Since that I have been much interested with an attempt,--a further
morsel of cobbling, which is being done to improve the representation
of the people. Though it be but cobbling, if it be in the right
direction one is glad of it. I do not know how far you may have studied
the theories and system of the British House of Commons, but, for
myself, I must own that it was not till the other day that I was aware
that, though it acts together as one whole, it is formed of two
distinct parts. The one part is sent thither from the towns by
household suffrage; and, this, which may be said to be the healthier of
the two as coming more directly from the people, is nevertheless
disfigured by a multitude of anomalies. Population hardly bears upon
the question. A town with 15,000 inhabitants has two members,--whereas
another with 400,000 has only three, and another with 50,000 has one.
But there is worse disorder than this. In the happy little village of
Portarlington 200 constituents choose a member among them, or have one
chosen for them by their careful lord; whereas in the great city of
London something like 25,000 registered electors only send four to
Parliament. With this the country is presumed to be satisfied. But in
the counties, which by a different system send up the other part of the
House, there exists still a heavy property qualification for voting.
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