The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-07 00:00:00

TErbirb g_bition

SUN OFFICE, Six o'Clock.

ELECTION COMINIITTE ES.

(THIS DAY.)

PLYMOUTH.
DOCKYARD APPOINTMENTS—MORE
DISCLOSURES.
The committee appointed to inquire into the allega-
tions contained in the petitions'against the return of Mr.
Charles John Mare and Mr. Robert Porrett Collier for
the borough of Plymouth, met this day.
The members of the committee were Mr. Aglionby
(chairman), Mr. Glvn, the Marquis of Chandos, Mr.
Dunlop, and Mr. Smith Child. It was announced that
it was not intended to proceed with the petition against
the return of Mr. Collier.
The counsel were—For the petitioners, Mr. E. James
and Mr. Welsby ; for Mr. Mare, Mr Serjeant King-
lake, Mr. Slade, Mr. Montague Smith, and Mr.
Alexander.

Mr. E. James opened the case on the part of the
petitioners. The petition sought to render void the re-
turn of Mr. Mare, at the last election for Plymouth, on
the ground of bribery and corrupt practices. There
'would be no evidence offered in regard to treating, and
the case would resolve itself into charges of the most
serious character, affecting Mr. Mare himself as well as
the persons who acted as his agents. The nomination
for Plymouth took place on the Bth of July last, and the
Polling on the following day ; and at the election there
Were five
candidates, namely, Mr. Robert Porrett
Collier, a member of the bar, and a Liberal ; Mr-
George Thomas Braine, a merchant in London,
and a Liberal ; Mr. William Escott, a Liberal ; Mr.
Itoundell Palmer, a Peelite ; and Mr. Charles John
Mare, a supporter of the Derby Administration. The
constituency numbered somewhere about 2,000. In
1847 Mr. Roundel' Palmer and Lord Ebrington were
returned for Plymouth, and they continued to sit for
the borough until the last election. Previous to 1853
kr. Mare was a stranger to Plymouth ; he was very
largelY engaged in shipbuilding at Blackwall, and by
S industry and energy had acquired considerable
'wealth. On the 3d of April he arrived in the
born
--ug", and commenced his canvass. There was no
requisition of any kind requesting him to stand as a
candidate, and it would turn out that he was introduced
to the electors by certain individuals whose names would
figure prominently in the present investigation. He
tannounced himself as a strong supporter of the Estab-
hed Church, and as opposed to the re-imposition of
duty on corn, but he said he thought there should be
cenVensation on the part of the public for the repeal of
the corn laws and the navigation laws. On the sth of
APril Mr. Mare first addressed the electors at the Ply-
nlouth Mechanics' Institution. He appeared there
With a gentleman named Joseph John Churchward,
”u° figured prominently in the election. He was the
sub
-editor of the Morning Herald, and had formerly
,h_eco connected with the Naval and Military Gazette.
lite Was known at Plymouth, having some friends and
electors,
there; and he introduced Mr. Mare to the
accompanied him on his canvass, and acted
as his secretary or mentor. Among the persons inti-
illiatelY connected with Mr. Mare were Dr. Butler,
cuairman of his committee, Mr. Mennie, deputy-chair-
n, Lieutenant Sumpter, Mr. Hawkie, a lodging-
irsekeePer, Mr. Jenkin Thomas, a stationer, Mr. John
lodging-
filar a retired printer, Mr. Marshall, a builder, Mr.
;Tv.
atl,ltzi an.ett, the clerk of the committee, Mr. Isaac
thepublican, and Mr. Samuel Escott, the store
per of the victualling yard, and who, in defiance of
Positive orders of the Admiralty, not to engage in
cleal Politics, canvassed the men under his control on
behalf of Mr. Mare, and attended at the hustings. These
spice the dramatis personce who would occupy a con-
laid Position position in the transactions which would be
ad W
r before the committee. Mr. Mare's head-quarters
e a
intend,„t d the Royal Hotel, and though it was not
it to bring forward the question of treating,
mid
be mentioned that his bill for the
t-o
Ipenses incurred in this establishment amounted
e_ Sated the
.no 'less
a sum than 6601. When Mr. Mare
borough he did not hesitate to state to the
alnedc
he that he had the patronage of the Government,
of sit e held out the most lavish and profuse promises
interest
in
4. order to induce them to give him their
in faotst,:",,the coming election. A direct bargain was
of soree—a" for their votes, the return being a promise
him :Ppi.Cliiltroerlt, and Mr. Churchward carried with
tittered. in which the promises were regularly
he (34 'll% Mare held out, whether rightly or wrongly
the etit "Ines) would not pretend to say, that he had
vac
re
4 disposition, on the part of Lord Derby, of
borne- :11 tile dockyard, and it became notorious in the
ew borne-
tlaat such places or situations in Mr. Mare's
11
Yard at Blackwellwere given in exchange for votes.
there had alreadstated, the canvass commenced on
of April ; on the 22d, Mr. Stafford, the Secre-
t-“r3; e
of the Admiralty, arrived at Plymouth,
Colonel accom-
'nted by Mr. Grant, his private secretary, and preen, the manager of some works connected with the
ckyard. It might be said that 11i Stafford went
