The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-25 00:00:00

BRIDONORTIT.

When the oommitie-ere-auemiale7lyesterdamorning,
Mr. Alexander concluded his argument on behalf of Sir
R. Piget.
Mr. Henry Whitman, one of the sittiag members, was
then called and examined—lt was determined three weeks
before the election that he 'build become a candidate
for the borough. Witness's expenses at the last election
anointed to 2271. 13s. 78., and, to the beet of
has knowledge sod belief, that wee the whole of the
expenses of that contest to himself, including his agent's
automata. Witness gave Page a trifle to drink his
health in the street. Pep then told him he had
came from Kidderminster to vote for him. Winer put
him down is hie book, and Page asked him if he would give
him something is the shape of a present, sad witness re-
plied that was impossible. Page said it was a hard ease for
• man to be brought from his work and not have his ex-
penses paid by the gentleman for whom he voted. Witaese
replied that he would inquire whether it was allowable to
pay expenses, and made • note in his book about it.
brown, who was with him, said that he (witness) need not
trouble himself about such a scamp, for, as he had kft the
tows. he very mach doubted whether his vote would be re
embed. Witness never inquired any more about him, nor
beard bow he voted. He (witness) gave no instructions to
John Head, as anybody else, to give him refreshment, or
what he wasted to drink. %%Ines' had promises from
surly 300 voters when he first began his canvass, and had
300 before the nomination day.
By the Committee—l heard nothing about a "trap"
being laid fee • petition till some weeks after the election.
Mr. Sparks asked Mr. Backh-use about it, and Backbones
said he bad 10 such clew cues, that he thought Sir R.
Pigot would oat defend his seat. Witness replied, " I won-
der, Mr. Sparks, you're not ashamed of such proceedings
with your politics." Mr. Bacithause replied, " I sink my
polities in wy profession."
Mr. Charlton Whitmore examined by the committee—
Has bees connected with Bridgnorth, as member, in five
elections sines 1832. In 1847, my expenses were, I'm quite
sure, under 3001. Demands were made upon me from pub-
lic-houses ; but, hung given notice that I would not pay
for any treating, I refused to pay those bills, and they have
neva rises been paid.
Mr. Whataley—That is my cue.
Mr. Whiunote (on the same side) said be thought it was
annecosessey for him to address the committee, but ha
trusted the committee would, in their decision, take into
their consideration the cos's, the trifling and unwarrantable
cases of alleged bribery which had been brought forward
to support the allegations of the petition.
Sir R. Pigot was then Billed end examined by Mr. Alex-
ender—l heat gat for Bridgnorth in 1832, and again in 1835.
Was not returned in 1837, but was re-seated in 1838, and
returned in 1817 and 1852. In 18.52 I had not decided to
stand if the electors found anybody else to come forward
on the saw principles. I never told Tipton that if
be voted for me it would be " ell right." I
did not know the men by sight. I beard part
of a conversation in a field between Mr. Ste-
phens and a man named Neaden. Neaden said he
had promised one vote to Mr. Cadogen, and he said he
would give the other to witness. There was no engagement
whatever on the part of Stephens with that matt about his
vote. Is not aware that the words " I'll see you again "
have any particular meaning at Bridgnorth. The whole
of my eapeases at the last elecion were under 4501. 1
ordered no treating or refreshment whatever at the last
election.
By the Committee—l hove seen an account of the ex-
penses of my last election ; they were 3271. ; the fact of a
petition being presented sg ,inst me does not depend on my
account not being wound up.
Mr. Vickers was next called, end examined by Mr. Ale:-
ander—Witnest said he woo the professional adviser and
agent of Sir It. Pigot at the last election ; he received the
4001. mentioned by Sir It. Pigot from Homfray, and that
money was expended for the legitimate expenses of the
election. Not one farthing of that money was expended
for the purposes of bribery end treating. Not one farthing
of that money was given to the Mitten. Knows Mr. Head's
tenants lave paid rent to Mr. Bette.
This witness underwent a very lengthened examination
by Mr. Power relative to vagina saw of wavy paid dif-

feint parties during the election, for fetching voters
from • instance. He adhered to his evidence in his
elassination-in-chief, that no money was eanended, er
orders gleam by him, for the purposes of treating or bri-
bery, thouah • portion of those sums just mentioned
seemed very large, compared with what would be the
actual nutlet—for instance, 41. to fe•ch one man from
Birmi•ghani, &c. In reply to the committee, he
said there is a balance of 601. staaccoantedi foe.
3171. were paid. He expects 1001. for agesay, mad Mr
Hocafray has .ome balance an his bands. The account is
complete, except that his (witness's) own account is to be
added to Sir R. Paget's espenses. The account handed in
dues not inclu Is Romiesy's account. If 1001. were added
to the account handed in, then it would be • complete ac-
count. The account bee been out of his keeping for the
last month. Ile seat it up to London to Mr. Brown, par-
►iamenury 'gout. Sir R. Pigot had not seen the account
before it wes Meat to Mr. Brown. Sir R. Pigot had asked
for it a short tame before. Sir Robert wrote to him, and
desiri:il him to send the account to Mr. Brown. Has an.
the r account with Sir Robert, fur registrations at Bridg-
north.

