The Express.
London, England, 1857-07-04 00:00:00

ELECTION COMMITTEE&

OXFORD (CITY).
This committee, the members of which an Mr. C. E.
Egerton (chairmen). Sir T. Burke, Colonel GillAn , Mr.
C. R. M. Talbot, and Mr. Blackburn, commented its pro-
ceeding.. yesterdey morning.
Mr. &deceit Pigott, with Mr. Clerk, were counsel fur the
petitioners; end Mr. "lichenls for the sitting member.
The petition we. by the electors of the city, and eontuined
allegations of bribery, Immune, undue influence, and other
norrupt practices on the pert of the sitting member, Mr.
Neste, and concluded with • prayer that the return of that
hon. gentleman should be declared null and void.
Mr. Serjeant Pigott, in opening the came for tho petitioners,
stated that at the lest election the candidates for the repee.
sentation of the city were Mr. J. Haughtat Leageton, Mr.
Charles Neste, the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, and Mr.
Berjeent Oarelee. The result of the election wee that Mr.
Laogston and Mr. Neste were declared duly to have obtained
a majority, but he would chow that the majority of Mr.
Neste had been obtained by means of illegal and corrupt
practices. Amougst other means which were taken to obtain
the return of Mr. Neste, no Lem then 198 persons were
employed ea miteaengera, of whom more that 160 were
vote's. He would ulei show that voters had been engaged
and paid by Mr. Neate's party as epochal constables, not-
withstanding that they received remuneration for their ser-
vices in that capacity from the authorities of the town.
The usual formal resolutions having been agreed to, and
proof of the writ and return having been given,
Mr. Underhill, a merchant and voter of the city, proved
the statement made by the learned counsel with regard to
the number of voters employed by Mr. Neate'e patty as
messengers, and said that, in his opinion, 28 wee a nuflktient
comber of memengen. Oxford had • constituency of 1,600,
half of whom were freemen end half househollere.
On eveseexamlnation, witnom said ell the candidates
were HbmnL._

Mr. Permute produced the accounts of the election auditor,
and elated that Mr. C. Green wee Mr. Neatee went.
Evidence eras then given of the payment. to various
voters who had been entployed as meraengtve, conotehke,
and pill•clerke at the Itoebuck, where Mr. Neale had his
COMlllitlee,oo[lsll.
Several other witnesses were called, and gage evidence
upon the same fact..
The committee adjourned until this day.
. CADIBRID AC.
.

YietertLey the eertitio;lare;lcie7Mlniittee resumer!,
and wan continued till the mijomeinient, it 'shirk time the
sitting member was in a majority of me

MAI DSTONE.
This committee met for the first time yerderday. Mr.
O. A. Hamilton in the chair. Mr. A. Wilson, Mr. S. Greg-
eon, Sir F. Davie, and Sir W. Gallivey, composed the com-
mittee The petition charged the sitting members, Mr. A.
J. B. Hope awl Captain Scott, with liming obtained their
return by bribery, treating, and undue influence, and prayed
that the election might be declared null and void.
Mr. Phinn, in opening the case of the petitioners, stated
that Maidstone had for the last seventy years been notorious
for its corruption, and had general) L been represented by
strangers of large pecunia4ane. Every place seemed to
rzzits own peculiar modem of corruption, and the peculiar
bribery in Maidstone was by means of promises to be
realised inyirettro after the time for the interference of par-
liament had passed. Although he acquitted the sitting
members of personal bribery, he would show that premiers
of money were made by persona whose agency could be esta-
blis

Evidence sea Men given to prove the bribery of Lamb
and Spam* referred to in the opening of the learned roamed,
whith was not concluded when the committee adjourned.

TEWKESBURY.

This committee, consisting of the following members
Mr. Edward Ellice (chairman), Mr. W. H. Adams, Mr. W.
Buchanan, Lord Haddo, sad Mr. W. Wyndham, met at 12
&fleck yesterday, for the Boit time. The proceedings were
brought tom early awe, the committee declaring Mr. John
Martin, the sitting member, to have been duly elected.

I'ONTEEItACT.
This committee made its report last evening, as will be fur-
titer seen in our parlismentarg report.

SPORTING.

THE NEWMARKET JULY MEETING.