And, as bribery could only be brought to bear on electors too ignorant to estimate the importance of the exercise of the franchise by any higher test than the personal advantage it might bring to themselves, it is to the general diffusion of education among the poorer classes, and their gradually improved and improving intelligence that a complete eradication of electoral corruption can alone be looked for.
Notes: [Footnote 1: "Constitutional History," vol.iii., p.

380; ed.

3, 1832.
The first edition was published in 1827.] [Footnote 2: Grampound.

Corrupt voters had been disfranchised in New Shoreham as early as 1771, and the franchise of the borough of Cricklade had been transferred to the adjoining hundreds in 1782.] [Footnote 3: Parliament was dissolved March 19.

Lord Bute succeeded Lord Holdernesse March 25.] [Footnote 4: The greater part of Lord Bute's colleagues did, in fact, retain their offices.