[415] Tindal, apud Parl. Hist. xiv. 66. I have read the same in other books, but know not at present where to search for the passages. Hogarth's pictures of the election are evidence to the corruption in his time, so also are some of Smollett's novels. Addison, Swift, and Pope would not have neglected to lash this vice if it had been glaring in their age; which shows that the change took place about the time I have mentioned.
[416] 9 Anne, c. 5. A bill for this purpose had passed the Commons in 1696; the city of London and several other places petitioning against it. Journals, Nov. 21, etc. The house refused to let some of these petitions be read; I suppose on the ground that they related to a matter of general policy. These towns, however, had a very fair pretext for alleging that they were interested; and in fact a rider was added to the bill, that any merchant might serve for a place where he should be himself a voter, on making oath that he was worth £5000. Id. Dec. 19.
[417] 33 G. II. c. 20.
[418] Chalmers's Caledonia, vol. i. passim.
[419] Id. 500 et post; Dalrymple's Annals of Scotland, 28, 30, etc.
[420] Chalmers, 741; Wight's Law of Election in Scotland, 28.
[421] Id. 25; Dalrymple's Annals, i. 139, 235, 283; ii. 55, 116; Chalmers, 743. Wight thinks they might perhaps only have had a voice in the imposition of taxes.
[422] Dalrymple, ii. 241; Wight, 26.
[423] Statutes of Scotland, 1427; Pinkerton's History of Scotland, i. 120; Wight, 30.
[424] Dalrymple, ii. 261; Stuart on Public Law of Scotland, 344; Robertson's History of Scotland, i. 84.