§ Order of the Day for the Second Beading, read.
THE EARL OF AIRLIE,in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, 1733 said that it affected only the people of Scotland, and its object was extend to persons entitled to vote in counties those rights which had long been enjoyed by voters of burghs in cases where they happened to have left their houses furnished for a portion of the year. At present the occupiers of houses in counties who let their houses furnished for any portion of the year were not able to vote; and there appeared to have been great complaints upon the subject, and public attention had been aroused in consequence of the numerous disqualifications of voters that had taken place recently. It was therefore proposed that in future every man should be entitled to be registered, and to vote under the 6th section of the Representation of the People (Scotland) Act, notwithstanding that during a part of the qualifying period not exceeding four months he may have let his premises as a furnished house to some other person.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2ª"—(The Earl of Airlie.)
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2ª accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.