Mr. Charles Head was the neat witness. and was under
Lamination when the committee adjourned to this morning.

BLACKBURN.
ma.BCCLIS UNSZATID.

The inquiry into the Blackburn petition was restused
yesterday moraing before the select committee ; Mr. Betides
chairman.

Mr. Eccles, the sitting member, was called in, and his
examination proceeded as follows :
By Mr. James—l first made up my mind to start
about three days before the poll. It was not through any
feeling of personal hostility to Mr. Hamby. I voted for
Mr. liornby at the previous election. Last election I
voted be Mr. Horoby. Last March I was at • dinner at
which a gold chain was given to Mr. Husby. I first ad-
dressed the elec'urs about a fortnight or three weeks before
the election. Hollingthed is my attorney. Mr. Sturdy was
one of my agents. Mr. Swift was, I believe, retained, bat
not by me. Mr. That. Clough was actively concerned for me,
and I thooght he was a paid agent, but I left all that to Mr.
Holling+hel. I believe he'll be psid. As to Mr. Jae. Bell, I
doubt if he was my retained agent, but I saw him in the
room. If a hill was tent in by Mr. Ball, I think I would
pay it. As to Captain Clarke, I know nothing of him but
that he was oue of five Parsons retained for me by Mr. Hol-
lingshed. I first saw him at the St. Leger Inn. Never bad
a formal introduction to Clarke. Mr. Thompson was the
chief party in that part of it. I saw Thompson there twice,
but I did not speak to him, se I did not know what he came
for. I did not know they were sent for. Clarke was to
tutus. I came upon the lapis very late, and was obliged
to have • number of lawyers. I saw flee pusses who her.
come down from London, but es Mr. Hollingehed was my
agent, I didn't interfere to send them but to London.
I do not know that my own son went to London and
fetched them down. This is the first time such • thing
has been suggested to me. I have had no account
from Holiingsbed of the outlet' of the cheque for 2,0001.
'spoke at Knowles's Hotel one night. I behove • bottle
of wine was given to the people at the time. They would
have m ire, very likely, but I gave no authority. There
were about 30 or 40 people there. I drank a glass. I
don't know who paid for it. I suppose Hollingshed paid
for it. Mr. Hollingshed told me the expenses might be
2,0001., but could not reach 2,5001.
This closed the examination of Mr. Eccles, sad
Mr. Merewether then proceeded to sum up os thipart of
the sitting member, and Mr. James having replied, the
room was cleared. When the public were again admitted,
The Chairman said he had to inform the parties that the
committee had come to certain resolutions, some or which
he would thee read to them. The hon. chairman the& read
the following resolutions of the committee :
" Ist. That William Eccles, Esq., wen not duly elected a
burgess to in this parliament for the borough of Black-
burn.

" 2nd. That the met election for the said borough, so far
is relates to the election of the said William Rules, Req., is
a void election.

"ir(i.-ittat.the said William Bede*, Esq., was, by his
agents, guilty of bribery at the said election for Om borough
of Blackburn."
The inqairy then terminated.

NEN!RY.

The members appointed to consider the petition
against Mr. Kirk, the sitting member for Newry, sat for the
tint time in Committee Raom No. O. The members of the
committee won Mr. lascelles (chairman), Mr. Denby Sey-
mour, tdr. 'Upton, Mr. Moody, and Mr. Laden.
The counsel for the sitting member, Mr. Kirk, were Mr.
Serjesot Wrseghaus, Mr. I hos. O'Hagen, Q.C. of the
Irish bar, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. F. W. M.Blein, aboof the
Irish bar. The souneel fer the petitiowan were Mr. Calvert
and Mr. Andrews. _ _

Mr. Calvert opened the case for the petitioners, and
stated that the pantos prosecuting the petition could not
sustain it, and they therefore withdrew the petition.
After some discussion the committee eventually came to
the following reeolutions :
That Mr. Kirk, the sitting member, is duly elected a bur-
gets to serve in the present parliament, for the borough of
Newry.
That the circumstances attending the forbearance of the
agents to prosecute the charges contained in the petition do
not appear to call for any special report.

CAPSIZING OF A SCHOONER AND LOSS OF

ALL HINDS.

