51H
1648, “Whilst zt Bastboncue we talked this matter over With
"#8. Fox, who was thers, aud we agreed that the County
qualification movement ought to be encouraged as a mean?
of extending the suffrage, without restricting its object I
any particular scheme of organic or practical reforms. The
Jorty shilling freehold movement ought to be supported solely
on the principle of extending the suffrage~—and it is a schem®
which involves so many moral and social benefits thab g
will be, I fesl convinced, sastained by a great number ©
men of moral weight throughout the country who would
not work with us for any large scheme of sudden orgahi
change; and these men, once enlisted with us, would go °%
afterwards for all that we desire.
“I wrote to Taylor asking him some questions : first,
whether ho thought a delegate meeting of all those already
engaged or willing to embark in the forty shilling 1a0ve”
ment ought to be called. Second, whether he was receivitg
many letters upon the subject indicating a growing interes’
in the subject; whether he was favited to go to meeting
and whether he could give me any statistics of the existilg
number of members, ete. Third, whether he thought 2
periodical to be called ‘The Freeholder,’ giving a coO%
densed report of all proceedings and directions bot?
registration, etc., should be published by & Union of ho
Societies. flove is his answer. Making all deductions for
his enthusiasm, it is clear there is life in his movement. If
baken up zealously by all of us, I do believe that the present’
number of electors could be doubled in loss than seve’
years, and, between ourselves, such a constituency would
give you at the present moment a more reliuble support
for thorough practical reforms than universal suffrag®
Muy I predict that if we should succeed to the extent 2b0¥°
rvamed, there would not be wanting shrewd members of the
Tory aristocracy who would be found advocating universal

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