The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-14 00:00:00

MALDON.

Before this committee—Lord Robert Grosvenor
c..eirman ; Mr. T. Shinn, Right Hon. G. Bankes, Sir H.
R. Davis' and Mr. H. G. Liddell—further evidence was
taken on the allegations contained in the petition.
Stephen Ransom deposed that he voted for Miller and
Du Cane, and that Buham, a pauper, told him if he voted
for them also he did not want to go back to the union.
Witness took Buham to the poll. Bashi= voted for Dick
and Du Cane, and witness received a sovereign for his ser-
vices. Witness saw 20 or 30 voters at the Blue Boar, wait-
ing to be paid, as he believed, for their votes.
13asham, a freeman, but a pauper, 76 years of age,
deposed that be voted for Dick end Da Cane, and went to
the Blue Boar, where he was treated and made comfortable.
Ransom kept him like a prisoner, and followed him until
he voted.

After other evidence of no importance, in the course of
which it was said one voter bad promised another that if he
voted for Miller and Du Cane he would lend him his
horses to plough with, (Laughter,)
The committee adjourned to this day.

The evidence in this cue daring the day (Hon. E.
lamelles in the chair) was directed to show that public-
houses were opened in the interest of Mr. Ponsonby, that
treating was carried on, and that the publicans, having pre-
viously voted for Villiers and Mulling., ultimately voted
for Ponsonby. 0...3 publican's wife deposed to having
given away 14 gallons of ale a day, and was moved to so
doing because the people seemed to enjoy themselves. An-
other witness deposed to a rather extraordinary piece of
monetary arithmetic, viz., that he bad received for beer he
supplied to voters a sum of 14s. 6,1., all in half-crowns.
The committee adjourned to this day.

THE NORWICH RUCTION.

SATURDAY NIGHT.

The arrival of the metropolitan dail
in this city, with reports of the proceedings yesterday before
the select committee of the House of Commons appointed
to inquire into the withdrawal of the Norwich election pe-
titions, created a sensation which has seldom been exceeded
in intensity in this city. A few hours sufficed to spread the
intelligence that Colonel Dickson had made statements
before the committee which, if correct, could not but most
shamefully disgrace the city in the eyes of the world, and
although it was market day, and the citiscns generally were
intently engaged in their business transactions, so great
was the indignation manifested, that within two or three
hours after the arrival ef the intelligence handbills were in
circulation from one end of the city to the other, calling
upon the electors to assemble in the eveningin.St. Andrew's
Hall in order to vindicate themselves from the aspersions
which had been cast upon them by Colonel Dickson's evi-
dence. Only three hours' notice of the meeting was given ;
but at the time announced for the commencement of the
proceedings, the spacious hall was well filled, between two
and three thousand of the citizens being present.
The Mayor having been called on to preside,
Mr. d. H. TT were addressed the meeting at considerable
length, in explanation of the circumstances which had In-
duced a number of citizens, who were anxious to vindicate
the character of Norwich, to summon that meeting.
The following resolution, which was proposed by Sir W
Foster, Bart. and supported by several other gentlemen, was
carried unanimously:—
1 " That the citizens of Norwich have heard with surprise
and indignation that it has been stated before a select com-
mittee of the House of Commons, that the return of Messrs.
Pato and Warner at the late general election was effected
by bribery and corruption, and declare that this statement is
not only not true, but is the eery reverse of the truth.
That the last election for this city was a remarkable con-
trast to former parliamentary contests, inasmuch as the four
candidates signed a pledge prior to the election, that they
would not 4.tucLion soy corrupt expenditure, slid this meet-
ing conscientiously believes that this pledge was carried oat
with the strictest integrity by both parties. That this
muting Lao no dvuht that tho petitioner one against the rt.

torn of Missrs. Pao and W , and the 'her spinet
Mr. Warner alone,wcre presented without any just ground,
and solely with a view to gain one seat as a compromise zr
some other party arrangement. And. lastly, this meeting,
munpriting more than 2,OUJ of the citizens of Norwich, de-
clares that the facts above stated are well known and un-
deniable."