SHIELDS, TIIIIRSDAT MORNING.
A most melancholy accident happened at one bar
a few minute. past five yesterday evening, resulting in the
total loss of a fine clipper schooner, the Sir William
Wallace, of Freserburgh, laden with coals and provisions,
all hands drowned. During the court* of yesterday after-
noon, with an impetuosity end suddenness peculiar to the
German Ocean, the sea at the bar roes "mountains high,"
accompanied by squalls of wind and heavy snow showers.
About the time mentioned, and just before a heavy snow
shower came ea, the pilots at the South Shields beacon
observed a laden schooner come from the northward,
with pert mail set, and a leg of distress in her main rigging.
She made a dash for the Tyne; amid, immediately on her
entering the breakers, the pilots ran down to the life-boat
house, and got out both life-boats, which they immediately
manned. While they were doing so, occupying some ten
or fifteen minutes in their exertions, a heavy snow shower
obscured the vessel from the sight of the ;spectators on the
shore, and, when it blew away, no vessel was Co be seen.
The pilots had then got with their boat to the
" narrows' " when those in-shore shouted to them
that the vessel must have either gone out to
see, or sunk. They lay on their oars tor a
' minute or two, and looked 'anxiously to seaward,
and in a short time observed the unfortunate vessel amongst
the broken waters capsized. At great peril, they palled
down towards her, and on going round her, as she drove
with her masts and decks in the water, saw that every one
belonging to her bad perished. Where the vessel struck, so
open boat could have lived, and the upsetting of the vessel
lead drowning of the crew must have been instantaneous,
from the immense body of water that was coming in. The
loss of these poor fellows is the source of bitter regret
to the pilots here, for never within the memory of
living man, though hundreds of waken have been wrecked,
has it been known for a ship's company to perish en the
Herd Sand. The cause of the vessel upsetting en suddenly
is supposed to be that she was Sae-bottemed. like left the
Tyne on Monday, and the provisions she bad aboard were
for the Greenland vessels that leave the north of Scot-
land.

The name of the muter was Mackay, and she would have
either seven or hands aboard. When she struck she must
have been rolled over several times, as not a vestige of
her cargo of coals Is left is her hold, and the provisions,
ship bread principally, were strum along the shore last
night. A great number of seamen are engaged saving the
rigging, stores, &c.: but when oar correspondent sent off
his report none of the bodies had been found.

COURT 0? COMMON COUNClL.—Yeeterdv the
conic met for the purpose of proceeding to the adjourned
debate on the proposed City Hallway Terminus Company's
Bill. Ultimately the following amendment, moved by Mr.
Deputy Bennoch, was carried by a majority of 16, in •
court of 154 members: "That the report of the improve-
ment committee be referred back to the committee, with
instructions to confer with the government on the whole of
the projected improvements in Holborn-valley and Forting-
don-street, in order to ascertain if government will co
operate with the corporation in accomplishing tho whole of
the plan proposed, and that, in the meantime, the progress
of the bill now befo:e parliament be suspended."

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON.—The annual
meeting of the members of this institution was held on
Wednesday in the theatre of the establishment, in Gower-
street, Bedford-square. At 3 o'clock the chair was taken
by Mr. Crabbe Robinson. After a few remarks from
the chairman, the secretary read the report, from which it
appeared that the receipts for the year under all heads
amounted to 1,7231., and that, deducting all items of :
expenditure, a small . balance remained. Daring the'
year legacies to a large amount had been received, and
that item had in some degree counterbalanced a
tailing off in other departments. There were during
the year 186 students in the faculty of medicine, 236 in
the faculty of arts, making 42.1. in all. In the junior
school the number was 297, end the total fees amounted to
11,491/. The proceedings connected with the hospital de-
partment bad been attended with mach suedes, and a vest
amount of relief had been afforded to the poor. The re-
port next stated that the students of the college had in
several initancee distinguished themselves elsewhere—viz ,
at Oxford, Cambridge, &c., and proceeded to remark that
all possible improvements had been carried out in the che-
mical and other departments. The report having been
agreed to, resolutions in accordance were carried, and the
proceedings terminated with the ordinary vote of thanks to
the chairman.

THE ABISV.—The freight-ship Anna Maria, 487
tons, having on beard the first division of the service com-
panies of the 57th Regiment. consisting of 6 officers and 193
non-commissioned officers, drummers, and privates, with
14 women and 19 children, sailed from Cork Harbour, on
the 19:h instant. for Corfu. Captains E. Stanley, and J.
Auchnauty, Lieutenants W. F. Jones, and 0. U. Hague ;
Ensign Cavendish Venables, and Assistant-Surgeon J. J.
Scott, are the officers who have embarked in the above ves
sel. The height-ships Andromache and Lady Clarke, are
daily expeeted to arrive at Cork Harbour, from Deptford,
for the conveyance to Corfu of the remaining portion of the
ionise oompanies of the 67th Regiment.