England has thus 465 members, distributed as follows: counties, 233; boroughs, 227; universities, 5. Wales has 30 members: viz., counties, 19; boroughs, 11. Scotland has 72 members: viz., counties, 39; boroughs, 31; universities, 2. Ireland has 103 members: viz., counties, 85; boroughs, 16; universities, 2. Total members for the United Kingdom, 670.

The number of members of the House of Commons varied considerably from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century. In the reign of Edward IV. the total number of members (county and borough members included) was 296; by Elizabeth's time it had risen to 462; in the reign of Charles II. it was 513; on the union with Scotland in 1707 it was 558; from the union with Ireland in 1801 down to the Reform Act of 1867 it was 658; and now the number stands at 670.

The House of Lords has exhibited even wider fluctuations. In the year 1295 the total number of peers, lay and spiritual, was 139; by the reign of Elizabeth the number had fallen to 69; on the accession of Queen Victoria it stood at 439; and by the year 1891 it had risen to 553. The number of spiritual peers fell from 90 in 1295 to 26 in 1891.

XIII.

ELECTIONS TO PARLIAMENT.

This subject may be considered under three heads: Electors, Candidates, and Elections.

With regard to electors, the names of all persons entitled to vote appear

upon the register. Lists of voters are made out by the local authorities, and these are carefully revised by the persons appointed. Under the present registration law claims can be much more readily proved and tested than was formerly the case. Those entitled to be placed on the register are male persons over twenty-one years of age, not being peers or disqualified by alienage, office or employment, unsoundness of mind, conviction for crime or corrupt practices, or receipt of parochial relief, and who possess any of the qualifications required by law. The qualifications for voters are now defined as follows: 1. Property.-In England freehold of inheritance of 40s. yearly value, freehold for life of £5 yearly value, copyhold of £5 yearly value, leasehold of £5 yearly value held for a term of sixty years or more, leasehold of £50 yearly value if held for a term of twenty years or more, will qualify a person to vote in counties and in towns which rank as counties. In Scotland land or heritage of £5 yearly value, leasehold of £10 yearly value held for life or for fifty-seven years or more, and leasehold of £50 yearly value held for nineteen years or more, will qualify for the county franchise. In Ireland freehold of £5 net annual value, rent-charge or leasehold for life of £20 annual value, leasehold of £10 value held for sixty years or more, and leasehold of £20 value held for fourteen years or more, will qualify for the county franchise. Rules have been made to prevent the multiplication of small freeholds for political purposes-a process more generally known as faggot-voting. 2. Occupation. The occupier of land or tenements of the yearly value of £10 is qualified to vote in any part of the United Kingdom; but the franchise is made to depend on the payment of rates, and in English and Scotch boroughs residence in or within seven miles of the borough is required. 3. Residence. The inhabitant occupier of a dwelling-house, or of any part of a house occupied as a separate dwelling, is qualified; but throughout the United Kingdom this franchise is made dependent on payment of rates. Lodgers occupying rooms of the yearly value, unfurnished, of £10 are also qualified. Certain rights of resident burgesses and freemen in English boroughs were preserved by the act of 1832, and the liverymen of the City companies retain the right to vote in the City of London. 4. The Universities. The electors for university members are all graduate members of the particular universities. Many of these vote also for the places where they reside or have property. This double representation is objected to by many as inconsistent with democratic principles, and of recent years an agitation for (6 one man one vote" has arisen.

Touching candidates for Parliamentary honours, any male of full age, with certain special exceptions, may come forward for any constituency. English and Scotch peers are entirely disqualified, but Irish peers (except representative peers) are eligible. All English, Scotch, and Irish judges, except the Master of the Rolls in England, are disqualified, as are likewise clergymen of the Established Church of any of the three kingdoms; Roman Catholic priests; the holders of various offices specially excluded by statute, including revenue officers; persons who have been convicted of certain offences; bankrupts ; aliens except in certain cases; persons holding pensions

during pleasure, save special exceptions; imbeciles; Government contractors, except contractors for Government loans; and sheriffs and returning officers within the constituencies for which they act. No candidate requires any property qualification, and no member receives any payment or allowance whatsoever from the country for his service in the House or on any committee thereof. A candidate is required to have an agent for election expenses, and in promoting his candidature he is bound to see that no breach of the law is committed, and that the total expenses are kept within the limits prescribed by the Corrupt Practices Act, 1883.

Elections are conducted under the provisions of the Ballot Act of 1872. In the case of a county election, the returning officer must within two days after that upon which he receives the writ give notice of the day of election, in the case of a borough on the day on which he receives the writ or the day following. The day of nomination for a county or district borough must be not later than the ninth day after the arrival of the writ, with an interval of not less than three clear days between the day of notice and the day of nomination. In ordinary boroughs, the day of nomination must be fixed not later than the fourth day after the reception of the writ, with an interval of not less than two clear days between the day of notice and the day of nomination. Nominations must be in writing, subscribed by two registered electors as proposer and seconder, and by eight other electors, who must also be registered in the same constituency. If at the expiration of one hour after the time appointed for the election no more candidates are nominated than there are vacancies, the returning officer proceeds to declare the candidate or candidates nominated duly elected; but if there should be more candidates than there are vacant seats, a polling day is appointed. The poll for a county or district borough must take place in not less than two or more than six clear days, and for an ordinary borough within three clear days of the day of nomination. Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday, and any day set apart for a public fast or thanksgiving, are not counted. special allowance of time is made in the case of the constituency of Orkney and Shetland. In any instance of equality of votes, the returning officer, if qualified for the constituency, may give the casting vote; but if he declines to do so or is not qualified, a double return is made to the writ, and the seat may be claimed on petition. A scrutiny then takes place. Neither candidate returned may vote in Parliament until the right to the seat has been determined. Any member returned for two or more places is to make his selection for which of the places he will sit within one week after it shall appear that there is no question upon the return for that place. Polling places are supplied with a ballot-box, voting-papers, etc. The elector votes by placing a cross opposite the name of the candidate of his choice; his paper is folded up by himself and dropped into the box; and elaborate rules are made by the Ballot Act to protect the secrecy of the vote. Any breach of the law in conducting an election may be made the ground of a petition. The petitioners must find security for the costs, and the petition is tried by two judges, who report to the Speaker the result of their inquiry. Persons

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