The Sun.
London, England, 1830-05-01 00:00:00

RYE ELECTION.

The evidence was confirmed yesterday on the part of the
petitioner. Various documents were real, for the purpose
of showing that the writs of election for the port of Rye
were addressed to and returweil by the constable of Dover ;
the election having been made by the Mayor, Jurats, and
Commonalty, in full hundred assembled. It also appeared,
by extracts from the books of the brotherhood, that the
port of Rye sent its representatives to that meeting, as one
of the ancient towns added to the Cinque Ports. The
hundred book was produced, and a minute of a meeing in
1655 read, at which it was debated whether the Corpora-
tion, not then being or at any previons time having been in
posae•sion of a charter, should go to the expenses which
would attend the receiving one frosn the King. Part of the
custom! of Rye wee read, in which it was stated that any
stranger, after living a year and a day in the port, and fol-
lowing some honest employment, might be admitted to the
freedom of the poi t of Rye.
Mr. MEREWEATIIEa then rose to sum up the evidence,
all of Ale!), he said, had been adduced with a view to
explain what Was the meaning of the term 'gremlin,"
used in the resolution of tne Committee of 170. The
meaning of that word was not confined, as the Learned
Se►jeant (Spankie) was determined to contend, to freemen
sworn and admitted into the Corporation of Rye, but was '
of more extended signification, and referred to freemen of
the Cinque Ports. The Cinque Potts had existed from a
very early period in the history of this country, privileges
and immunities having been granted to them in the time
of Edward the Confessor, on condition of their supplying
the King with a certain number of shins. To these fivu
towns, Rye and Winehelsea ware afterwards udded, and
admitted into all their privilege s, upon the condition of
bearing a abwe of the expense cf supplying skips. It ap-
peared from the charter granted by Edward 1., that all
persons who chose to bear part of that expense ►eight, if
they chose, be admitted to the liberty or freedom of the
Cinque! Ports, and that it was in the power of no Corpo-
ration to exclude them.—The Learned Gentleman had
proceeded thus far in his argument when the Committee
adjourned, it being four o'clock.
(THIS DAY.)

The Committee met this morning at the usual time
(eleven o'clock.)

Mr. Serjeant MERKVIXTHIItt resumed his arguments in
.tuntning up the tvidenee that had been adduced. The
Learned Counsel commenced by stating, that he had ye,
'erday proceeded to comment on the various charters
granted to the Cinque Ports, up to the reign of Eliza-
. beth. He should now, with the consent of the Com,
mittee, proceed with the saint line of arguments, and, in
the first place, call their attention to a charter granted by
Charles 11., in the year 1663, which, he thought,
would sufficiently prove that the word " Freeman," was
'wended to apply to all those living in and inhabiting
the Cinque Perot, pling scot sod lot. It was inentn-
b.nt on his Learned niewli on .the tither Hide, to prove
that there had been charters granted vesting the elective
Franchise in the corporation. He felt confident no Curb
,hurter had ever been granted, and the only ground for
his argument mint be by inference from fists, $6. hid%
::011111 not he admitted by the Commit:ce. The first repre-
sentatives for the liorouzle of Rye were returned in the
reign of Edward the Third, It IVAx not pretended tit4A
my corporation exis!ed at that time, therefore, if it ounki
be proved that the electois than entts:sted of those payinit
scot and lot, the same right of voting not: existed,
(or the right once estab!ished never could he
taken away except by an Act of Parliament, pawed
for the express purpose. The King could not by
letters patent change the right of voting, it must
be by an Act of the Legislature. The Learned Counsel
then went on to read extracts from different charters, and
to explain what, in his opinion, ought to be the interpreta-
tion of the word " freeman," which he contended was
applicable to all the inhabitants resident in any of the
Cinque Ports.

He had not concluded his argument when our reportet
left the Committee-room.

A deputation from the Van Dieman's Land
Company attended yesterday at the Colonic{ Office