Hon. House of Commons, bearing the Title of a Bill for Regulating Ele&ions within the City of London, and for preferving the Peace, good Order, and Government of the faid City; and to the End fuch fignal Services may not pafs without an Acknowledgment: It is Order'd, that the thanks of this Court, on behalf of themselves and all their Fellow Citizens, be given to the faid three worthy Gentlemen, for • their Endeavours to defend the antient Rights, Franchises, and Liberties of this great Corporation. And the Committee this Day appointed to prepare a Petition against the faid Bill, and to oppose the fame in the Houfe of Lords, are defired to attend the faid three Gentlemen with the Refolution and Order of this Court, and to deliver them a Copy thereof, which is to be Sign'd by Mr. Town Clerk for that Purpose."

And the Committee confifting of four Aldermen and eight Commoners, waited upon the faid three worthy Members purfuant to the faid Order.

This Affair having raised no fmall Ferment in the City, fome evil-difpofed Perfons took that Occafion to foment and heighten the Difcontents; for which purpofe they, and their Emiffaries, induftri

qufly handed about and difperfed, on Wed- Intended tu-
nefday the 24th of March in the Evening, multuous Mee-
and the next Morning, a printed Sum- ting prevented.
mons inviting the Citizens to affemble at
Guild ball, on the Thursday the 25th at five a-
clock in the Afternoon, to confider of the
Bill now depending for regulating Elections,
&c. Hereupon the Lord Mayor, and his
Brethren the Aldermen, juftly refenting.
this audacious Attempt upon their Autho-
rity, with great Prudence, order'd the
Gates of Guildhall to be fhut up, affoon as
L12
the

Abftract of the Bill for Regulating Ele&tions, &c.

the Bufiuefs of the Commion Council
(which
was then called) fhould be finifth'd;
And having acquainted the Government
with what had pafs'd, the Guards were
thereupon doubled at St. James's Palace,
Leicester Houle, and Somerfet Houfe. By
thele wife Precautions all Things were
kept quiet, and to give further Satisfaction
to the Citizens, the following Printed Pa-
per was difperfed; viz.

·

.

*

WHE

London, Thursday, March 25, 1725. HEREAS a printed Summoffs was laft Night and this Morning induftriously handed about, for a General Meeting of the Citizens at GuildHall, this Afternoon, at Five a Clock, to confider of the Bill relating to the City of London. This unheard of Proceeding is july fuppofed to be calculated to draw the Citizens together, to precipitate them into fome Act, to countenance the late

prefent at Elections, and the

unfettled State of Things in the City, for the Remedy whereof the faid Bill does wifely provide; and it is hoped that fuch as are for the Welfare of the City, and can be prefent at the Hall at this Hour's Notice, will bear their Te ftimony against fuch diforderly Proceedings.

"

NB. The laft Petition of a Majority of the Common Council, was voted without fo much as publickly reading the faid Bill, as it paffed in the House of Commons, but as the faid Bill is printed, it's hoped the Citizens of London will read it, which will fufficiently gnard them against the unjust Mifreprefentations that are made against it by defigning Men.'

According to to the Hint, or Notice, given in this Paper, there was publish'd an ABSTRACT of the faid Bill, as follows."

The

TH

HE Bill now depending in Parliament for Regula ting Elections within the City of London, and for preferving the Peace, Good Order, and Government of the faid City, feems to be fo wifely calculated for effecting the good Purposes exprefs'd in the Title of it, that one would wonder it should be oppofed by any honeft Citizen of London, efpecially confidering the Time and Pains fpent in it by the Honourable House of Commons, and their great Indulgence and Patience in hea ring and debating the Objections made to the feveral Parts of it. Surely it must be for want of knowing what the Bill is, that fome People join in the Clamour raifed by defigning Perfons against it. And fince extraordinary Endeavours have been used to get Citizens,

c. to fign a Petition against they knew not what, (Anglice, the Bill,) it feems very feafonable to publifh the following Abstract, which for the Eafe of the Reader, is diftinguifhed under thefe Heads.

1. The Preamble.

H. Of Clerks of the Polls, and Oaths of Electors. III. Of Proceedings on Polls and Scrutinies.

IV. Of the Right of Voting for Aldermen and Common Council Men.

V. Of Appeals upon Grievances in Affeffments.
VI. Of the Difqualifications of Voters.

VII. Of making Acts and Orders in CommonCouncil.

VII. Of Freemien's making their Wills.

IX. Of the Alterations in a Freeman's Oath.

X. Of the Diftibrution and Recovery of Forfeitures.

I.

