terest preponderates, and his brother represents the county.

Belfast has twelve self-elected burgesses, under the patronage of the marquis of Donegal, who returns a member of his own family.

Carrickfergus is a corporate town, but the number of burgesses is unlimited, and, besides these, the freeholders possess the right of suffrage. It may be considered an open place, although the marquises of Donegal and Downshire have great influence, which, if united, would probably return the member.

Lisburn belongs to the marquis of Hertford. The right of election is vested in such of the inhabitants as occupy a tenement of five pounds per annum, and in freeholders of forty shillings, all of whom derive from the marquis, at whose recommendation the member is returned.

ARMAGH County.-The earl of Gosford and Mr Brownlow have immense estates in this county; and although they do not possess a commanding interest, will, probably, continue to exercise so much influence, that the members returned will be gentlemen of their choice. Earl Charlemont, and Mr Cope, are the owners of large estates here; but they do not possess power equal to the proprietors abovementioned.

ARMAGH City has twelve burgesses elected by themselves. Patron, the archbishop of the see.

CARLOW County.-Mr Cavannah, of Borris, has votes sufficient to return one member; the election of the other will be contested between the Latouche, Brewen, and Burton families.

Carlow Borough has twelve bur. gesses, who elect each other. Lord Charleville is patron.

CAVAN County.-Were the freeholders of this county registered, they would amount, at least, to 6,000; but one half neglect to enroll their names. Here there is but one Roman catholic

proprietor, Mr Dease; yet, in the population, the catholics bear to the protestants the proportion of five to one. The protestant land-owner directs the Roman catholic freeholders at every election. Of the 3,000 registered freeholders, 700 are under earl Farnham, and 300 under colonel Barry, his cousin; it may, therefore, be remarked, that lord Farnham commands the return of the member. The other is independent, but the protestant interest prevails in the election of one who is to vote against the catholic claims.

CLARE County.-Earl Conyngham and the O'Brien family have freeholders sufficient to return the members for this county. A contest may arise, from the latter endeavouring to return both the members; but the elective influence must always remain between the two families.

Ennis Borough has twelve self-elected burgesses. Sir Edward O'Brien and James Fitzgerald, Esq. alternately nominate the member.

It contains one

CORK County. The popularity of the earl of Shannon, and the property he possesses, give him influence sufficient to return one member. This county is so large, that it is not possible for the freeholders of any individual to command the election of a representative. million of acres, and 20,000 persons entitled to vote. In so extensive a district, there are many owners of very considerable estates, besides lord Shannon, lady Kingston, and Mr Hyde, Mr Aldworth, Mr Freeman, Mr Newenham, Mr Anderson, and several others, all of whom have a great number of tenants; so that the independence, of one member at least, is likely to be secured.

CORK City. The successor of the late Lord Longueville, Mr Newenham, and Lord Donoughmore, have the prevailing interest in the election for this city; that of the two noble lords being co-existent with religious

parties;

parties; and as these parties, whether in or out, have exercised the immense patronage annexed to this great emporium of Ireland, it may readily be conceived, that the state of politics here is subject to considerable variation. The members of the corporation are numerous,. and among them are six or seven hundred who are unyielding protestants. The freehold. ers within the precincts of the city have the right of voting, but the majority are catholics. Mr Newenham's interest arises from his being owner of a great part of the city; and whenever he exerts his influence, if united with that of the earl of Cork, who has a large estate under similar circumstances, it is sufficient to return a member. In the strong contests between the two other interests, he has hitherto taken no part; and when the leases on his estate are expired, which will soon be the case, it is probable that his intimacy with the noble families will induce him to remain neuter.

Youghal Borough.-This is a close corporation; patron, the earl of Shannon. An attempt has lately been made to procure the right of voting for freeholders, in which case the duke of Devonshire would return the member.

Bandon Bridge has twelve burgesses who elect each other. Lord Bandon is the patron.

Kinsale Borough has also twelve burgesses elected in the same manner. Lord de Clifford is the patron.

Mallow Borough. The electors are the tenants of the manor, belonging to Mr Jephson, the patron.

DONEGAL County.-Earl Conyngham and the marquis of Abercorn have freeholders sufficient to return the members for this county; but the marquis of Donegal possesses an estate, which, if managed, would give him an influence sufficiently powerful to enable him to succeed against either of them. There are 9,000 free

holders in the county; and lord Southwell is the only Roman catholic proprietor in it. The chief landowners are absentees; but under this head are comprehended persons, who, although absentees from the county, live in Ireland.

Down County, contains 30,000 freeholders, who elect the friends of the marquis of Downshire without a contest. To ensure this object, the marquis's estate has been divided, subdivided, and again divided, until it has become a warren of freeholders, and the scheme has completely succeeded. The landed property of this nobleman exhibits, perhaps the best specimen of political agronomy to be found in Ireland, and is a proof of the ingenuity of those by whom it was planned.

