in the year 1817; and this circumstance deserves your Lordships’ attention, because the situation of the two countries is not dissimilar.  At that period there were, in each department 300 persons, who, paying the highest amount of taxes, were chosen to manage the representation.  The King and Government altered this, and gave the power of choosing representatives to persons paying taxes to the amount of 300 francs.  Two years afterwards, they were obliged to alter the law again, and form two classes of electors.  Since then, there have been two general elections, one more unfavourable than the other to the Government; and the matter ended in the formation of a Parliament, the spirit of which rendered it impossible for a Government to act.

My Lords, I do not mean here to justify the Government of Charles X.; and I trust the noble and learned Lord (Lord Brougham) will allow me, on this occasion, to declare that I never wrote to Prince Polignac in my life (much as I have been accused of encouraging the proceedings of that person), and I have never written to Charles X. from the time that monarch lost his son, and his grandson was born.  In fact, I have never corresponded with any French minister without the knowledge of my colleagues.  The noble and learned Lord on the woolsack may rely on it, that I had no more knowledge of Prince Polignac’s proceedings, than the noble and learned Lord himself; or, most probably, still less.  I am not the apologist of Prince Polignac; but, I say, that things had been brought to that state in France, that it was impossible but there should be a revolution.

When I see a similar mode of election established in this country—­when I see the adoption of a uniform system of election—­when I see the election placed in the hands of shopkeepers in boroughs all over the country—­I think that we incur considerable danger, and put the country in such a situation as that no minister can be certain that any one measure which he brings forward will succeed, or that he will he enabled to carry on the Government.  The circumstances of France and England are, in many particulars, alike, and we ought to take warning by the dangers of the neighbouring country.

I wish the House to advert to what the business of the King’s Government in Parliament is.  It is the duty of that Government to manage everything.  I heard the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack, in a speech of admirable eloquence and knowledge, propose a new judicial system at the commencement of the Session; but I tell him, that it is impossible for the Government ultimately to decide on that question; and that if a Parliament be constructed on the new plan, it will be too strong for Government on that question.  So, also, in matters affecting commerce and manufactures, Government would depend entirely upon Parliament.