The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-13 00:00:00

A member of Parliament had hard enough work to
do without paying for his seat. The man who had
sacrificed his time by sitting every morning till two
o'clock to do his duty ought to be paid himself, in-
stead of paying others for it ; and any constituency
ought to be glad to get a hard-working honest man
to see after their interests. Was ignorant of the
election bills still outstanding, and if they were
never sent in should never inquire. Hoped the gen-
tlemen intending to send in accounts would. con-
sider the state of the case and refrain from asking
for money. (Laughter.) Was once a candidate
for St. Alban's. The re9uisition to him to stand
for that borough on purity principles was signed
by gentlemen who afterwards went against Lira.
Thought he had done a public service in helping to
get St. Alban's disfranchised. Had fancied, after
the part he had taken in connexion with St. Alban's,
that no constituency would have applied to hint in
which bribery prevailed. St. Alban's was probably
the most debased constituency in England; but be
had thought that when things were at their worse
they would, perhaps, gat better : and believed he
had been sought because the constituency wanted a
pure and honest member to serve them. He had
been the victim of duplicity at St. Alban's.
Commissioner Fitzgerald—Was not the experi-
ence of St. Alban's lost to you when you came to
Glocester ?

Witness—How could my experience of a place
notoriously venal guide me as to a place which I be-
lieved to be totally different ? I have now, how-
ever, gained a little experience, and will act a
little differently another time. (A laugh.)
Commissioner Fitzgerald—You made a speech in
favour of purity principles at Gloucester. Did you
not therefore feel bound to inquire into this large
expenditure ?
Witness—"% by inquire respecting the character
of those about whom you have no doubt ? You
must presume a man to be of good character till
you find him to be different. I thought the people
to whom I was introduced were highly respectable,
and I put faith in everything they told me.
Commissioner Welford—Did not the facility
with which you allowed money to be drawn from
you in 1857 encourage the corruption in 1859 ?
Witness—They found, perhaps, that I had been
goodnatured, and thought I would do the same
again.
Commissioner Welford—Was not that which you
call your good nature the cause of all this corrup-
tion ?

Witness—You must draw your own conclusion.
Commissioner Ilrelford—Don't you think it was
something like wilful blindness for you not to ask
for any accounts ?
Witness—lt was certainly not so intended. I
appointed my agent, and expected that he would
direct everything according to the Act of Parlia-
ment. Must say Mr. Lovegrove has shown no
backwardness to give me accounts. Think he may
have offered to refer them to some indifferent
person. Don't recollect receiving any letter after
the election of 1857 impu4.;ing bribery. Should
not have heeded it if I had. Always should expect
such accusations, however ill-founded, to be made
from the defeated side. Having been purged by a
committee of the House of Commons, I preferred
to respect their decision rather than attend to the
allegations of any private letter. Though rewards
had been offered for evidence against him, not a
scintilla to fix him with bribery had been adduced ;
and even Mr. Roebuck, an independent member of
opposite politics, had declared the petition against
him frivalous and vexatious. The witness added
—Mr. Lovegrove had asked him to contribute
to the expenses of the municipal elections, and wit-
ness had told him to pay for him what was usual.
Never imagined this money went for bribery at
the municipal contests. Had paid in "lump" sums,
but should never do it again. Had always thought
when a man had a long lawyer's bill sent to him,
whether for elections or otherwise, the best thing
for his peace of mind was to look only at the total,
and pay it at once. (Laughter.) Had not ab-
stained from inquiring. into the items because it
would be more convenient or more prudent. It
d'd not look as if he had been over prudent. (A
laugh.) Should look rather sharply at the out-
standing bills which might be sent in to him, but
every honourable engagement he should recognise.
Commissioner Welford—What if some of the,
claims are illegal ?

Witness—l-should fancy all the corrupt business
was done for ready money, and the legal expenses
were left till the last. (Laughter.) Think I have
been imposed upon; bu: believe those who have
acted improperly, and contrary to every wish of
my own, had the best intentions. Don't believe a
farthing would have been spent in bribery but for
the lavish offers of money on the other side. And
if the Commission will only make it one of their
reco:nmendations that there should be no canvass-
ing, it will be a great improvement.
Mr. Lovegrove and Mr. Whithorn were then
examined at length as to the 1857 election, and the
former gentleman said he had repeatedly offered
accounts to Sir R. Carden, and was ready to ac-
count to the Commission for every shilling intrusted
to him.
The inquiry was then adjourned.

