how he may most faithfully and effectually difcharge the duties which they impofe on him. The fubjects which come before the House of Commons have fo clofe a refemblance to thofe which are debated in the House of Peers (the bills and motions fubmitted in their turn to the confideration of both Houses being in most instances nearly or identically the fame), that the previous attainments and the general line of conduct which ought to be pursued by the Peer are almost without exception effential to the popular Representative. An accurate knowledge of the natural rights of men and the just foundations of civil government; of the British Conftitution; of the principles of finance and of commerce; of foreign politics and connections; and of internal police; patient industry, inflexible integrity, abhorrence of party fpirit, watchfulness against the allurements likely to produce it; care to guard against prejudices; together with an earnest zeal to promote the good of this country and of mankind by public exertions and private example; these are qualifications which ought to to characterise the Legiflator, whether placed in the Upper or in the Lower House. It must however be admitted, that a more profound knowledge of several of the subjects mentioned above may in general be expected with reafon from individual Peers, than from individual Members of the House of Commons. The Peer will usually have been educated with a view to his ftation; the Member of the Lower House may not. The former enjoys a permanent and certain, the latter a temporary and precarious, feat in the Legislature. The former is feldom engaged in any profeffion; the latter frequently. The former is not called upon, as the latter is, to devote his time and attention to the particular interests of Constituents; nor to involve himself in the protracted enquiries and patient difcuffions which neceffarily take place upon their private Bills even before they are brought into Parliament. On the other hand, as the popular Representative is introduced by his habits of life to an acquaintance with trade, manufactures, and various objects of local and municipal concern, which are by no means fo familiar to the Peer; a more aceurate infight into these topics may fitly be re quired from an individual placed in the Lower Houfe, than might have been incumbent on him had he been fixed in the Upper. Referring then the reader to the obfervations. already made in the preceding chapter on those fubjects which appertain both to the Peer and to the Member of the House of Commons, I proceed to fome particular topics which exclufively belong to the prefent enquiry; and after adverting to the duties of an individual who afpires to a feat in Parliament, shall fubjoin a few brief remarks on the peculiar obligations incumbent on him when elected. It is the firft duty of every man who cherishes a wish to be deputed as one of the Reprefentatives of the People of Great Britain, to confider whether he actually and fairly poffeffes that pecuniary qualification which the law requires. It is well known that evafive methods are fometimes practifed to fatisfy the letter of the law on the fubject, while they are directly contrary to its spirit and intention. And they are commonly palliated on the plea that the law in queftion is impolitic; and that to to carry it according to its real purport into execution, would be to exclude from feats in the House of Commons men of great abilities and flender fortunes, who might otherwise have exerted their talents in Parliament with the highest advantage to their country. To enquire whether the law is on the whole impolitic or not, falls not within the plan of the prefent work. But what if this impolicy were admitted? Is a British subject at liberty to disregard and evade a law, merely because he deems it, or knows it to be generally deemed, inexpedient? Let him take, if he thinks fit, according to his ftation, conftitutional means to procure its repeal; but while it remains a law, let him fulfil the firft obligation of a fubject, and fet an example of fcrupulous and punctual obedience. If he is duly qualified according to the fpirit of the Act of Parliament, let him in the next place seriously and impartially investigate the motives by which he is incited to become a candidate for a feat in the House. If he is impelled by a defire to gratify ambition, pride, or envy, or to promote his private interest at the the expence of the public good; let him era dicate from his breast the unchriftian principle, before he indulges a thought of further perseverance in his defign. If his motives are fufficiently pure to stand the test of self-examination, let him in the next place confider and appreciate the effects, whether beneficial or injurious, whether limited to himself or reaching to others, which are likely to refult from his declaring himself a candidate. Let him eftimate on the one hand the fervices which he may reasonably hope to render to his country and to the human race by the acquifition of legislative power, and by enlarged opportunities of promoting religion, learning and science, of preventing injustice, of discovering and relieving distress, and of improving the manners and morals of others by the influence of a more confpicuous and more weighty example. On the other hand let him fairly deliberate, whether by offering himself he is not excluding another, who might be expected to discharge the office of Member of Parliament with more ability and advantage. Let him not think lightly of the pain and detriment which he may occafion to his opponent, par-, ticularly |