The Sun. — London, England, 1819-05-13 00:00:00

Niugdorn. 1-le filierved, that he did not inctin it to prejudice partnerships . already existing, but to rxtend it to those which might bereßfter he contracted.—Dead a first time, and otdoed to he read a sec'otid on Thursday, May 27. ' LONDON CLERGY. Mr. WAITIIMAN moved for an Account of the Emoluments of the Clergy of the nine Pari.hes in the Liberty of Westminster for the last thrPC years ; bnt, on the representation of Mr. IL Simmer, Sir J. Graham, and Mr. Dund ,, s, wro maintained that it was not usual - to inal a mu- . lion without notice, and that the emolurnfli's of the individuals in question had nothitx to do with the merits of the London Clergy 13tH, to il lustrate which was the object in the view of the Worthy Alderman, — Mr. Alderman Waithm sit withdrew his motion, and Ove notice of it lot to-morrow. PENRYN pETITION. Nlr. SINCLAIR presented a petition from the in habitants of the lloroug.h' of Penryn, praying that they might not be involved in the guilt and pu nishment of the few electors who had been guilty of bribery at the late election, but might be exempted from the - penalties /imposed by the Bill now pending in the flouse.Laid on the table, and ordered to be printed._ BRITISH MUSEUM. On the motion of Mr. BANKES, Accounts were ordered to be laid before the House of the EN-, pences of the Bi itish Museum in the year 1818; ard of the number of Persons admitted to view that Institution during the last seven years. Mr. Kvi, h, from the British Museum, imme diately presented the above-mentioned Papers ; which were ordered to be printed. PUBLICANS' LICENSS' REGULATION BILL. Mr. BENNET postponed the second reading - of this Bill, which stood for Friday, to -Monday next. GREFNWICH HOSPITAL. A person from Greenwich Hospital presenter the Annual Accounts of that Hospital.—Ordered to be printed. ORPHAN FUND. On the motion of Mr. U. SUZtNER, and after a few words from Mr. Alderman Woon, an Ac count was ordered to be laid before the. House of the Stuns paid into the Chamber of London, (hiring the last year, by the Receivers of the Duties .on Coals and Wine, applicable to the Orphan Fund ; and of the Balances in the hands of, the Chamberlain ; as also of the Balances, under the head of Unclaimed Dividends, due to the said Fund. CATHOLIC CLAIMS. Mr , WYNN presented a Petition from Wrex ham against the Catholic Claims.—Ordered to lie on the table. BANK 00 IRELAND. • On the motion of Mr. CALGRAFT, an account was ordered to he laid before the House of the amount of Gold Coin issued by the 13:►nk of Ire land in 1816 and 1817, in consequence of ti►eir notice to pay in cash their notes antecedent to certain dates. BURGH REFORM. Sir R. FEinusoN prescuted Petitions from two Royal Burghs in Scotland, praying for Reform in the Municip , ll Government of these and similar places.—Read and bud on the table. sINKiNG FUND, Stc. Mr. GRENFELL role to make his proposition for securing to the public the benefit of the ap plication of the Sinking ,Fund to any loan to be raised in the present year fnr the public service, and was proceeding to state the grounds of his motion, ‘vhen Sir C. BURRELL expressed a wish that the Com mittee on the Penryti Bribery Bill might take precedence of the Honourable Gentleman's Mo. Lion. A desultory conversation ensued, in which Mr. Grenfell, Sir C. Burrell, Mr. Wynn, the Speaker, and Lord Castlereagh participated. Eventually, Mr. Grenfell agtecd to give way ; and if there should not be time to bring on his motion that evening, to bring it on to-morrow (this day), the Chancellor of the Exchequer observing that a greater facility would - be allowed to his Hon. Friend for doing so, as he hi►rtself would not he prepared to open to the House his proposed plans respecling the Irish distillery. PENRYN ELECTION. Sir C. ButtaeLt..then moved, that the House should resolve itself into a Committee on the reuryn Bribery Bill. Mr..WYNN intimated that if any person sum inon-cd as a witness on this proceeding were to be found continuing in the House, he would be guilty of a punishable offence. . The question for going into a Committee hav ing been pin,. Mr. BARHAM said, that although be was an enemy to corruption, and