WHEREAS it is expedient to take effectual measures for correcting divers abuses that have long prevailed in the choice of members to serve in the Commons House of Parliament, to diminish the expense of elections, to deprive many inconsiderable places of the right of returning members, to grant such privilege to large, populous, and wealthy towns, to increase the number of Knights of the Shire, and to extend the elective franchise to many of His Majesty's subjects who have not heretofore enjoyed the same: Be it enacted, by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the boroughs enumerated in schedule (A.) to this act annexed, shall cease, after the end of this present Parliament, to return members to serve in Parliament, and that no writ or precept shall be issued or sent to any of the said boroughs to return members to serve in any future Parlia

ment.

And be it enacted, that the boroughs enumerated in schedule (B.) to this act annexed, shall, after the end of this present Parliament, return one member and no more, to serve in Parliament for each of the said boroughs.

And be it enacted, that after the end of this present Parliament, the towns enumerated and described in schedule (C.) to this act annexed, shall each return two members to serve in Parliament; and that the towns enumerated in schedule (D.) to this act annexed, shall each return one member to serve in Parlia

ment.

And be it enacted, that the towns of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis shall, for the purposes of this act, be taken as one town, and shall, after the end of this present Parliament, return only two members to serve in Parliament.

And be it enacted, that each of the towns of Portsmouth, Rochester, and Kingston-uponHull, shall, after the end of this present Parliament, return two members to serve in Parliament, jointly with the other places respec

tively, as described in schedule (E.) to this act annexed.

And be it enacted, that after the end of this present Parliament, each of the places named in schedule (F.) to this act annexed, shall have a share in the election of burgesses to serve in Parliament, for the shire, town, or borough to which such place is annexed in the said schedule (F.); and that every person having the right of voting in any of the said places previously to the passing of this act, or acquiring such right by virtue of this act, shall and may give his vote in respect thereof at the place in which he resides, before the mayor or other chief officer of the place, who shall transmit the poll taken before him to the returning officer of the shire, town, or borough, to which such place may be joined for the purposes of election.

And be it enacted, that no person shall, after the end of this present Parliament, have the right of voting at the election of members to serve for the town of Carnarvon, in respect of any supposed right of voting in the place called Criccieth.

And be it enacted, that the towns of Swansea, Laugharne, Neath, Aberaven, and Ken Fig, shall, after the end of this present Par liament, for the purposes of this act, be taken as one borough, and shall return one member to serve in Parliament; and no person by reason of any right accruing in any of the places last named shall have any vote in the election of members for the borough of Cardiff; and that the votes shall in such elections be taken at the town or place within which the persons having the right of voting shall severally reside, by the mayor or other municipal officer of such town or place, who shall transmit the poll taken before him to the Portreeve of Swansea, who shall be the returning officer for the said borough.

And be it enacted, that the persons described in the column of the said several schedules (C.) (D.) and (E.) shall be the persons to whom all writs and precepts shall, after the end of this present Parliament, be directed, and shall be the return

ing officers for the elections of members to serve in Parliament for the said towns and places.

And be it enacted, that no person shall be entitled to vote at the election of a knight of the shire to serve in any future Parliament, in respect of any house, by reason of the occupation whereof he or any other person shall be entitled to vote for any city or borough.

And be it enacted, that from and after the end of this present Parliament, every male person of full age, and not subject to any legal incapacity, seised of and in any lands or tenements for an estate for life, or for any larger estate of at least the yearly value of ten pounds, above reprises, holden by a copy of court roll of the lord or lady of any manor, or by any customary tenure, and every person holding lands or tenements by lease for any term not less than years, whereon a yearly rent of not less than fifty pounds shall be reserved, shall have a right to vote in the election of knights of the shire in all future Parliaments; provided that no leaseholder shall enjoy sucli right by virtue of any lease renewable every year, or which shall have been renewed within two years preceding the registration to be made in manner hereinafter directed: provided always, that nothing herein contained shall take away or in any manner affect the right of voting for knights of the shire, at present enjoyed by any person, and which may hereafter accrue to any person, according to the laws now in force, in respect of freehold property, rent-charges, annuities, or any other right of voting now by law enjoyed in relation to the election of knights of the shire.

And be it enacted, that after the end of this present Parliament, every person owning or holding any lands or tenements, situate within cities or towns, being counties of themselves, described in schedule (G.) to this act annexed (which lands or tenements would, if situated in a county not being a city or town which is a county of itself, entitle the owner or holder thereof to vote), shall be entitled to vote at any election for the knights of the shire named in the said schedule (G.) respecsively.

Provided, also, and be it hereby enacted, that no person shall vote for any member, to serve in any future Parliament, in respect of the ownership or possession of any lands or tenements, unless he shall have been seised or possessed thereof for the space of thirty days at least before the registration (to be made in manner hereinafter directed) last before the election at which he shall claim to vote.

And be it enacted, that each of the counties enumerated in schedule (H.) to this act annexed, to be divided in manner hereinafter particularly directed, shall in like manner choose and return four knights of the shire instead of two, to serve in all, future Parliaments for the same respectively.