IV E! K OF THE STEAMER EXPRESS.

SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY.

The Board of Trade inquiry into the ei_-cum-
stances connected with the wreck of the South-
Western Company's steamer Express, which occur-
red off Jersey on the morning of the 20th ultimo,
commenced this morning at the Town-hall. The
court consisted of Mr. J. Bernard and Captain J. R.
Engledue, borough magistrates, and Captain Harris,
nautical assessor to the Board of Trade. Mr: Cum-
berland attended as solicitor for the Board of Trade,
Mr. Crambie for the company, and Mr. Coxwell for
the captain (Mabb).
Mr. Cumberland having opened the case, pro-
ceeded to call witnesses. The first examined was
George Cooper, chief mate of the Express, who
stated that the steamer left St. Helier's, Jersey,
between six and seven o'clock on the morning of
the occurrence, Captain 141abb being in command,
with between 150 and 160 passengers. The vessel
was in perfect order when she left, and the morning
fine and clear. Abeut five minutes to seven, off the
Aiquillan, witness went below, at which time the
captain was in charge on the bridge and the second
mate at the wheel. He went on deck again about
ten minutes past seven, in consequence of hearing
the ship strike, and found the captain and second
mate in the same positions. The wind was light
from the N.E., and the weather still Blear; the sea
smooth, with a ground swell. He did not look at the
ship's position, but went to see if she had sustained
any daniage. He went to the engine-room and sent
the carpenter to the after-hold. The engines had just
been stopped and the fore-cabin was nearly full of
water. The. Express was built in three watertight
compartments The fore compartment was filled with
bsssrpwaitulogiaaNntrytit.
ti
bei:et:ro:dehat
irateittranneodesridith:
b,
he captain,
en.taeion:peiteath,
sibraliessoeui other
ocosit
kaa,snwnsww:dwhobt
ooi
uwttenhtsheeaetdner
hi eodreßtnephcheooeoiefctinahcwftsgeohit
hncoootignuTfc.
hgjot
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would
aos
tsorhileend-
tffs side
the Rocco Tower, extending about a mile from the
land, and the ship might have been about a mile
Pram the reef. The tide had been flowing about a
couple of hours, consequently the reef was not
covered. The reef was on the starboard quarter,
and lies to the south of the Rocco Tower. Witness
knew the Frouquis-rock, which is double-headod,
but did not see it at the time. It was sometimes
covered with the tide. Should think the ship was
about half-a-mile from this rock. He did not see
all the rock called Bon. The engines were stopped,
and the captain ordered them to go on again and
the ship's course to be altered. Witness told the
captain he thought they might get her back to St.
Helier's or St. Brelade's Bay. The helm was ac-
cordingly starboarded, and she returned over the
course she had previously travelled. The ship was
tgen run ashore on the other sida of the Corbiere,
on account of the water making so fast in her en-
gine-room. The . fore compartment was full of
water and the ship down by the head. Boats were
lowered and passengers, mails, and three horses
landed about eight o'clock. He heard that two
passengers were drowned, but did not see the oc-
currence. The ship was run ashore about 100 yards
from land, and the passengers landed on the rocks.
After the ship took the ground the starboard
anchor was let go under foot, and the ship heeled
towards the shore with her stem to the eastward.
A warp was carried out to the shore and the
.ship
drove in as the tide flowed. A line was run
ashore to draw the boats to and fro. Witness had
made many passages in the Jersey packets and
passed Many times between the Corbiere and Bon
rocks. Had run through that channel from an
hour-a:id-a-half flood to high water. Should not
think it prudent to attempt it at low water..
Tke Express drew about seven feet. Witness
did not know the width of the passage between
the . Corbiere and ' . Bon rocks. He would
have navigated thA channel, if he had been in
conna4nd of the Express, with a flawing tide and
weather similar to what it was at the time of the
occurrence. They- passed to the westward of the
Fi onquis rock when they took that passage. At
low-waterpsi.toaresi kskaeg .
te
\s,ie
esp ring tides a small rock is visible be-
tween the Pronquis and Bon rocks. There is' no
outsideim tthh e
together,l o n qu i
as
s.
ifW sheit Witness es s
was feltg o
ithen g over
ship
night. The ship was abandoned at dark the same

`Oharlei Neel, second mate, gave similar evidence
as to the accident. He was at the helm, and took
his steering course from the captain's hand. He
had only been twice or three times through that