there there in tho discharge of his duties a
of the Admiralty, but it was somewhats Secretary
singular
that he personally called on Mr. Mare at his committee
rooms at thoßoyal Hotel. It was hardlnecessary to state
Y
that in a borough like Plymouth such a circumstance was
calculated to create a great sensation among those who
-wished to participate in the patronage of the Admiralty.
At the meeting at the Mechanics Institution, Dr. Butler
told the electors
own
that their main object ought to be to
serve the •interests, and that they should set aside
all questions of politics, and elect Mr. Mare, who
could benefit the town. A, Ir. Mare was a director
of the General Screw Steam Packet Company,
and he gained great favour by contradicting a statement
in the Times that the mails would no longer be landed
at Plymouth. On the 12th of June the screw steamer
the Queen of the South, in which he was interested, was
brought to Plymouth, and the electors were admitted
On board to see her by tickets issued from his
committee-rooms, and it would be shown that Mr.
Mare, Mr. Churchward, the postmaster of the town,
and a number of other of his political friends, went in a
rriage, drawn by six greys, with the mails from the
ost-office to the vessel, accompanied by a large pro-
cession. This, again, was done to influence the
Mminds of the electors. On the 22d of June,
r.Stafford again arrived in the Black Eagle, war
steamer, and he proceeded to Devonport, the propin-
quity of which to Plymouth was well known to the coin-
OMr littee. He there gave a dinner, which was attended by
Churchward, Mr. Mare, and some of the other
individuals whose names he had mentioned. It
ould be seen that the elections for Plymouth and
Dowd
were closely allied so far as the proceedings
°tElplained of by the petitioners were concerned. It
Zinuld be proved that Churchward hired persons to hoot
e Liberal candidates both at Devonport and Plymouth.
~,.411 the nomination Sir John Maxwell used these
Words, speaking of Mr. Collier's claim to be elected
( ` Talent in the House of Commons is all bode-
ration. I know nothing about politics ; but I
veao tell you that the Queen of the South is a
-jry fine vessel." The result of the election was that
11.. Mare and Mr. Collier were returned. Mr. Mare got a
u_st enthusiastic cheering—such a one as was. never
.hefore at Plymouth, but on the Sunday following the
ction he
t oro disappeared, had never been seen since in the
„ ugh, and Probably never would, until he was obliged
TliriTaghoci there owing to his non-compliance with the de-
°f (many electors to whom he made various promises.
No:10
ee.arned counsel then gave a list of about 26 persons,
tlve_ ither having voted themselves, or got their rela-
in t'hto vote for Mr. Mare, had received appointments
Olen(' e nev°oPort Dockyard, without any recom-
-44,3 ation from local authorities, and without any re-
al' u„sto qualification or merit. These appointments were
'uade under the signature of Mr. Stafford. There
were
to elector a great number of promises of other situations
The s, some of which were fulfilled, and others
.not.
Were
situa.tions bargained for, before votes were promised,
allele as follows :-26 in April, 35 in June, and 17 in
of bYrb The learned counsel then alluded to several cases
'l°l4 febrY by Promise of situations, and said he had no
denee we committee, when they had heard all the evi-
in Us would come to the conclusion that the allegations
e Petition were t Mare Peti true, and that the election of Mr.
on the s Drought about by the most corrupt practices,
The Part of Mr. Mare and his agents.
trottow
log evidence was thenadduced
tio o't wag a -
h, partisan of Mr. Escott at the last elec.
end of
A Mare came down to Plymouth at the latter
Lieut. Sumpter cavassing for Mr.
41r. a7re -rel
tutiurchward asked witness to vote for Mare.
:to aa
the same time denied that there was any
stated between himself and Mr. Palmer. Mr. Mare
order, Tat had to Lord Derby avowed himself a free
Bsaid thatp on all other matters he felt disposed
berill'PPort Lord
w
by's Government,... and that Lord y lead' therelore, promised him his interest. Wit-
11PerotZseedcitoavnlot:z1fornaEmseedottH. ill to vote for Escott.
voted rr°BB,„-exarnination the witness stated that he had
hriescioatt and Collier ; should have plumped for
'lBcottlrf
Safe.
n cl considered that gentleman's seat un-
-aorge xnapthan a
butcher and eating-house keeper,
Tilt.tioApareise, an
seise he had
with m yrnouth, deposed to an interview
d he re
ache hiui to
use ril.Mare at the Royal Hotel. Wit-
I!, interest to get him a situation
gent fo,alerknew that led "Oh, yes, I can do it for you."
iat Mr Churchward.e was an elector. Mr. Mare then
iii r
the •room he took On that gentleman. coming
promised Ile hatlaf 'let" vvitness's name and addressg
vasserl. to give xtr.l;taif.ht
sir
three weeks previously
V ote 0.„111m, atd he told e. his vote. Mr. Mare can-
roe„ the him one. apnoea hat he should split his
to uo p w Churchward • t
RO an • ng ay, ande commit ee-
d give Mr M arr. tld 1 •
gao ,„ • - are a phire_e_o nin
Afterwards he h,ci
intomediately and he
"u • • rview vath Mr.