The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-19 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY

raisers. As to some of the accounts and cheques having
been destroyed as waste paper, it was a perfectly reason-
able and natural step. It was necessary to repose con-
fidence somewhere, and that was done. The evidence for
the last three weeks was fresh in the recollection of the
committee, anal established the fact of the daily riots and
outrages that were occurring, and the alarm and intimida-
tion thereby produced, which made it absolutely necessary
to employ paid canvaseera. The learned counsel then exa-
mined the testimony of each witness in detail, contending
that the imputations thrown out against Mr. Morley were
utterly without foundation, and that the case of the peti-
tioners had completely broken down.
Mr. O'Malley, for the petitioners, contended that the
employment of the paid canvassers constituted as flat a
case of wholesale bribery as had ever been proved in an
election committee. With regard to the excited and dis-
turbed state of the town of Nottingham, the invasion of
Mr. Morley's workmen was the beginning of it. No doubt
the 26th June was a critical day ; the feeling of the lower
clam of voters had been tested, and found to be against
Messrs. Paget and Morley. Those were the very circum-
stances under which people resorted to bribery. Bribery
and bargain•ng for votes, he maintained. was proved by a
string of testimony, the force of which could not be evaded.
The -learned counsel then recapitulated the evidence, and
dwelt on the points which told in favour of the petitioners.
The learned counsel's address was not concluded when
the committee adjourned, shortly after 5 o'clock.

BRIDCIWATIR.—Yesterday the case against Mr.
Westropp, sitting member, was concluded, and that gentle-
man being called, denied having sanctioned any bribery.
He said that so many promises of support had been made
to him, that, long before the election, he felt sure that he
should be returned. The committee spin adjourned.

HOEISHAM.—This oommitteepocesci;d with the scrutiny
yesterday, and at its rising ha struck off two more voters.
This still leaves a majority of two to the sitting member.
MAIDSTONE.—Evidence of bribery was given to this
committee at its meeting yesterday. Particular cases of
money offered and actually paid were sworn to. The com-
mittee adjourned till to-day.

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF FOREIGNERS IN
DISTRESS.

The anniversary dinner of this society was held
last night, at the London Tavern, under the presidency of
the Duke of Cleveland, when about 150 of its friends
sat down. The society this year makes a special appeal
to the benevolence of the public, having suffered consider
able loss from the death of the King of the Belgians, and
the annual subscription, being in a torpid state. The direc-
tors have received no legacies during the past year, while
the claims have greatly increased, so that had it
not been for a sale of stock to which they
have been obliged to resort, the balance-sheet
would have shown an alarming deficiency. In the midst
of these difficulties, 84 pensioners have been maintained,
and the same number of persona have received the minor
regular allowance. The amount expended in mutual relief
daring the past year has been 1,3921. The report of the
society, winch has just been published, states that during
the past winter there has been great destitution among
teachers of languages, governesses, and such like, and the
latter kind of cases are those which press particularly
heavy on the funds of the society ; but they are generally
the most satisfactory of all that come under the attention
of the board. Among the causes that at present
very seriously affect the interests of the poor
may be mentioned the enhanced price that they
have to pay for their humble and most frequently mise-
rable dwellings. Rents have everywhere increased,
and the poor are put to very serious inconve-
nience from being turned out of their lodgings to make
way for railways or local improvements. The report also
states that the number of the inmates in the asylum is
19, of whom two are recent admissions. The usual loyal
toasts having been proposed and cordially received, the
noble chairman, in proposing the success of the institu-
tion, made an eloquent appeal in its favour, pointing out
the vast amount of relief that it dispensed to a class of
persons in the metropolis who were of all others the
most helpless, and for the most part were excluded
from participating in the other metropolitan charities.
One of the most salient features of this society
was the great good effected by affording casual
relief to applicants in distress, and it was noticeable that
the recent applications had come from people in more re-
spectable walks of life than had hitherto been the case,
and a necessity had arisen for • that relief. He
sincerely hoped that the special sp which the direc-
tors had made would be attended with success. In the
course of the evening the secretary (Mr. W. C. Laurie)
announced that the subscriptions of the evening amounted
to 2,454/. (Cheers.) The health of the noble chairman was
proposed by Sir Robert Phillimore, and drank with much
cordiality. Various other toasts followed, and the pro-
ceedings altogether were very satisfactory. The musical
arrangements were under the direction of Mr. W. J. Field-
ing, and were unusually good, the vocalists being Miss
Banks, Miss M. Wells, Maws. Fielding, Ball, Cooke,
Fagan, Baxter, Carter, Percy, and Distin.