some smaller book for general use seemed to be still a desideratum, I did not throw aside what I had written. I am not without a hope that these pages may be read when the excitement of the present contest has passed away, for the purpose of noting in what points our present futile laws against corruption fail. 2, Brick Court, Temple, March 16, 1857. G. W. C. CONTENTS. County Voters for England and Wales-Borough Voters- County Voters for Scotland-Borough Voters-County Must be a British subject-of full age-holding no disquali- fying office-not in holy orders-not disqualified by CONTENTS. Demand of Poll-Polling places for counties-for boroughs -Erection of booths-Appointment of deputy return- ing officers-preparation of poll books-poll clerks— poll clerks' oath-check clerks-agents for personation -forms of appointment and notice of appointment- duties of the poll-questions to be asked-Bribery oath repealed-Refusal to answer questions-Tendered votes-Mistakes at the poll-Objections by agents— Bribery-Treating-Undue influence-General disqualifica- Legal expenses-personal expenses-precedent of an elec- CHAPTER I. THE VACANCY. THE House of Commons consists of 654 members, whereof 467 are English, 29 are Welsh, 53 are Scotch, and 105 are Irish. Vacancies occur by the general dissolution of Parliament by act of law (which, by the 1 Geo. I. st. 2. c. 38., would take place at the end of seven years from the return of the writ whereby it was summoned, or at the end of six months after the death of the Sovereign, 7 and 8 W. III. c. 15., and 6 Anne, c. 7.); or by act of the Sovereign, in exercise of the royal prerogative; or by the secession or disqualification of some particular sitting member. The causes of particular vacancies are, death, accession to the English or Scotch peerage, acceptance of office, taking orders, expulsion, declaration that the election was void, bankruptcy of the sitting member,* after the expiration of twelve months without the commission being superseded or the debts paid. After a general dissolution the Crown has three years, in theory, before the law (6 W. and M. c. 2.) requires that a new Parliament should be summoned; but as the Parliament holds the power of the purse, the practical necessity is immediate. A warrant goes from the Queen in Council to the Lord Chancellort to issue writs for the election of knights, citizens, and burgesses to serve in Parliament. * 24 Geo. III. c. 114. B † 52 Geo. III. c. 24. In cases of particular vacancies-if during the session-a motion is made in the house, and the Speaker makes his warrant to the clerk of the Crown in Chancery to issue writs for electing a member for the vacant seat; if during the recess (24 Geo. III. c. 26.), the Speaker receives notice of the vacancy, certified by two members. He then forthwith (24 Geo. III. c. 26. s. 3., and 52 Geo. III. c. 114. s. 2.) causes notices to be inserted in the Gazette, and fourteen days after the insertion, makes out a new writ. CHAPTER II. THE VOTERS. THE body of men who are facetiously called "the country" amount to 1,206,539 out of a population of 28,000,000. These are their qualifications: County Voters for England and Wales.-The electors of knights of the shires consist of four classes; namely, freeholders, copyholders and tenants in ancient demesne, leaseholders, and tenants or occupiers of land. 1. All freeholders, that is to say, persons holding land for their own life, or the life of another person, or for an estate of inheritance, are entitled to vote for the county in which their freehold is situate, provided it is worth not less than forty shillings by the year, clear of all deductions and charges, except parliamentary and parochial taxes. But persons holding freeholds for life (unless they had or might acquire the |