wished to see it punish ed wherever it made -its appearance, yet that he was not aware on what principle the House was 'acting in passing the present Bi;1. If the House proceeded to a measure of this kind without an:i evidence to support them, and on the Mere tx pectation of obtaining that evidence from the wit nesses they might call to-their Bar, they would establish a precedent which they might hereafter _hove great reason to regret.' • Sir C. 111Awx:Ns, Member for Penryn, in a tone of voice vile inaudible in the Gallery, con -tinned for some time to read a speech, till he was called to Order by Mr. BAN tees, who stated, that the course which the Hon. Baronet, was pursuing was contrary to the Orders of the House. The utmost extent to which the House carried their indulgence, was to allow Members to refresh their memories occa sionally by a recurrence to notes. , • Mr. MANNING contended, that there was no RePort of aoy.kind whatever; and lie understood th e whole of the proceedings were.grounded on a suspicion of what took place in 1807. There bad / been two. General _Elections since that pe riod. There was no evidence to warrant the in troduction of this Bill, and in this stage they•were bound to call 'witnesses in support of it. This seemed to him contrary to the 'forms of the House. In the ,-case of Barnstaple there was a Special Report. Sir C.. BortneLL the House, having allowed the Bill to proceed thus tar, were in justice hound to hear e vidence in support of it. If the witnesses dirt not prove corrupt practices, then the Bill would tti the ground ; but if they tubs'an tiated these rerrnpt practices, then there would be Izood eroaod fur extending the franchise. M r . D eat sa t e said, the Election Committee did not proceed at all on any inquiry into the prac tices of ISO 7, but confined themselves to what took place at the lost Election. Ail the cases of br ibtt \I were prove d ;against the Sitting Membeie 'they could not proceed against the petitioner, as there Was a link wanting in the chain of evidence, but this was only carried by the casting vote of the Chairmane But since that tiase a Grand Jury of the County of Midassex had found bills_for perjury against five.of the witnesses. Mr C. Heaves( said, the only question which was decided by the casting vote of the Chairman was, whether Counsel shonld be hiard on a point which had already been decided by the Commit tee. In justice to the Committee he had to state, that what related to !the bribery being brought home to the - sitting Member was carried onani measly, but the HOn. Gentleman was mistaken if he supposed the bribery was brought - house to the petitioner. Mr. DENISON, in explanation, stated - he bad said one in the chain was wanting: But :here was no doubt that the bribery could have teen proved against the petitioner. Mr. HosvonD said this .was doing great loins !ice to the petitioner. What had happened to the five witnesses 'would rather have weakened the case thsn othe.rwiae. There were only two i n stanres,of bribery even alleged. Mr. Dvsl,4oN alluded to the band-bills which wet e published. The lloase theft went into a Committee on the Bill, and proceeded to hear evidence. John Stooa, the first witness examined, stated that he was it: the Chair at a Meeting at the Elec tors of Penryn, on the 25th M sy, 1818, for the parps•se of procuring the refutes of llr. Stearin, which WaS lit Id at the sign of the Thirteen flails, He had drawn up a hand bill front personal hos tility to Mr. Swann, and the meeting was called in consequence of it At the meeting he did all he • could to prejudice the elector• generally against Mr. Swann. He had not a copy of the hand-hill. lVitness, on being asked if he could state the substance of it, was proceeding to state what he recollected - of - it, wheti he was ordered to withdraw. Sir C HUBBELL had to request that when the witnes was withdrawn no person shotrid have arty communication with him. Mr. C. HERVEY said, he rather believed the hand-bill was ire the hands or the Clerk of the Committee, and 't would be more satisfactory to the House to have the hand-hill itself than to have an acconat of it from recollection. Sir C. BultßaLL observed, if ilonourable