Page:The child's pictorial history of England; (IA childspictorialh00corn).pdf/196

 5. But the government thought it right first to take off the property tax, and then found they could not do without the money the other taxes produced. Then the people, not getting relief from the taxation, thought some alterations in the laws might remedy their distress, and sent petitions to parliament praying that these alterations might be made. The principal thing they wanted was, what you have perhaps heard called the Reform Bill.

6. This was a law to give the right of voting for members of parliament to a greater number of people, and also to make alterations with regard to the places that were allowed to send members to parliament; for there were many old boroughs that were formerly important places, but now had scarcely a house left standing, yet still were represented by two members in parliament; which was ridiculous, because the object of sending a member to parliament is, that he may do all the good he can for the people of the place he represents, as well as for the nation; then there were many large towns, such as Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, &c., that had grown into importance since the time when it was settled what places should have representatives, and these had none at all.

7. Another thing desired by the people, was