Commons Sitting of 13 April 1818

EDUCATION OF THE POOR BILL.
Mr. Brougham,in moving the second reading of the bill appointing commissioners to inquire into the application of
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Charitable Funds for the purposes of Education in England and Wales, wished to explain the course which he deemed it advisable to be pursued in this business. It had been his intention to propose that the inquiry of the commissioners should extend to all charities whatever; but he was now of opinion, that it would be most advisable to confine for the present the inquiries of the commissioners to charities for purposes of education, with an understanding that additional powers would be given next session to extend the inquiry to all other charities. There would be ample employment for the commissioners for a considerable time in the metropolis, and twenty or thirty miles in its neighbourhood, and this would give time for finding out the sort of persons who could most efficaciously execute the provisions of the act. When, therefore, It would be necessary to appoint additional commissioners next session, it would be more easy to find proper persons for that purpose. Another purpose would be gained by the delay—it would serve as a warning to those great bodies by whom charitable funds were at present abused. From what had happened already, he was confident this time would not be lost.
The bill was then read a second time.

ROYAL BURGHS OF SCOTLAND—PETITION FROM WHITHORN.
Sir Samuel Romillysaid, he held in his hands a petition, signed by 120 persons, who described themselves as Burgesses of the Royal Burgh of Whithorn in Scotland. This petition, it was stated, contained a very accurate picture of most of the Royal Burghs in Scotland. From the magistrates and town council, who chose the delegates, by whom the representatives were returned, not being elected by the burgesses, but by one another, it was a perfect mockery to say, that the elective franchise was enjoyed by the burgesses. The petitioners stated, that although by the charter of the Burgh, the magistrates and town council ought to be elected out of the inhabitants of the Burgh, yet it so happened, that at present five only out of the eighteen of their magistrates and council were inhabitants. The petitioners stated, that they were not desirous of any innovations, but they complained of the abuses which had crept into the Burgh system; and they appealed to a peculiar statute, in the teeth of which

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these abuses had taken place. They stated, that they had heard with surprise, that the burgesses would be satisfied with the constitution of the Burgh, if the magistrates were subjected to an audit. They would only be satisfied with a real representation, instead of a nominal one, as at present, there being now no popular election; but the magistrates and town council, who were not chosen by the people, and among whom was a nobleman, and
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several gentlemen in the neighbourhood, nominating certain delegates, who, along with the delegates from certain other Burghs, nominated a representative to parliament. They contended, that it was a breach of the privileges of the House of Commons for a lord of parliament or lords-lieutenant of counties to interfere with elections.
The petition was ordered to lie on the table and to be printed.