Mem bers rose end objected to a witness when be was ready to giVe honest evidence, it would be a great obstrtictioo to insaiee. Mr. C. HeavaY ex plained. Sir. J. MacmesTosu protested against the in troduction i n to ti l e HOuse of the roles of evidence in Courts of Law, which would render the inqui sitorialspowers of the House of no avail. If the printed paper however could be note obtained, it tvould be the shortest way to hear it, and then proceed with the witness. Alter sotne further conversation between Mr. Williams, Mr. Holtord, Mr. V. Blake, anal Sir C. Burrell, Mr. F. DOUGLAS moved that the Clerk who attended the Election Committee be called its. This being ass' coed to, the Clerk (Mr. White) was called in, and asked whether he had in his possession the which had been tendered to the Committee ?—Mr. White answered, that the Committee having decided not to receive the bill.; it bcd been never put into his hands, The wituess (Stona) was again called in, and asked whether he had any recollection of the hand-bill which he had written and printed ?-1-le said he had a confused recollection of it ; but was proceeding to state what he recollected, when Mr. CoURTENAY desired he might withdraw. Waco the witness had withdrawn, Mr. C. o b.. jeetrd to the question put to the witness concern ing the expressions of a hand-bill, of which he declared his recollection was confused. This objection was, however, over-ruled by cries of " Go on !" and the svitoess was called its ; but in this and in the subsequent peit of his examination, the voice of the witness, who was at !lie Bar, was so indistinctly heard in the Gallery, that it was rarely that we could collect even the substance of his answers, except in a few in.- stances, wisen the questions and answers were read over by the short-hand writer at the Bar. The witness then proceeded to give some idea of the hand-bill, as far as his recollection went. The hand-bill stated, Ilia: the treating hero would soon come with dissimulation for his associate, that he would resort to 'his usual arts in giving " fl,sh and twopenny." [ln this the sainess said, he alluded to a practice of Mr. Swarm's, viz. Ilk t„irit:g fish to the poorer class of the Electors' vvives, and going into the ale-houses, and thlow big down a few shillings with an appearance of liberality]. That after'he'was returned, he would treat the Electors with his accustomed insolence, telling; them (he Washed to record the expression) " you may go to h- - , and be d-1." This e was the Land-bill, signed A Well-wisher. Sir C. BURMA. asked, whether there Were CX pv,:.ssinliS to this effect (the hand-bill being ad dressed to the Electors, and alluding' to Mr. Swann) :—" You are aware that he possesses neither ability nor inclination to return a pecu-, niary gratification for your favours. •On your principles, what can be a stronger objection to hint than this i" And after, " Has he given One of you a breakfast—has he realized the expecta tions of one of you We are disposed to look with pleasure to the good old times, when every man received his breakfast. This is the sole hope and the only advantage, after which we aspire in the exercise? of our elective franchise. Be assured that a man after your own heart will present him self." The witness stated, tliat lie recollected that the hand-bill contained these expressions. While Sir C. Burrell was proceeding in reading them, Mt% V. Blake desired that the witness might withdraw, and objected that this course of pro ceeding was 110 E consistent with th'e course of pro ceeding in Courts of Law, and was analogous to the practice of putting leading questions. Mr. Serjeant Onslow - , Mr. Wynn, and Sir C. Burrell, thought the course of proceeding proper, as there was no certainty that by any other course a knowledge of the contents of the hand-bill could be attained. Mr. Conrtenay and Mr. Holford thought other means of obtaining the information should be first tried. The objection was over-ruled by the House, and the witness was again called in. Sir C. BURRELL then continued his examina tion. lie asked whether these Words were in the hand-bill--" Be assured that a man after your own heart will present himself, one who has as