The Sun.
London, England, 1830-04-28 00:00:00

RYE ELECTION.

The Committee met this morning at Eleven o'clock.
Lord ParmEns7ow, Chairman.

Mr. HARRISON and Mr. Serjeant MEREWETIi ER • ap-
peared in support of the petitions of Colonel Evans and
several voters of the town of Rye, complaining of the un-
due election of Philip Pusey, Esq. the sitting Member.
Mr. Serjeant SPANKIE and Mr. THESSIGER were Coun-
sel for Mr. Pusey.
Lord PALMERSTON said it appeared that the only question
for the decision of the Committee related to the right of
voting in the town of Rye. His Lordship then asked if
each party was agreed on the form of proceeding.
A very long discussion between the Counsel and Com-
mittee then ensued, when Mr. HARRISON, on behalf of
the petitioners, said that he meant to contend that the
right of election in the Port of Rye was vested in the
Mayor, Jurats, Freemen, and throng of the Cinque Ports,
as well as in the inhabitants of that borough paying scot
and lot.

Mr. Serjeant SrANKIE, for the sitting Member, said
he meant to contend that the right of election was con-
fined to the Mayor, Jurats, and resident-inhabitants of the
borough paying scot and lot.
Mr. HARRISON then proceeded to address the Commit-
tee. It would be necessary for hint' to claim the patient
attention and indulgence of the Committee to the case he
had the honour to submit. It would be incumbent upon
him to go into considerable details of ancient records,
grants, and charters, connected with the Cinque Ports. He
was aware of the difficulties that Counsel in all cases of this
kind had to contend with, but he felt great confidence that
he should be able to prove to the satisfaction of the Com-
mittee, that the right of voting as claimed by the peti-
tioners was the one formerly exercised in the port of
Rye. His clients asked for no innovation—•they did
not ask for any new privilege—what they wished was,
to restore to their borough its ancient rights, and destroy
en usurpation that had been unjustly exercised, and which
had been attended with the most corrupt and injurious
practices. Having made these few preliminary remarks,
he would now state his case. In the first place he woulsi
call the attention of the Committee to the establishment of
the many privileges belonging to the CinquePorts. Shortly
after the change of Government by William the Con-
queror, the Cinque Ports consisted of five principal towns;
to these, however, were added others including Rye and
Winchester. At the earliest period after the Norman line
had been introduced into this kingdom, great privileges
were granted to these ports on account of their being
calf d upon to furnish a number of ships annually for the
King. The first Charter, granted to them by Charles I.
refers to one granted as early as the year 1154, by Henry
11. That Charter sets forth several privileges to which
they are entitled, and also many duties to which they
could claim exemptions. They are in various do-
cuments of such a nature, sometimes described as the
Commonwealth—in others as Inhabitants—Freemen—
Barons, &c. &c., and, in consideration of their services,
they are exempted from paying toll in any town in England.
The borough of Rye formerly belonged to an Abbey in
Normandy, but from its advantageous and commanding
situation on the sea coast, it was in the twenty-ninth year
of the reign of Henry 111. (1248) taken into the King's
hand, and some other lands not`on the sea coast given in
exchange. The borough at different periods during the
reigns of Henry I. and Henry 111. were let to farm for the
purpose of repairing its walls. There were various
grants constituting it a corporation down to the year 1478.
It could not, therefore, be contended that it was a corpo-
ration by prescription. No foundation to prescriptive
right could be set up after the reign of Richard the First,
or the year 1189, and he could prove that the port was
in the King's hands for two centuries after that period.
The Committee would find when the charters came
to be read, that the rights they bestowed upon
the inhabitants had been recognised in all parts of
the kingdom. On producing a certificate of a free-
man (and this term did not mean free of a cor-
poration but merely an inhabitant of one of the Cinque
Ports the City of London had recognized their exemption
from paying toll, or any goods bought or sold in the Me-
tropolis. The term " Freemen" as it was now applied,
was quite a modern appellation. When once the right of
voting in any town or borough had been established, it
became the most sacred of all English laws, and
could not be taken away even by the King himself.
No modern usages or corrupt practices could iaterfete with
the right, when it was once shown to have been exercised.
In support of this doctrine he would refer the Committee
to a few authorities at the time of our history, which gave
rise to more contests of this kind than at present. On the
23d of February, 1623, a Committee, distinguished by its
great learning, was appointed. That Committee included
the names of Sir Edward Coke (Lord Chief Justice of Eng-
land), Sir J. Strangeways, Sir R. Halton, and many other
distinguished members of the professieu, and they came to
an unanimous resolution, that whore a particular right of
voting had been once established it could not be taken
away; This resolution was entered on the Journals of
Parliament. Now he (Mr. Harrison) should be able to
prove that the paritcular right of voting for which the
petitioners contended, did at one time exist in the borough
of Rye, and therefore that the election of Mr. Paley was
an undies election. The leatned Counsel then referred to
many ancient records in support of his argument, and was
addressing the Committee when our reporter left.

THE MARKETS.-(THIS DAY)

CORN EXCHANGE.

The supplies this week are moderate, but the weather
being remarkably fair, occasions our buyers to purchase
very sparingly. The Wheat trade remains very heavy, and
Monday's prices are not supported. Barley, Beans, and
Pease, are as last reported. The Oats trade has also be-
come dull, but lower prices are not submitted to. There
is very little sale for Flour.

ARRIVALS.
Wheat. I I
Barley. Oats. Flour.
2,750 qrs. 1,500 qrs. 3,450 qrs.l I,7oosacks
2,900
40

English
Irish
Foreign I 3-,100

brls.

HAY MARKETS.—(At per Load of 36 Trusses.)
SMITHFIELD.
Coarse heavy Lowland Meadow Hay £2 5 to £2 15
New Meadow Hay 0 0 0 0
Useful Old Ditto 3 8 3 15
Fine Upland Meadow and Rye-grass Hay , 4 0 5 0
Clover Hay (extra fine)...£s 10... Generally
Oat Straw £2 2to £2 6 Wheat Straw 2 6 2 8
Supply moderate, trade very dull, and prices as last quoted.

The Duke and Duchess of GLOUCESTER
honoured the first appearance of M. BERNARD LEON 111 the
French plays, at the Haymarket 'theatre, on Monday
evenny, with their presence.
VlsCoUnt BERESFORD and the CHANCELLOR
of the EXCHEQUER visited the Duke of WELLINGTON yes-
terday at the Treasury.
DRURY-LANF, THEATRE.—The Beggar's
Opera Was performed last night, when Madame VESTRIS
again appeared as Iltracheath. She was loudly applauded
on her entrance and throughout the performance. Miss
STEPHENS performed Polly with her usual grace and effect.
VALPY'S FAMILY CLASSICAL LIBR ARY.—
This work has become, as it deserves to he, extensively
popular, fir a cheap and ele: ant translation of the Classics
has long been a grand desideratum in cur literature.
Hitherto the expensive existing editions have precluded
the community at large from an acquaintance with the
writings of the illustrious ancients. The next monthly
number to appear on the let of May, will contain the first
pat of Haamoorus, the father of History, as he has been
termed by Clout°. The translation selected is that of
BELOE (one of the mast masterly versions that.we possess
of any classic author.)