*

As this word may not be understood, perhaps, by every reader, I must remark, that it is derived from the Greck, in which it signifies a distribution, or division of land.

+ A similar system of division was pursued, about thirty years ago, by some of the Scotch peers, particularly in the north, for the purpose of acquiring parliamentary influence they assigned over certain portions of their land, at its valued rent, to their factors, to clergymen, and other dependents, sufficient to qualify them as freeholders, receiving security that the land should revert to its real owner, on their death, or at a specified period. This iniquitous practice, in which grave ministers of the kirk condescended to become the instruments of corruption, was carried to a most extraordinary height: but, if I am rightly informed, the votes of such freeholders were questioned as illegal, and in some cases brought be fore the Court of Session at Edinburgh, and the whole system overturned. Johnson, in answer to a letter of Boswell, who, alluding to this practice, had consulted him, "whether the unconstitutional influence exercised by the peers of Scotland, in the elec tion of the representatives of the commons, by means of fictitious qualifications, ought not to be resisted;" says, “the usurpation of the nobility, for they apparently usurp all the influence they gain by fraud and misrepresentation, I think it certainly lawful, perhaps your duty, to resist. What is not their own, they have only by robbery." Boswell's Life of Johnson, v. iv. p. 265, 266.

Newry

Newry Borough-General Needham derives considerable interest from his being owner of the turbary adjoining to the town; but it is not sufficient to command the return.

Downpatrick Borough.-Inhabitants who occupy tenements of five pounds per annum, and freeholders of forty shillings, all have votes. Lord de Clifford is owner of the principal part of the town, and is also the patron: his lordship, however, has been unfortunate in the choice of his agents, whose families have now acquired property and influence sufficient to enable them to form a commanding opposition to his interest at every election.

LOUTH County. The influence of the Earl of Roden, and the Right Hon. John Foster, certainly commands the return in this county.

Drogheda Borough contains a large corporation, and a numerous body of freeholders, subject to no other control than that which must always arise from gentlemen spending their incomes in a liberal manner among the people.

Dundalk Borough is a close corporation, The Earl of Roden the pa

tron.

DUBLIN County.-The freehold. ers of this metropolitan county are too numerous, and too opulent, to be subject to the influence of any individual.

DUBLIN City. The corporation forming a large body of wealthy citizens, and the freeholders being numerous and respectable, they are in the same situation as the electors of the county, and cannot be controlled. DUBLIN University.-The member for the University is required to exhibit no landed qualification, and is chosen by the fellows and students : the latter form by far the majority. Being young men of liberal education, inspired with that honest boldness, and warmed with that patriotic zeal, which are peculiar to youth, they are

independent in their choice, and return the man whom they consider most worthy of their confidence.

FERMANAGH County.-There are in this county, three immense territorial possessions, which belong to the Earl of Enniskillen, Mr Brooke, and Mr Archdall. These families may contest the representation among themselves; but no other influence can interfere with their views; if unanimous, they may return whom they choose. The freeholders amount to 5,000.

Enniskillen Borough.-There are twelve self-elected burgesses. The Earl of Enniskillen is patron.

GALWAY County. Here there is no commanding territorial influence. The Roman catholic landed property is very extensive, and will always return members disposed to support that interest. The freeholders amount to 4,000.

Galway Borough.-The freeholders within this borough and the members of the corporation elect its representative. The corporators are chosen at will, and are at present under the patronage of the Right Hon. Denis B. Daly, and James Daly, Esq. of Dunsandale; consequently these gentlemen return the member alternately. Respecting this borough, the following anecdote has been related to me; I do not, however, vouch for its authenticity.-The patron, on the approach of an election, finding that an opposition was to be made to his interest, marched a regiment of soldiers into the town, from Loughrea where they were quartered, and where he caused them to be elected free men. These military freemen voted for his friend, who was, of course, re turned.

KERRY County.-The influence of Lord Kenmare returns both the members for this county. I do no mean to insinuate, that any two gen tlemen nominated by him will, of ne cessity, be elected; but his lordshi

being nearly related to Mr Herbert, and in intimate habits of friendship with Earl Glandore, no individual would consider it prudent to oppose a candidate supported by so formidable an interest, which could influence the numerous freeholders on the estates of these three great proprietors.

Tralee Borough. This borough has twelve self-elected burgesses. Sir Edward Denny is patron.

KILDARE County.-The duke of Leinster is proprietor of 70,000 acres in this county, being one-third of the whole superficies. A number of freeholders, therefore, sufficient to return one member, is created, and also to give the proprietor a considerable influence in the election of the other.

KILKENNY County.-The Earls of Ormonde and Besborough, through their influence, each return a member for this county.