much wealth as the richest Nabob, and who ‘vjil recoinpence his friends, whether success- ful or not." The witness stated that be was not assisted by, nor had coesolted with, any 'other persons in drawing up the hand-bill. He said that in his allusions to the breakfast, &c. he wished to use those arguments which he thought would in fluence the lower clan of the electors. Sir C. Bo RRELL read an extract from another hand-bill, in which it was said, " The time is drawing near when victory will establish those claims which have so long been neglected." The witness stated he had seen such a hand-bill., but was not the anthor of it.. In another bill 'pub lished by the svoneas, it was said, " The ancient but now nearly obsolete gratification of 241. for a plumper wilt he restored " In the priated copy it was 24Ibs. not 24). It was so printed that ad vantage might be taken of the expression, and the meaning was perfectly understood by the per sons to whotn it was addressed. Sir C. BuLIRELL then examined the witness as to the 24th May, but we could collect but little of his answers. The witness was in the chair, some resolutioos were passed that " it was ne cessary that some person of known respectability amd integrity sheath! be chosen to reptesetat the Borough." He acknowledged that great dissa tisfaction towards Mr. Swann existed among the lower orders, at the want of their breakfast. Be ing asked whether`Mr. Swann's declining to con tinue these corrupt practices did not endear him to the respectable part of the electors, he answer ed that Mr. Swann's not paying his debts on some occasion did not gain him the esteem.of the re spectable electors, And that there were as many respectable electors in Penryn as in any other bo roneh of the extent. Witness thought that the objection made to Mr. Swann On account of his Parliamentary conduct was met ely a blind. The second meeting was held at the sign of the Fif teen Balls. Mr. Anderdon was present• He conceived a principal object of the meeting to, be to abuse Mr. Swann and praise Mr. Anderdon.— Ile believed that a breakfast meant a turn of 241. Mr. F. Dossoeas put several questions to wit ness, but from the low tone of voice in which he answered, he was totally inaudible in the Gallery. Mr. Wiatoams put some lquestions, in answer to which witness was understood to say that Mr. Swann had declined giving the usual breakfast at the two last Elections. He (Mr Swann) bad given employment to several' of the Electors, its procuring stone for some building (the Waterloo Bridge, we believe), in which he was concerned. Witness heard Mr. Swam, say that he considered he bad a claim on the Electors, in consequence of this employment. A general opinion prevailed that this was the reason why the breakfast was not given. He denied having told the Electors that Mr. Swann would not pay them ; he had heard that a wish had been expressed that Sir M. Lopez would stand for the Borough. Witness met iNitaAnderdori, Mr. Sowerby, and sonic other per sons in London. Here he detailed a .conver sation which took place at this meeting, but we were unable to collect a sentence of it. He never consulted with any persons as to how far he might go in his evidence without endangering the opening of the Borough ; nor had he ever made any inquiry as to how he should frame his evidence ip order to avoid its being opened. He had heard that the testimony of some persons would be likely to have that effect. It was un derstood that corruption had been pretty general at elections for Penryn. He did not think that the majority of the voters had been' bribed at the last Election ; but he believed the greater part of the bribes given had conic from Mr. Swann.