LORD HARROWBY'S BOROUGH OF TIVERTON.
Few persons who heard at the time, or who have since read the celo• looted speech of Lord Harrowby against the second reading of the Re- form Bill, can have forgotten the eloquent, impressive, and even pathetic account which his Lordship gave of his own connexion' and of the con- nexion of his family, with the borough of Tiverton. The attachment was, indeed, romantic in its origin, and more than romantic in its ardour and constancy. It began without interest on either side, and was con- tinued without any barter of support for patronage. The family of the Ryders and the corporation of Tiverton, united like two fond lovers, had never even suffered any of those drawbacks on their ardent attachments which are enumerated by the comic writer in the accidents to which fond love is exposed:
Suspiciones, inimicitiss, include, Bonum, pax rtusum."
Their intercourse was marked by a generous devotedness, by an unvary- ing confidence, and an undiminished fondness ; and his Lordship pro- mised himself, and assured the House, that no nabob's gold, no in- triguer's arts, could ever step in to sever the connexion so fondly cherished. But what has happened since that glowing speech was delivered ? Why, out of the two Members returned by his Lordship's influence under the reign of the Corporation, be has not been able to return one for the town; and seeing the dawn of Corporation Reform above the horizon last summer, he has himself thought proper to resign his Corporation honours! But we even find in the evidence given before the Muni- -eipal Commissioners, that the connexion between his Lordship's family and the Corporation was not so disinterested or so innocent as he had represented it. Mr. Patch and Mr. Wood, the present and the late Town Clerk for the borough, give a less romantic account of the affair than that given in the House of Lords. Lord Harrowby, though not a resident in the borough, and therefore against the terms of the charter, which requires residence in order to secure the voluntary in- fluence of the Corporation in his favour, consented to become Mayor. " Under this old system," said Mr. Patch, "we had no contests for members of Parliament. About a century ago there had been a con.. test, when twelve divided against thirteen." Happy borough, when thirteen corporators, with a noble Lord at their head, bound by his honour not to interfere with the elections of the Commons, could re- turn two Members to-St. Stephen's ! In his character of mayor or of patron, or in some other undefined capacity, his Lordship, besides, was in the habit of giving the Corporation annually a pipe of wine. The following testimony on this subject may be as amusing though not so romantic as the statement in the House of Lords."
"Did either Mr. Ryder or Lord Harrowby contribute any sums of money to the borough?—Sums of money No, certainly; none. You heard yesterday that the town-clerk fold you that they had given latterly a pipe of wine?—Yes. Annually ?- No, they did not give us many. Mr. Barties—Please to understand that they hail the use of our wine-cellar and used it gratuitously, 00111 good many others who are doing all they can against us; hut never again."
The whole disclosures made on the constitution of this borough—on its mode of electing corporators—on the qualifications of its Recorder, who is not to be learned in the law—on the selection of persons for mayors, who were sometimes clergymen, sometimes noblemen, anti who wereoften non-resident, though bound to residence—on its mode of administering justice in the Court of Record—on its management of charitable property, and on some of the sources of its funds—are extremely curious. Connected with the latter point, are two disgrace- ful transactions, in which the Corporation exerted their patronage, derived, no doubt, from their Parliamentary influence, to procure situa- tions under Government for a Sir John Duntze and a Mr. Hamilton, on .condition of their contributing respectively Kt and 741. annually to their revenue.— Times.
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