And be it enacted, that in all future Parliaments there shall be six knights of the shire instead of four, to serve for the county Yorkthat is to say, two members. for each of the three ridings of the said county, to be elected in such manner, and by the same classes and descriptions of voters, and in respect of the same several rights of voting, as if each of the three ridings were a county of itself.

And be it enacted, that in all future Parliaments there shall be four knights of the shire instead of two, to serve for the county of Lincoln, that is to say, two for the parts of Lindsey, in the said courty, and two for the parts of Holland and the parts of Kesteven in the same county; and that such four members shall be chosen in the same manner and by the same classes and descriptions of voters, and in respect of the same several rights of voting, as if the said parts of Lindsey were a separate county, and the said parts of Holland and Kesteven together were also a separate county.

And be it enacted, that in like manner all persons now having or who would by virtue of this act acquire the right of voting in elec. tions for knights of the shire for the county of Southampton, by reason of the ownership or possession of any lands or tenements situate within the Isle of Wight, shall in all future Parliaments cease to vote in such election for the county at large, in respect of such ownership or possession, and shall be entitled to choose one member to serve for the Isle of Wight; and that all elections for the same shall be bolden at the town of Newport, in the Isle of Wight.

And be it enacted, that a committee of the Lords of His Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, to be selected and named by His Majesty, under his Royal sign manual, shall, within three months of the passing of this act, inquire into and determine in what manner the said counties enumerated in schedule (H.) to this act annexed, shall thereafter be divided, for the election of knights of the shire to serve in all future Parliaments: and shall have the power of uniting and incorporating with any county, or any division of a county to be by them made (for the purposes of election only), any outlying portions of any other county which may be locally situate within the former, and shall make a report to His Majesty in Council; and it shall be lawful for His Majesty to issue his Royal proclamation, making known the determination and report of the said committee, and such reports shall forthwith be laid before both Houses of Parliament.

And be it enacted, that the said committee shall also, in their said report, determine at what places respectively all elections of knights of the shire, to serve in all future Parliaments for the respective divisions of the said counties, when so divided, shall be holden.

And be it enacted, that after such division

And be it enacted, that another committee of His Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, to be named by His Majesty, under his sign manual, shall inquire into and determine the limits and boundaries of all the cities and boroughs in England and Wales having the right of sending members to Parliament, and shall have power to annex unto and incorporate with any city or borough, any parish or township locally situated within such city or borough or thereto adjoining, or any outlying portion of any parish or township which may happen to be locally situate beyond the limits of such city or borough respectively, and shall on or before the day of next after the passing of this act, lay before His Majesty in Council a report of such their determination; and it shall be lawful for His Majesty to issue his royal proclamation, making known the said determination and report of the said committee, from the date of which proclamation such cities and boroughs shall be and remain bounded and limited, annexed and incorporated respectively according to such determination as aforesaid; and the said report shall forthwith be laid before both Houses

of Parliament.

And be it enacted, that the said last mentioned committee of the Lords of His Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, shall, within three months after the passing of this act, proceed to annex to such cities and boroughs (except those enumerated in schedule (Ă.) as now have the privilege of sending members to Parliament, but do not contain more than three hundred houses, of the yearly value of ten pounds at least, or rated to the relief of the poor, or to the duty assessed on inhabited houses at ten pounds by the year at least, any parish or township within which the said city or borough or any part thereof may lie, or any parish or township adjoining thereto, or any outlying portions of any other parish of township that may be locally situate within such city or borough, or within such annexed parish or township, parishes or townships, as such committee may deem convenient, (for the purpose of elections only); and every such city or borough shall, jointly with such annexed parish or township, parishes or townships, be a city or borough for the purpose of electing members, and return such member or members as they may be entitled respectively to return to serve in all future Parliaments; and the said last mentioned committee shall make a report of their determination, touching the said annexations to

his Majesty in Council, and it shall be lawfal for his Majesty to issue his Royal proclamation, making known the said determination and report of the said committee, and the said report shall forthwith be laid before both Houses of Parliament.

And be it enacted, that in all elections for members to serve in any future Parliament for cities and boroughs, every male person of full age, and not subject to any legal incapacity, who shall have occupied for six months previous to the settlement of the registers which are hereinafter directed to be made, any house within such cities and boroughs of the clear yearly value of ten pounds, or bona fide subject to the yearly rent of ten pounds, or which shall have been for the same time rated to the relief of the poor, or to the duty assessed upon inhabited houses, at a sum not less than ten pounds, shall have a right to vote for such cities and boroughs: provided always, that no person who shall not have been duly registered according to the provisions hereinafter contained shall be admitted to vote at such election provided, also, that every person now having a right to vote in virtue of any corporate right, shall retain such right for his life, and on being duly registered shall be entitled to vote, provided every such person shall have resided for sir months previous to the time of registration hereinafter directed, within seven statute miles of the usual place of election within such city or borough; and provided also, that any person now having a right to vote by reason of owning or occupying any tenement, shall retain such right as long as he owns or occupies the same or any other tenement in the same place, by reason of which ownership or occupation he will have a right of voting by the laws or customs now in force, and shall be allowed to vote, if duly registered, as hereinafter directed.

