HC Deb 06 December 1819 vol 41 c757
Mr. Lambton

rose to inform the House, that it was his intention, immediately after the Christmas recess, to bring the state of the representation under their notice. In order to explain the object which he had in view, he thought fit to state, that he should then move for leave to bring in a bill for the repeal of the Septennial act, and for the making of parliaments shorter and more frequent. At the same time he should propose the extension of the right of suffrage to all copyholders and householders paying direct taxes, and also the destruction of what were generally called the rotten-boroughs. In bringing the subject of parliamentary reform before the House, it might, perhaps, be requisite that he should explain his motives: he, therefore, made no hesitation in saying, that he did it because he deemed it a. subject in which all classes of his majesty's subjects, and particularly the middling and lower classes, were most deeply interested; and because he firmly believed that the compliance of the House with the feelings of the people on it, would tend more than any other measure to alleviate the present disturbances, at the result of which, if they were to be permanent, no man could look for a moment without experiencing the profoundest horror.