordingly. The balance would thus be reciprocally adjusted. The colours of the voting- cards might be,

Red for 100 votes and under 50. Blue for 50 votes and under. White for 1 vote.

This naturally leads to the ballot. Ought each elector's name to be written on his card as he votes, and deposited by the clerks in their respective boxes ; or ought his free qualifications to be sufficient without ? Then he cannot be individually recognized, afterwards, in the aggregate, as to which way he might have voted, so that he may be free from oppression or resentment. This would be solved after the first trial : if the names lead to oppression, let the act be so framed as to allow subsequent elections to be without them ; and thus is obtained that freedom of thought to every Englishman which is his birthright, without tyranny or ruin. Another point to be settled is this—what ought to be the definite number of seats in the House of Commons ? The number 1000 or 600 might be the total by law ; then, according to the population of the respective kingdoms, districts, &c., so ought they to be represented : as—

England 17 millions or 2-3ds = 600 or 300 Members

Ireland 8 „ 1-4th = 250 .. 125 „ 2,600,000 Elec.

Scotland 16 „ 1-9th = 100 50 „ tore, or 5200 or

Wales 5 „

1-27th = 50 25 „ 2600 Electors to

— —

each Member.

27 millions 1000 or 500

Population, education, and wealth, would here be represented. Population would guide the due proportion of Members to the large cities—in the ag- gregate nearly equal to the counties. Let new and important cities have more representatives, and dilapidated boroughs, &o., have less or none, ac- cording as they are found to be now, and not as they were a century ago. If the franchise is not adopted as universal, let all persons who hold a de- gree have a vote in the locality where they reside, whether householders or not, so that education may have its voice.

The foregoing, although a rough outline, ought to be one of the elements in the consideration of any Parliamentary ileform. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, R. D. STATITR.