he continuance of such
parliament, sell, dispose of, alien, or any otherwise incumber the
estate, or any part thereof comprised in the schedule, so as to lessen
or reduce the same under the value of the qualification by law directed,
every such person, under a certain penalty, must deliver in a new or
further qualification, according to the true intent and meaning of this
act, and swear to the same, in manner before directed, before he shall
again presume to sit or vote as a member of the house of commons; that
in case any action, suit, or information should be brought, in pursuance
of this act, against any member of the house of commons, the clerk of
the house, shall, upon demand, forthwith deliver a true and attested
copy of the paper or schedule so delivered in to him as aforesaid by
such member to the plaintiff or prosecutor, or his attorney or agent,
on paying a certain sum for the same; which, being proved a true copy,
shall be admitted to be given in evidence upon the trial of any issue
in any such action. Provided always, that nothing contained in this act
shall extend to the eldest son or heir apparent of any peer or lord of
parliament, or of any person qualified to serve as knight of the shire,
or to the members for either of the universities in that part of Great
Britain called England, or to the members of that part of Great Britain
called Scotland. Such was the substance of the bill, as originally
presented to the house of commons; but it was altered in such a manner
as we are afraid will fail in answering the salutary purposes for which
it was intended by those who brought it into the house. Notwithstanding
the provisions made in the act as it now stands, any minister or patron
may still introduce his pensioners, clerks, and creatures into the
house, by means of the old method of temporary conveyance, though the
farce must now be kept up till the member shall have delivered in
his schedule, taken his oath, and his seat in parliament; then he may
deliver up the conveyance, or execute a re-conveyance, without running
any risk of losing his seat, or of being punished for his fraud
and perjury. The extensive influence of the crown, the general
corruptibility of individuals, and the obstacles so industriously thrown
in the way of every scheme contrived to vindicate the independency
of parliaments, must have produced very mortifying reflections in the
breast of every Briton warmed with the genuine love of his coun