§ Mr. Hodgsonmoved for a return to be made by the Town Clerk of every city and borough in England and Ireland returning Members to Parliament, wherein the right of election is solely or in part in the free burgesses or freemen at large, of the number of persons entitled to the freedom of such city or borough, who have taken up their freedom within the last four years.
Mr. Bankesopposed the Motion, on the ground that the expense and inconvenience which would be incurred by such a return was infinitely disproportioned to any advantage that could be derived from it.
§ Mr. Hodgsonexplained, that the expense of obtaining the returns which he desired would not exceed the cost of 100 letters and 100 replies; that being the number of the town clerks from whom the information was to be obtained.
§ Mr. Crokersaid, that the Motion was attended with a difficulty which could not be got over. No one in that House, much less the town clerks of the several boroughs, could undertake to say who had and who had not a right to vote at elections for Members of Parliament. The House would not delegate to the persons mentioned in the hon. Gentleman's motion, the exercise of its exclusive right.
§ Mr. Hodgsonconsented to withdraw the Motion until Tuesday next, in order to 802 insert the word "reputed" before the words "Right of Election."