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

against.
SUUTHAItIPTON ELECTION COMMITTEE.

Mr. H. A. HERBERT appeared at the bat with a re-
port from the Southampton Election Committee, which
mated that the attendance of a material witness could not
be procured at present The committee therefore requested
leave to adjourn till Saturday, the sth of March, which was
agreed to.
NORWICH ELECTION PETITION.

Colonel BOLDER() having presented • petition on the
subject of the withdrawal of the Norwich election petition,
Mr. L. KING moved that the petition be read by the
clerk at the table, which was accordingly done. The peti.
tioners (electors of Norwich) stated that they had presented
two petitions on the 22nd of November, one against the ,
bejt return of Messrs. Peto and W , the sluing mem-
rs, and the other against the return of Mr. Warner alone,
on the ground of corruption and other illegal practices;
that the said petition was referred to the general committee
on elections, and that the petitioners were engaged in the
preparation of the proofs to substantiate the charges alleged
in the petition against one of, if not against both, the sit-
ting members, when, to their surprise, they learned that
the said petition bad been withdrawn. The petitioners
begged to assure the house that such withdrawal took plate
without their knowledge or consent, and that they were
aggrieved thereby. They submitted that justice amid not
be done unless such petition was reinstated on the list of
election petitions now before the house, and they prayed
the house accordingly.
Mr. L. KING then moved that the petition be printed
with the votes to-morrow.

As lion M Dom the hon. member mean to make
any motion thereupon ? (Bear, hear.)
Mr. L. ICING intended to more that it be referred to a
select committee.

ii;.117516./imoND—lf the boo. gentleman does not
mean to pursue it, I beg leave to give notice that I will.
(Hear, bees.)

BLACKBURN ELECTION PETITION.
Mr. DEEDES brought up the report of the committee
on this petition, which Mated that Wm. Reeks Esq., was
not duly returned at the beet eheries, end that the last
election as far as rework hie wee • void election. The
committee aim eme to the neehdies that the said Wm.
Emirs was, by hie neer% milli at bribery at the said
electron. That O
athwee bribed by the promise of
an smithy of 51. (ft= bum& alas ma John, the keeper
f the Bird-in-Hand beeirkeusia—(nusbter)—tbat other

electors were likewise bribed—that It was not proved dud
such bribery was committed with the knowledge or consent
of the said Wm. Eccles. The report also declared that
treating to some extent was practised by the agents and
friends of the said Wm. Eccles, bat it was not proved that
It was with his cognisance.

DARTMOU Hi, TAUNTON. AND
ELECTION PETITIONS.

______-. - ---------
Sir J. TROLLOPS brought op reports from the Genera]
Committee of Election. mambo; the Select Committee ap-
pointed to try the merits of thew petitions.

NOTICES OF MOTIONS.
Poarcotaa• CLAINI.—Mr. OLIVEIRA, on Tuesday
nest, to move fur a return of the claims on the Portuguese
government, made by Sir H. Seymour, at the instance of
the noble lord (Palenentoa), stating the nature and
amount of the mid claims, and the principle on which they
were decided or arranged.
FACTORY Acr.—Lord J. MANNERS, on Monday, to
present a petition complaining of stations of the Factory
Act, and to put • questMa to the government on the
subject.
01171111.—Mr A. PELLATT, ea this day fortnight, to
move for a select committee to inquire into the expediency
of administering alirmations, instead of oaths in courts of
law.

Mr. H. SE'lligiCviisli;ii;its;;;Fri;as the government
whether it was their intention to take any steps, with •
view to *afore* the due and more punctual performance of
the ezining contract, for the conveyance of the mails to
Australia era the C►pe ?
Sir J. GRAHAM said he was sorry to say that the per
of the contract was not so punctual as it was
desirable; and it was the intention of the government, if
necessary, to enforos the penalties for the nen-performance
of the sostraete.