Kilkenny Borough.-The Earls of Ormonde and Desart are alternately the patrons, and have a commanding influence over the corporation, who can create an unlimited number of freemen. The freeholders in the borough, also, have the right of suffrage, but their titles are derived from tenures under Lord Ormonde.

KING'S County. The brothers-inlaw of the Earls of Charleville and Ross are the present members for this county. With Lord Ashton, the cousin of the former, they have large territorial possessions here, on which a majority of the freeholders derive their titles.

LEITRIM County.-There are no gentlemen of large fortune resident in this county; the members are returned by the successful influence of extensive territorial property, in the families of Clements and Latouche.

LIMERICK County.-The Earl of Clare can recommend one member; the other may be considered as independent, except as far as relates to the influence of the Roman Catholic party, which, in questions where their

interest is concerned, must command the return of the members. Without detracting from the merit of the present representatives, with one of whom, Mr Quin, I have the honour of being acquainted, and for whom, from my knowledge of his excellent character, I entertain as favourable an opinion as his constituents; I cannot help regretting the loss which the county has sustained, by the secession of Mr Oliver, who has found it inconvenient to attend to his parliamentary duties in England. This gentleman was returned by the voice of independence; he served his constituents with fidelity; and, with an integrity, rarely to be found in the present venal age; he, consequently,. resigned his seat rather than neglect his duties. He is now enjoying, in the bosom of his family, the tranquil joys of domestic life: possessed of that happiness which arises from conscious rectitude, and followed in his retreat by the good wishes of all who know how to appreciate his worth. His incorruptible patriotism, and desire to promote every useful undertaking, will be long remembered by those who looked up to him as their best benefactor. In him the county of Limerick could boast of a representative, whose character might be ranked with those of a Martin, a Saville, a Hussey, or a Beckford. In this county there are 3,000 freehold

LONDONDERRY County. The greater part of this county has been granted to the twelve companies of the corporation of London, who have again let their estates on freehold leases. At present, the Beresford fa

mily have on lease three of these proportions, which enables them to return one member. The Earl of Londonderry, and his brother, Mr A. Stewart, possess two more, and have hitherto succeeded in returning the other; but a Mr Ogilby has created so great a number of freeholders, on a lease granted to him by the Skinner's company, that, combined with the interest he can procure from the Ponsonby family, who hold another of these proportions, and from Sir William Rowley, he will succeed, most probably, in the representation of the county.

LONDONDERRY City belongs to the London Society.—Mr J. C, Beresford is their agent; Sir George Hill married his sister, and is member for the city. It is, however, open to a strong contest; but the Beresford influence is so powerful, that I have no doubt it will eventually prevail.

Coleraine Borough belongs to the London Society, but the Beresford interest has a decisive influence over the corporation, and returns the member.

LONGFORD County. The Oxmantown estate returns one member; the election of the other is liable to be contested between Sir Thomas Newcomen and the Earl of Granard. Lord Longford has large property in this county, but does not attempt to exercise any political influence.

MAYO County. The Marquis of Sligo, and Lord Viscount Dillon, have each estates large enough to create freeholders sufficiently numerous to elect one member. Lord Tyrawly had a powerful interest in this county, but it appears to have gradually declined: his son, Mr. Cuffe, bears a most honourable character; and, I believe, there are many in the county who would be happy to see him filling that public situation, to which it was expected he would be raised by the suffrages of the electors.

MEATH County contains 4,000 freeholders. The Marquis of Headfort and the Earl of Darnley, when their influence is united, can return one member. The election of the other will depend on the Roman catholic interest, which is powerful, as many gentlemen of that persuasion reside here, at the head of whom is that justly-respected nobleman, the Earl of Fingal. According to present circumstances (April 1812,) it is most probable that the catholics will support the friend of the Earl of Darnley, in preference to the son of the Marquis of Headfort; the Earl of Darnley having refused an appointment under an administration which is inimical to catholic emancipation; whilst the Marquis of Headfort has accepted one.

Should the catholics be divided in their support of one candidate, it will, perhaps, enable the protestant interest to start a new one, who may be successful, whilst the other interest is divided.

MONAGHAN County.-Tho' the majority of the population is Roman catholic, this county, as is the case in Cavan, is controlled in the choice of representatives, by protestant landowners, who return gentlemen whose political opinions are known to be unfavourable to the catholic cause. There is no individual prevailing interest in the county.

QUEEN's County.-Lord de Vesci, Lord Portarlington, and Mr Henry Parnell, are all related, and have upon their estates a band of freehold ers sufficient to return one member.The other is independent. The freeholders amount to 2,600; of these, 250 belong to Lord de Vesci, and 400 to Lord Portarlington; so that with the number under the Parnell influence, they can count altogether 1,000.

Portarlington Borough has twelve self-elected burgesses. Lord Portarlington is the patron. At the time of the Union, Mr Trench, now Lord

Ashtown,