Sir Henry James, in moving for a Commission to inquire
into the Corrupt Practices at Gloucester, Macclesfield, Chester, Knaresborough, Boston, Oxford, and Sandwich, expressed a rather sanguine opinion that corrupt practices at elections,— especially considering the much increased number of voters in the constituencies,—are not increasing. In:the two elections pre- ceding that of 1868, there were 96 petitions presented, 48 with- drawn, and 48 actually tried; in the two elections since 1868, there were 72 petitions presented, 22 withdrawn, and 50 actually tried. In the former two elections, of the 48 actually tried only 22 were successful ; but in the last two elections, of the 50 actually tried 32 were successful. 'Sir Henry James did not think that this showed an increase of corruption, and certainly not an increase in proportion to the electorate. Perhaps not. But of decrease there is hardly any evidence, and for our own parts, we do not at all believe in the tendency of these Election Commissions which the House of Commons has issued to diminish it for the future. It is much better not to stir up the dirty water more than is necessary. Let the Judges punish mildly but uniformly, and in some disagreeable way which will discredit the briber but elicit no sympathy for him, when they discover the giver of a bribe ; and let us not set any more people peering into and laughing at the scandals of vulgar sins.
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