THE Bill recites, that many Controverfies have arifen in the City at Elections, and that many Perfons have prefumed to vote at fuch Elections who have no Right.

That feveral wealthy Perfons not free of the City 'carry on Trade and Employment therein, and decline becoming free of the fame, by Reafon of a Cuftom reftraining the Freemen from difpofing their Perfonal Eftate by their laft Will.

The Bill further recites, that great Diffentions have arifen between Aldermen and Commons of the Com

mon

mon-Council, concerning the making of Acts.or Ordi nances in Common Council.

II.

Now to the Intent that fuitable Remedies may be provided, the Bill enacts,

That after the first of June. 1725, upon every Eletion by the Liverymen, and upon every Election of Aldermen and Common-Council Men, the prefiding Officers, fhall, if a Poll be demanded, appoint Clerks who fhall be fworn truly and indifferently to take the fame.

Every Perfon before he Polls at any Election by the Livery-men, shall fwear, or being a Quaker, fhall af firm, That he is a Freeman of London, and a Liveryman of the Company of -and hath been fo for the Space of 12 Ka. lendar Months, and that the Place of his Abode is at ----- in and that he hath not polled at that Ele&ion.

At Elections of Aldermen and Common-Council Men, every Perfon before he polls fhall fwear, or being a Quaker, fhall affirm, that he is a Freeman of London, and a Houfholder in the Ward of and hath not

polled at the Election.

And if any Perfon refufe or neglect to take the Oath, or Affirmation, his Vote fhall be void.

The Bill farther enacts, That all Elections by the Liverymen, or at the Wardmotes, every Perfon, before he is admitted to vote, fhall, if required, take the Oaths, or being a Quaker, affirm the Effect of the Oaths appointed to be taken 1 Georgii, and if any Per fon refufes or neglects fo to do, his Vote fhall be void.

Power is given to the prefiding Officers and fworn Clerks to adminifter the above Oaths; and any of them neglecting or refufing fo to do, or otherwise offending in the Premiffes, fhall forfeit 60 l.

If any Perfon falflly or corruptly takes any of the faid Oaths or Affirmations, or if any Perfon fuborns any other to do, and he accordingly does the fame, every fuch Offender fhall fuffer fuch Penalties as Perfons convicted of wilful and corrupt Perjury are lia1! ble to.

III.

The Bill farther enacts, That if a Poll is demanded, it fhall begin the fame Day, or the next Day after, and fhall be daily proceeded on (Sundays excepted) till finished.

And the Poll by the Liverymen is to be finished within feven Days, and at the Wardmotes within three Days: And the Poll Books upon each Day's Adjournment to be fealed up in the Prefence, and with the Seals of the Candidates, or Perfons deputed by them, defiring the fame; and fhall not be opened but at the Time and Place of Adjournment.

In two Days after the finishing of the Poll, the Books fhall be publickly open'd and caft up, and two Days after that, the Numbers fhall be declared.

If a Scrutiny be demanded, it fhall be granted, and the Candidates fhall name Scrutineers, not exceeding fix on each Side, to whom the prefiding Officer fhall within 6 Days after, deliver at the Repueft and Coft of the Candidates or Scrutineers, true Copies of the Poll, by him figned.

The Scrutinies at the Elections by the Livery, fhall begin within ten Days after the Delivery of the Copies of the Poll, and fhall be proceeded on daily (Sundays excepted) and be finifhed within fifteen Days after Commencement: And within four Days after, the prefiding Officer fhall publickly declare who is duly elected, with the Numbers for each Candidate.

If a Scrutiny be demanded at the Wardmote Eletions, the Candidates or Scrutineers fhall, within 10 Days after receiving the Copies of the Poll, deliver to the prefiding Officer the Names of the Perfons againft whofe Votes they object, with their Reasons for fuch Objections, Copies whereof he fhall deliver to the Candidates or Scrutineers at their Charge and Requeft within three Days, and fhall within 10 Days next following after hearing the Parties, publickly declare which of the Candidates is duly elected, with the Number of legal Votes for each Candidate.

If any prefiding Officer fhall offend in the Premifes, he fhall forfeit 200l. with full coft of Suit, befides the Penalties inflicted by any other A&t.

IV: