The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-24 00:00:00

BRIBERY PREVENTIO.V.

Sir F. Kelly's bill for the regulation of the proceedings
at the election of members of Parliament, and for the pre-
vention of bribery, corruption, intimidation, and undue
influence at elections, as well as to diminish the expenses
thereof, has been printed. The bill contains no less than 80
clauses, and its principal provisions are as follows :—lt
provides first that barristers holding no appointment under
the Crown shall be nominated by the judges of assize to
conduct every election, such barrister not being recorder
of the place he is appointed to, and ineligible to serve in
Parliament for a period of 18 months subsequent to his
appointment. Upon receiving the writ the election officer
is to proceed forthwith to the place to which he is ap-
pointed. He is to be present at the nomination, and if a
poll is demanded must reside there until after the election.
His duties, which, however, are not to affect the powers
of the returning officer, will be to receive the signed
books, register, and lists of voters ; to summon over-
seers, chm chwardens, &c., if he should require them ;
to hold sittings, and to administer oaths to the candi-
dates, who are ineligible upon refusal to take them within
a prescribed time before taking their seats. He is also
to receive from each candidate a sum of money not exceed-
ing 3001. for a county and 2001. for a borough ; and to
further require from them a bond of 1,0001. for a county
and 5001. for a borough, guaranteed by sufficient sureties. i
The polling days are also to be fixed by the officer, to be
not less than six nor more than ten days after the nomina-
tion for counties, nor less than four nor snore than eight
days after for boroughs. He will also have to prepare
election papers, by means of which it is proposed to take
the votes in contested elections, and to superintend their
distribution and collection. Every voter must make a
declaration, and sign and deliver in his paper. Any justice
of peace or clergyman and any guardian of the poor in his
parish may take these declarations ; they are to certify the
fact and forward the paper to the election officer. The
salary of the election officer is to be fixed when the bill
comes into committee. The election officer is to discharge
all the bills and expenses of the candidates, and no elector
is to •be paid for any services which he may render at the
election. Each candidate must send in, within a month,
an account of his personal expenses, under a penalty of
5001. for a false return ; and the election officer will also
have power to inquire into oases of suborning, intimida-
tion, &e.

CITY OF LONDON HOSPITAL FOR DISEASES OF THE
CREST.—The sixth anniversary festival of this institution
was held on Wednesday at the London Tavern ; Lord J.
Russell in the chair. The cloth having been removed,
at the conclusion of a most excellent dinner, the chair-
man proposed the usual loyal toasts. Of Prince
Albert .he said, that he had come among us fourteen
years since, inexperienced, and without any knowledge of
our constitution, and that he had employed the interval
in the promotion of arts and manufactures, and so as to
deserve and obtain the approbation of the people. "The
Army and Navy" were then proposed by his lordship,
who expressed his belief that those two gallant services
would now, when the time was come that they were
wanting, emulate those who had gone before them in
the same illustrious professions. Captain Gibbs, of the
Royal Artillery, returned thanks. Lord John Russell
then proposed the toast of the evening, and remarked
that, however ordinary charities might be criticised,
hospitals were not open to the common objections ap-
plying to the misapplication of funds benevolently con-
tributed, but yet used in a manner, perhaps, calculated
to promote idleness and imposture. The medical offi-
cers of these institutions were too sagacious and too high-
minded to allow such misapplications. He especially re-
commended this hospital on account of the prevalence
of the diseases with which it dealt, and on the ground
that it would be and had been of the greatest use to the
poor and labouring classes. Sir W. Clay proposed
Lord John Russell's own health. Lord John Russell,
in responding, disclaimed any intention of making a
speech, but assured them of his readiness and his
anxiety to give his services to his country, at all times,
in any way, and in whatever manner might be useful and
beneficial. He said that, though he had always been
attached to one party, he had always felt that the ser-
vice of England and the honour of England were of no
party, and he had endeavoured invariably to uphold her
service and to maintain her honour. About 3,000/.
was collected ; and a large legacy, not yet received, was
announced. It was stated that since the first com-
mencement of the institution the number of patients re-
lieved has undergone a steady increase, and during the
last year amounted to 4,199, being 573 mere than in the
year 1852, and making a total of 18,910 persons ad-
mitted to the benefits of the institution since its open-
ing, in June, 1848. The average attendance of patients
in each week in the year 1853 was 632.