— Witness was understood to say, that he himself knew of more than twenty who had received bribes from that Gentl:man. Witness had heard nothing precise about a change of patronage for the Bo rough, but believes that such a desire was ex pressed, and understood that such a hope was entertained. He was not present at any Election breakfast, but beard that such breakfast bribes were distributed among the lower order of voters. He was the agent of Mr. Swann, but did not know why that Gentleman declined to give breakfasts. Two-thirds of the voters accepted, as he beard, some pecuniary remuneration for their votes ; and he could not say that the remaining third were not influenced by the hope of some reward, or place, or promotion for themselves, their friends, or their relations. - Mr. Sew ELL deposed, that Mr. Swann was dis liked in the Borough,• because he disputed the payment of the bills presented to him. There fore Mr, Anderdon was invited - down. On Mr. A.'s art ival at Pauly!), a hand-bill was psis forth, with the head of L.P.S., which he heard from the common people to mean a promiae* 241. to each voter. This promise he also heard to be implied in. a public breakfast. But he could not speak positively to these points, although he was resi dent io the Borough, and connected with various elections for 35 years. Still he did not know of any bribes having been given in the elections of 1806, 7 01..12. He heard that Mr. Swann was abused because he did not give any publichreakfast, and that the reason for his not giving these break fasts like other candidates, was, that he had dis tributed so much money in the Borough in the purchase of granite for the Waterloo-bridge. This purchase, the friends of Mr. Swann said, was a sullicieut remuneration to the voters. Witness .cook Mr„Anderdon down to Penryn—he was ac - (painted with that Gentleman's father, by whom he had been employed to purchase a borough in Cornwall.—(A laugh.)—While in London upon his visit to Mr. Anderdon, he received a letter front Penryn, stating that the Electors were ex tremely dissatisfied with Mr. Swann, but the rea son* assigned for that dissatisfaction lie could not recollect, and be had not the letter in his possession, nor did hekoow sehere to find it. He recollected that hand-bills were issued on the part of Mr. Anderdou respecting the public breakfast and the L. P. S ., hut he did not see the manuscript of these bills be' fore it was printed. He however paid for the printing, among other bills sent in to him, as the . agent of Mr. Anderdon. Notwitbstaoding what he had beard of public breakfasts and bribery, to" the expectation that Sir M. Lopez was to become a candidate for this borough, he did not think that the wealth of a candidate would have any ino(l` ence upon the conduct or decision of the electors of Penryn.—(A laugh.)—Upon witness's first arti" val in town, he called upon Mr. Maiming and Mr- Anderdon,but he had no conversation with eithersa to the proposition in that House to open the borone l of Pent yn, or to extend the right of voting for that Borough. He had however inquired whether, as an agent, he was bound to make-any answer " a question at that Bar which might eriminiite bier self. This inquiry he made of Mr. Wingfield , barrister, and of Anderdon's solicitor. Ile lit also bad a consultation upon the subject with fiv e other agents concerned in the Penryn Elections, who were summoned on this occasion as well as himself, and the whole thought with him and the t lawyers he had mentioned, that they were ti t bound to commit themselves by any noose" He did not remember to have communicated upon the subject of the late Election with any p ersn '" „ on his route from London to Penryn, in CO' • patty with Mr. Anderdon, nor to have e xpress% any opinion since his arrival in town, that i t ``'''! in the power of a Mr. Sewell to give such 1 deuce as would open the Borough. He ec',.lla not charge his memory whether or not be " a written a letter to Mr. Swann to give a breakfast' The witness was pressed to give a direct anso e „. l. ' He had written letters to Mr.Swann,advisiog of the discontent against him, but could not sgY e whether he had mentioned any thing relative t O tb o breakfast. Never offered any bribe hi t nself i t e any elector. A paper was then shewn to " a l , witness, which be acknowledged to be the lo n e bill he had seen at the Election, and whic 11 ,., ) ,1 un4lerstood was written by a Mr. Toy. I I e r e ; upon the electors to reserve their votes for a ".; didate coming down who was richer do" all ' Nabob of East. Wm. Reynolds was next examined._lle lieved several elections were carried by blib ei : 2 ; s Penryn, but not latterly—forthe last 10 ye a. ; The disposition to be bribed chiefly existed 0 1011 7, the lower orders. At the last 'election a pror t. 6l 3 tion had been made to try bribery, but it u° sl been rejected by Mr. Anderdon. The wit, fle , - , thought that it wonld have been too danger" 6 o i In the opitlion ofalie witness, the extension its the elective franchise at Penryn, contemplat e( ' the Bill before the House, was calculated to dinl ou nish the danger of In ihery.