And be it enacted, that the churchwardens and overseers of every parish and township, in part or in whole, situate within, or by vir tue of this act to be annexed to any city or borough returning, or which shall return, members to serve in any future Parliament (except those named in schedule (A.) shall on or before the day of in the present year, and on or before and the day of

in each subsequent year, make out an alphabetical list of every male person residing within such city or borough, or annexed parish or township, as the case may be, occupying a house of the clear yearly value of ten pounds, or bona fide subject to the yearly rent of ten pounds, or rated to the relief of the poor, or to the duty on inhabited houses, at a sum of not less than ten pounds by the year, and in respect of which all the rents, rates, and taxes shall have been paid up to that time; and another such list, of every male person claim. ing to vote by virtue of any corporate, or bur gess, or any other right existing in such per sons at the time of passing this act, and shall

affix such lists to the doors of all churches and chapels in the several townships and parishes situate within the said cities and boroughs respectively, on the three Sundays next after they shall have been made respectively in this and every subsequent year.

And be it enacted, that on the Monday next following the last of the said three Sundays in the present year, and on the first Monday in the month of November in each succeeding year, the returning officer of every city or boroughs shall sit in some convenient public hall or place (having first given three clear days' notice of his sitting, to be affixed on the doors of all the said churches and chapels) for hearing objections to the insertion or omis sion of names in either of the said lists, and for inquiring into the truth of such objections, and for expunging, retaining, or inserting names according to the best of his judgment. And be it enacted, that the said returning officer shall have full power, and he is hereby required to retain on the said list all names to which no valid objection shall be made and proved by evidence, and to insert in such list the name of every male person of full age, not subject to any legal incapacity, who shall appear to have been residing for six months at least within such city or borough, or such annexed parish or township, and to have either been in the occupation of such house, as aforesaid, for six months at the least before the Monday on which the said returning officer shall commence his sittings, or to be entitled in some other right, hereby saved, or not hereby affected, to vote at the election of members of Parliament to serve for such city or borough; and shall expunge from the said list the name of every person who shall be proved to be a minor under the age of twentyone years, or incapacitated by any law or statute from voting for members to serve in Parliament, and of every person who shall be proved not to have been for the time aforesaid the occupier of such house as aforesaid, or not to have made good the payment of all rates, rents, and taxes, or who shall not prove himself entitled in some other right to vote in the election of members to serve for such city or borough: provided that no person's name shall be expunged without one clear week's notice first given to him or left at his residence; and no person's name shall be inserted without three clear weeks' notice to the churchwardens and overseers aforesaid, of his claim to have his name inserted, and without such notice being affixed for the three Sundays preceding the said Monday on the doors of all churches and chapels within the parish wherein such persons shall reside.

And be it enacted, that the churchwardens and overseers of every parish and township shall make an alphabetical list of all persons claiming to be entitled, by reason of the ownership or possession of any freehold, leasehold, or copyhold, or customary lands or tenements, situate

in

within such parish or township, to vote in any election for a knight of the shire to serve for county wherein such parish or township lies, and shall on or before the day of the present year, and on or before the day of in each succeeding year, cause such list to be affixed on the doors of all the churches and chapels within such parish or township, or if there be no church or chapel, then to be fixed up in some public and conspicuous situation within the same respectively on the first three Sundays, in the month of September in each year; and on or before the twenty-fifth day of September in each year shall send such list to the high constable or high constables of the hundred wherein such parish or township lies, who shall forthwith transmit the same to the clerk of the peace of the county.

And be it enacted, that the judges named in the last commission of the assize for each county, immediately after the passing of this act, and in each succeeding year the judges of assize for each county when travelling the summer circuit, shall nominate and appoint (subject nevertheless to the approbation of the Lord High Chancellor, Lord Keeper, or Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal for the time being) a barrister to revise such lists, and decide upon all objections to the omission or insertion of the names therein respectively; and that such barrister so appointed as aforesaid, shall give public notice by advertisement in the county newspapers, that he will make a circuit of the county for which he shall be so nominated and appointed, and of the several times and places at which he will hold courts for that purpose, and he shall hold an open court for that purpose at the times and places so to be announced; and that such barrister shall be paid for discharging the duty so cast upon him, out of the at the rate of not more than

or less than for every day that he shall be so employed; provide always, that no barrister so nominated and appointed as aforesaid, shall be eligible to serve in Parliament for twelve months from the time of such his appointment for the county for which he shall be nominated and appointed.

And be it enacted, that the said barrister shall inquire into and determine all such objections as aforesaid, and shall expunge the names of all persons who shall not have owned or held the lands or tenements in respect of which he claims to vote for the space of thirty days at the least before the first day of holding the said court, or who shall be incapacitated by any law or statute from voting in the election of members to serve in Parlia ment, and shall insert the name of any person who may, to the satisfaction of such barrister, prove himself to have owned or held such lands and tenements as may entitle him to a vote in the next ensuing election, and who shall not be proved incapable, by law, of voting in the election of members to serve in