Borough election.

Circular letter regarding the Reform Bill (eventually the Reform Act 1832), an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales. The term borough designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely. Before the reform, most members nominally represented boroughs. The number of electors in a borough varied widely, from a dozen or so up to 12,000. Frequently the selection of MPs was effectively controlled by one powerful patron: for example Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk controlled eleven boroughs.

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