The Express.
London, England, 1850-04-19 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES.

KIDDERMINSTER ELECTION COMMlTTEE.—Yester-
day the committee appointed to try the petition against the
return of Mr. Beet, the member fee this borough, assembled
in Commit... Room No. 3, at 11 o'clock. The committee
eionsisted of the Hon. E. P. Bouverie (chairman), Viscount
Enfield, Mr. A. Stafford, Mr. D. Morris, and Sir W. Joi.
litre. Mr. Serjeant Kinglake, Q.C., Mr. Edwin lambs, Q,C.,
and Mr. Parkes conducted the use for the petitioners; and
Mr. Alexander, Q C., and Mr. Montague Chemben appeared
tor the sitting member. The petition comolained of bribery
and treating on the part of the sitting member.
Mr. Serjeant Kinglake, in opening the case for the peti-
tioners, said that the constituency of the borough of Kidder-
minster amounted only to 181, and of these no fewer than 70
or $0 were publican' or beerhouse keepers. At the election is
September, 1849, which followed the death of Mr. Gideon,
the late member, Mr. Best obtained a majority of 17 over
Mr. Gibson, by whom he had been ()mesa, but this
atsjoeli was composed entirely of voters who had promised
to poll for the latter gentleman. lie would show that a
system of treating hod been carried on for a month previous
to the election, and was prepared to prove more than one
case of gross and palpable bribery; and that these proceed.
jags were carried on with tho full knowledge and consent of
the sitting member. The learned gentleman then pri.cecileil to
call evidence in support 01 his statements.
Mr. James Naylor, clerk of the crown, proved the receipt
of the pill books from the returning officer.
J ,hii Talbot Niekleram examins,l by Mr. &tilling King.
peke—Wu clerk lo an &Rotary at Kidderminster. Knew
Mr. Bat, and had seen him canvassing with Mr. 'Mired
Talbot and Mr. Chillingworth. Had seen him on two or
Undo occasions walking arin•in-arm with Mr. Boycott, the

them come out of the White

attorney, and had
Lion Hotel together
Ingram Cobble, examined—Wm an Innk«prat
Waster, and had wren Mr. Boycott and Mr. Chil'Minoru%
asammeini for, and in the company of, the sitting member.
Mrs. Mary Fsßowes, examined—Was the wile of ilet,
ward PeHowes, a builder. Mr. Bet, scompanied by wr
Boycott, had called on her to rs quest her to induce her Mo«.
bawd to rote for the former gentleman.
Thomas Tattersall, examined—Belonged to in re Orecg,
lodge. The were limo or six in town of Kidderminster.
The akin of the lodges were summoned by the masters to
attend a meeting at the Hen and Chick' ass ihn for elm.
tioneering pitmans. Was present at the meeting, which
was attended by Mr. Alfred Talbot and Mr. Boycott, who
made speeches in t f Mr. Beet. There WU II mod
deal of drinking going on, but it was andentood that nothicg
was to be paid.
Mr. Alexander here objected to the course the examination
was taking, and Mr. Serpent Kinglake having replied, the
room was cleared. The committee ultimately derided that
Mr. Sodium Kinglike should not prove any act of treating
until the fact of agency bad been established.
Benjamin Harvey examined—Had been to the Grand
Turk, on Button Common, the Monday previous to the
elamtkia. There were several friends of Mr. Best in ay
sdatisoom, among whom were Mr. Pitt the butcher;
and be was informed) Mr. Whitehouse Bust. There were
pct • sitting round the table drinking, and :epeeenes were
m in favour of Mr. Best. Was offer. d some brandy.
Paid for nothing he drank, nor did any one else. There
were as many as 30 persons present, but would not swear
there were more than three vcrers ; but did not recollect
clearly, as he had taken a little too much. Mr. Whiiehome
Best and Mr. Pitt helped him down stain, and his daughter
seendocted him home.
The committee then adjourned.

GOVERNMENT OF CEYLON,—The members of this
committee re-assembled yesterday. Bir Emerson Tsnnent,
Sir Dar d Dundee, and other witnesses hive been examined.
It Is now more than a month since the committee reported
progress.