The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-03-22 00:00:00

EXETER ASVZES,II.iticH

W u Ware Mr. Justice flotoy and d Special Jary.

CONVICTION FOR BRIBERY AND COr.:IUPTIOfq.
THE [ISO v. SIR MANASSErI LOPEZ, Batt.
This was an initictineut of rather a singular but
highly isisportuut stature. It charged tit! lle••
(rodent with having, by himiself, and by remain
'gent*, corrupted arid Isr.bed several of the elector* •
of the borough of Graserporsiscl.
Mr. Serjeant Pet,r, ripened the cap on the iri;'t
of the Crown, which he Ili-scribed se one of the
'isnot important eau's ethic!. lord ever preaessterl
itself to the ensierderation of a Jury. insportaott
the Learned Seujeaut said.'as it regarded the lads-
vidual—importasit as it regnriled the pnblie *rule-
rest, and the purity of the Constitution. Here w..•
a person of immense wraith, applying that ecalils
to the most sutwuriby purports. Herr was emiduct
which struct: at the very root of that greatest blessiog
of our Coristitutiou, the freedom of eleciSlii. The
subject of reprerentation hail keen much &seemed ;
various were the °piteous entertained upon Out globe
j• ct ; but all must ewer, .hat the best way of pre-
rerving the plushly of representation was to t! it
severely arts like these with which: the Llefeurlaut
stood cleaged, it. every instance in %sled, dire
should, by good fortune, be detected. 'll he so,-
rough of ( iiaitiomind (the Learned Serjeisot cow:.
oiled) coneolied vutress, claiming uhi.tl right to
re•peet of helm: freemen. In N4lnetUbtf. 184, a
ni•eting hues le•iA ten Sir 31. Lopez sod a
11144'1 of the worse of float?, who would hr called as
4 t‘itil.,s—ll,Llre hei:ig a voter of Cr:lmpound—
and the object iifthe tot-cting being tc adjust term.
for bringing Sir NI. Lopez to for-the borough.
Tlus was to he effected hr a Liao of .2.0614 to thr
luau yealiy s gift, and the prim
of their votes. lo to the evideuee of Mr.
Home awl other wmtlentem the Learta-d Seljea:o
would produce letter. Gatti S.r :11. 111111,t
which could le,,ve iic doubt upon the nature of tic.:
ui•aCl tin.
A number of letters V/CT! I!,e:i read froia Sir M.
Lopez and friers Mr. [loot. builCllor, addressed
fur the most part to Mr. William Hoare. Cy these
letters it appeared that Mr. Hunt was the con.
fidential solicitor of Sir Manasseh Lopez. sod that
be wire the agent employed to manage the busie
ness of this election—diet 2,Q001. was to be twist
upon securing forty-five voters. That the 2.0004
was to be a loan ; and to he paid bv Mr. Hoist.
After expending cowiderable sums it appeared
that Sir Maisessels Lopez felt rather insecure as to
his interest. Mr. Teed. the present Petitioner/or
Grampound, paid a visit to the borom:11, /sod Sir
Manasseh Lopez declares iii one of M. ietteirt. Oat
far from being alarmed by Mr. Tred's journey, if
that geotlecein would place hits in the .ituatiois iii
which lie stood before cemmencement of the
newel:dim), he (Sir M.) would resibsen his interest
to him. Oise of these letters, in which, speaking
of the electors of Grampoinid, Sir 31. Lopez says.
" If they can find any gentlemen who will pay
them better, they may trap-fir tlitir services to him"
—and another, in which Sir M. 'writ be shall 'not
be put to the addilional expense of a dinner to the
voters—excited considerable mart 'meat.
Win. Hoare being examined by Mr. Giutelee.
swore flint he was an Alderman of Graissisouud;
that in November 1814. he aria to London, and
saw Sir M. Lopez at lii4 lio4lse in 411ibigion-litreri ;
that he gave Sir M. a letter of introduction from Sir
John Perritig ; Sir U. said he heard there war an
opening to the borough of pa .4..1, wid that
he should be coining divan *mei, and would are
witness on tae lin-loess; that Sir 31. Lopez re-
quested Inns to consult the rest of the magistrate.
and free/lieu on the subject, and unite hiin word ;
that witness then told Sir 31. that the electors must
be satisfied, and 2,000/. would be necessary for
that purpose ; that after he returned to Grailipound
be wrote to Sir 51. on the subject, sod received ass
answer. Its the begionisig of December, lie use:. Sir
31. at Plymouth; that he went with him to Mr.
Hunt's office, where he saw Mr. Hunt; that lie
then explained toSir bl. Lopez, iii site presence ui
Hunt, that the freemen wanted 2,0001. and that
Sir M. said Hunt should come down; that Hunt
was at Grainpouird twice; that oil the first oc-
casion he did riot see so many of the creenseil at he
expected, and only staid a few hours; that he filter-
wards met Hurst by :topmast meut ut St. A ustle, tied
Hunt cause again to Gratupoutid, where lie bd \V
about 40 of the freemen ; that lie told Ilnot that
the freemen expected 50/. each ; that 11 stud
that could not be—that they could have onus
each; that Hunt then desired him (sviiiies.i to seed
the voters into the room (a room at an tau': nor by
one; that he did su ; that Hunt's clerk, 31;„ Hoe
was in the room, and John Brown, a voter. whits
witness left it; that Symons was not iierothiced et
this time; that he saw Sir Misinessels Lope sortie
months alter, at his seat near Plymouth, th.,r
Sir 31. then said, ,4 j have secured Symieis ; I
have done something fur Inns here—(touchii
leant of his WO.) 'rise he afterwards ion use.:
Allen, a voter. to Hunt, who did not *rein tat-hum ,
to receive him, as they had already gat a ni:Jority.
On being cross-examined by Mr. ADArg, ite
that when Mr. Teed and Mr. Lambe, las solicit.",
Caine down, he told them that lie had a letter from
Sir M. Lopez, in which Sir U. traid he would refill:.
Apish hi* claim to any gentleman who woidd du
better by the borough. That as he was loukitg for
Am letter among others from tube
surd, "I will look fur it ;" that Mr. Lambe thin
took all the letters, and idol lie wou:d return them,
that they had not beers returned ; that he was Noxi-
ous to have theus back, lest people 'honld issippie
lie had sold them. When Hoist came to (4.1111-
pound the second time, and *drives sent in the
freemen, one by one, he did net see any one receibe
any money.
Q. Did you receive any money ?—A. Yes. 1 111.1.
Mr. Justice HOLROTP—" I ought to tell you,
you are nut bound to answer any question which
gamy criminate yourself."
Mr. At:raps-4,1 now put the question again—
Did you receive any money 1"..-Witues•—" 1 sly
not choose to answer."
-Mr. Teed (examined by Mr. Serjeant Pelt.; said,
that he was an usitiscorsaftsl candidate for(irain-
pound last election. arid was at the present bunts .r
a petitioner. That in August. J 8.17, 'he veceiveo
from )suss Watts. $ voter of tiirampouud.
paper eontaioing the MONO of the voters, teto.i.:4

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