—[The greater p art the evidence given by this witness was inaudibles,6 On the motion of Sir C. BURRELL,' the H on Pro . was then resumed, the Committee reported- pr ° _ , gress, and obtained leave to sit again to-morre MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS. deg Mr. C, HERVEY, after a few observations scriptive of the inconvenience which it was object to, remedy, moved for leave to briog to repeal so much of the Act 54 G e , ° "; 0. cap. 170, intittiled " an Act to repeal cert 4 _ jl , ( l -1 1 .a. visions-in loc , •.1 acts for the maintenance gulation of the Poor," as qualified be competent witnesses in certain cases on b e of or against parishes. Sr ; After a few remarks and suggestions by Wynn, Mr, Serjeant Ooslow, Sir C. Burrell, F. Palmer, and Mr. Williams, leave was„gra nt i e n . Mr. V. BLAKe presented a petition from at if of dividual of the name of Flannigan, on he" the inhabitants of Sligo, complaining of abuses in that Borough, and praying redre s ' Ordered to be printed. to Mr. BROGDEN stated, that be had be en t he the House of Lords, with the request O l House, for the communication of thelfirst 'di heir coot! Report of the Committee appointed by j 4, Lordships to examine into the state of th e 13 A a the &c. and that their Lordships bad dire cte d same to be communicated to the House. € Mr BROGDEN brought aip the Minutes oi deuce taken before the Penryn Committee."... dual Co be prince , !. O rd ' The motion for a vote of 100,0001. 1 0 ,r . 11 t o', nance Service, on account, was postponedtl morrow. _ , A to' Mr. GHENFELL gave notice that he wo ol re' morrow submit to the House his propositi°ll specting the Sinking Fund. bir e The Scotch Jury Court Bill was, read 5 t time and passed. ( 1 The SPEAKER informed the House, t" t for Petitioner, complaining of an undue retorlacor Bossiney, had not entered into the usual re.do nizances. The order for taking the said into consideration was consequently discharg.e Adjourned at Twelve &Clod; DIED. At Saogor, East Indies, on the Sth of Septeulheftate. Lieutenant Joshua Pic:•:ersgill, Deputy Assistant Master-General. As an Officer his 2eal was ind efa T , an d his abilities shining - , and hiS conduct ever enterpri'''l4:o deliberate. During the period of his service the a% test' Indian fame have brume frequent and highly Wr ite , n ers l : molly of his value and importance. As a inan his wa 4 00' Society were engaging, his conduct correct and inrfer',l(.oll, .and those who were so fortunate as to possuss c , - 3d found in him a warm and steady friend, Pa cheerfa.y,,3o, structive companio - n. As a Christian he was exeruP'44.rcicoo„ his mind ever dwelt with delight on the important nog fortable truths of the Christian Religion. The foh°odieP the Inscription on a Monument builtover hint i)y th e of his Regiment : Sacred To the 'Memory of Lieutenant Joshua Pickersgill, of the 4 24th Regiment of Native Infantry , , Deputy Assistant Qoarter-Master - Ge neratt An Officer, whose indefatigable erahry 3 Recognised h and rewarded by Govern ment, Aid equalled only by the private wo rt; ding. Goodness. of heart, and superior under Which endeared bins to the o:tic::rs of his Reg''' . By whom this Monument is erected • e departed this life the sth of Septvlaber, )818, Aged 38 years. . -- - CaPt3 lo On the Bth inst., at Esher, Islrs. Hughes, wa.tr 0 e - f ffughes, R. N. emfaillW1101.1 , 4. 11 . 611 • 1 1 ---- „, are'S t LONDON: Printed by J. B. CARSTAIRS, Of No. t. '" W,,1 11 t ; Ormond-street, Queen-square; and published 4 0 Su., SCRIPPS, of No. 7, South Holton - stre et, at 1. 000" ( - Mice, No. 112, Strand ; where Aclet.rtistme o/ Lvt"trs, 66" (pest-paid; must he addressed. t-q ( //2 '"►--~•. ' )) Ntt , 2 4th Ibis Tic tier s , ttru,, tut 1:01 Si the, .. tt *if► th e ittr t a~; ~~ ~,, t .-