The Press.
London, England, 1853-06-25 00:00:00

ELECTION COMMITTEES.

The Liverpool committee presented its report on
Tuesday, after a prolonged investigation.
It set forth that Charles Turner and William Forbes list-ken.
zie were not duly elected, and that the last election was a void
election; that Cloaks Turner and William Forbes Mackenzie
were by their agents guilty of bribery and treating: and that
William Dodd and about twenty others were bribed by the pay-
ment of ss. each. That others were bribed by the payment of
los. each ; but that it was not proved that such bribery was with
the consent of the sitting members. That refreshments were
provided on the polling day ; that the several payments were
made to the voters on account of their having voted for the
sitting members, under the name of a day's pay, and as a com-
pensation for the time which it was alleged they lost in voting.
These gifts were not beyond their daily average earnings, but,
from the position of the polling-places in the different wards. the
voters might have polled without any such interruption of time,
or without needing refreshment. As to the other candidates,
there was no reason to believe that any illegal transaction had
taken place with regard to the voters. The committee did not
think it right to recommend that the issue of the writ should be
suspended, or that any further inquiry should take place.
Mr. FRESIIFIELD gave notice to mote for a new writ on Tues-
day nest.
Lord P.SITART said he should move as an amendment that at
the tiwct election for Liverpool the votes should be taken by way
of ballot.
The BERWICK PETITION has resulted in the follow-
ing report of the select committee :-
1. That Mr. Forster did not endeavour, either direectly or in-
directly, by any corrupt compromise, V.) obtain the withdrawal of
the petition against the said return.

JUNE 25, 1853.

2. That Mr. Hodgson, the only petitioner, did not offer to with.
draw the said petition on the receipt of a large sum of money
from Mr. Forster, nor was any such offer made by any person oft
his behalf.
2. That on or about the 10th of November a preposal was
made by Mr. Hodgson to Mr. John Forster, the son of the theft
sitting member, to the effect that, in the event of a vacancy
caused by the prosecution of the petition against Mr. Stapletuu
alone, Mr. Fonder should give a pledge that he and his *lends
should not oppose Mr. Hodgson's return ; and that a guarantee
should be given, either in the shape of a bond for 1,0001.. or a
bet to that amount depending upon the return of Mr. Hodgooft.
Both proposals were declined by Mr. John Forster.
4. That on the 15th of April an offer was made by Mr. Taylor.
with the sanction of Mr. Hodgson Mule, the brother of Mr.
Hodgson, that if a check for 2,01)01. were placed in Mr. Taylor's
hands by Mr. Forster, as a security for any costs that wig et be
incurred in the prosecution of the petiti , we evidence should
be offered against Mr. Fonder's return. he engaging net to use
his influence against a Conservative candidate at the next elec-
tion. This proposal was declined by Mr. Fotwier.
5. That the Berwick election committee met on the 22nd of
April, and on the evening of that day a proposal V 4404 made by
Mr. J. Coppoe.k, the agent of Mr. Forster, that no further tort.
deuce should be produced against Mr. Forster, who should take
his theme of the decision of the co ittee on the evidence al.
ready adduced, and should not oppose Mr. Hodgson at the coining
election. This offer was then realm eel ; hut o► the following day,
Mr. Stapleton having declined any further to defend his return, it
was filially agreed between Mr. Taylor, on behalf of Mr.
Hodgson, and Mr. J. Coppook, the agent of Mr. Forster, that no
further evidence should be tendered to the committee; that all
costs, not to exceed 3001., were to be paid by Mr. Fonder, but
whether ►xonditionally on Mr. Forster retaining his seat or not
does not distinctly appear, and that Mr. Forster should undertake
not to offer any opposition to any candidate prepaied by Mr
Hodgson or Mr. Ulnae.
S. That this arrangement was made without the knowledge or
consent of Mr. Forster, and was never commuideated to him un.
nil the 7th of May following.
In the case of TAUNTON the committee decided on
Wednesday 1—
" That Sir John Rannalen, Bart., is duly elected to Nerve in
this present Parliament for the borough of Taunton. That tau
voters (named) were bribed to vote or abstain from voting, but
that it was not proved that the acts of bribery were committed
with► the knowledge and consent of Sir J. liamsden or his
agents."

BRIBERY AT ElxertoNs.
Lord 1). STUAKT gave notice that on the dirt of July ho would
move a resolution that it be an instruction to the Atumrney-
General to prosecute all persons who had been reported by election
committees to have been guilty of bribery, as agents tur candi-
dates.

'omit, n ant( Colonial nttlligtnte.

[Front our own Correspondent.]
PARIS, June
THE MORiblir contains decrees of importance, dated
St. Cloud, `,',end June. The first concerns the aboli-
tion of the Ministry of the General Police, and gives
the following reasons for the act :
" Napoleon, &c.
" Considering that the calm and security which exist in
the empire of France permit the suppression of the Mi-
nistry of the General Police, the institution of which was
caused by circumstances exceptional and temporary, we
have decreed, and do decree, that the Ministry of the Ge-
neral Police is suppressed.
" Art. 2. The attributions of the General Police are
united to those of the Minister of the Interior, &c.
" Napoleon, itc.
" Art. 1. A Direction of General Surety is established at
the Ministry of the Interior.
" Art. 2. This direction comprehends the General Cor-
respondence, the General and Special Police, the Press, the
Printing and Library departments of the archives of the
By these decrees M. do Maupas is uo longer a Mi-
nister. lie is named a senator, and is to be Ambas
salor at Naples or at Rome. It is said that three
conspiracies, one after the other, have been discovered
against the person of the Emperor, and were re-
vealed to him by others than M. de Alaupas, who
ought to have discovered and denounced himself
these machinations. If he knew nothing of them he
was evidently of no use. But it is a fact that not
one of the Ministers knew that the project of suppress-
ing the Ministry of the General Police was even con-
templated.
The Emperor paid a visit to M. Fould the other
day, taking him quite by surprise, telling him he
came, as a neighbour, to see him in a friendly fly.
Mme. Fould got up a little impromptu soiree, and the
Emperor danced on the lawn, with that affability and
grace he knows so well how to give to trifles in ap-
pearance. But lam much mistaken if that evening
it was not decided upon " n flare denser" M. de
Maupas, although absent.
Several other Ministerial modifications are on the
tapir. M. Collet.Mergoet, Prefect of the Department
de l'Aube, Secretary-General of the Prefecture of the
General Police (abolished), is named Director of the
General Surety. The Ministry of Agriculture and
Commerce is to be re-established, and the Ministry
of Public Works attached thereto will form one and
sole Ministry, under the orders of M. Hahne.
Three vessels, now arming at Cherbourg and
Brest, united with other frigates, which are pre-
paring at the same time, will form a Channel fleet,
ready to co-operate with the British squadron under
Admiral Collie. The circular of M. de Nesselrode
meete with little sympathy here. It is considered