The Parliamentary Representation of the Six Northern Counties of England,
1603-1886. By William Wardell Bean. (C. H. Barn- well, Hull.)—This is a very laborious compilation, for which, seeing that it can hardly be a lucrative publication, we ought to be much obliged to Mr. Bean. A large octavo, consisting of more than twelve hundred closely printed pages, it contains a vast number of facts. The polling of every election which has taken place during nearly three centuries is given, with par- ticulars about the candidates, about the contests, the petitions presented against returns, and last, not least in importance, the expenses incurred. The contest for Yorkshire in 1809 (the whole county then returned two Members only) had, it is probable, a sinister pre-eminence for costliness. Wilberforce was returned by something like consent, but Lord Milton and Mr. H. Lascelles spent more than 4100,000 apiece. The election of 1826 cost 4150,000, though no poll was taken. There is nothing like this now, and has not been for many years. Still, a candidate may spend considerable sums, if he has to stand many contested elections. Mr. Bean has drawn up an interesting table showing the amounts expended by various Members who have sat or desired to sit for counties, cities, or boroughs within the six counties daring the last thirty years. Sir George Elliott heads the list with 456,071, Mr. F. S. Powell comes next with 434,824, and Mr. F. A. Milbank third with £24,753. Mr. Jacob Bright spent more than 47,000 at Manchester, and £15,000 in other places. Mr. Gladstone's name figures for £16,207. The 20 who stand at the head of the list seem to have spent .3428,000 between them. Twenty more spent more than .410,000 each ; 88 between £10,000 and £5,000; 74 between £5,000 and 43,000; and finally, 253 more than £1,000. Calculating the whole very roughly, we make out
that these 450 (or thereabouts) spent considerably more than £2,000,000. It is a pity that Mr. Bean did not make his indices more regular and more complete.
Previous page
