The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-27 00:00:00

offered any money to Whitmarsh. He received money
from the Finance Committee, between SOL and 601.
Knows a person named Twyford ; did not know him
previous to the last election ; Mr. Abrahams told him to
go to Twyford, as he uaderstood he wanted 51. He
met T yford and introduced himself to him by
mentioning Mr. Abrahams' name. He said he knew
Mr. Abraham's very well. He (witness) said that he
understood he wanted 51. Twyford answered he did.
Witness told him he would give him 5L He went to
Abrahams, and he got his signature, as a guarantee to
the Finance Committee, that the 5L was to be paid. Here
is Mr. Abraham's signature. The witness here handed
in a small book to the Committee. He did not pay
Twyford. He had other applications for larger sums.
At his suggestion an application was made to Mr. Ball, a
woollen-draper, and one of the finance Committee, for
more money. Mr. Ball came himself in consequence of
that communication. He saw Mr. Ball give 71. to Mr.
Wyatt, the town-crier. He was not an elector. Does
not know what the money was for. He then went to the
Portswood, with Mr. Ball, to a voter named Russell. Mr.
Ball and Russell had a private conversation. He be-
lieves it was for the purpose of giving him a bribe.
When he came back from Portswood, Twyford had
voted, and lie came to witness the next day and asked
for the 51. He referred him to Mr. Mackay, and Twy-
ford told him that lie had seen Mr. Mackay, and that lie
was satisfied. To Mr. Shiel.—Saw Abrahams sign the
book himself. The entry. was, " Thos. Twyford,
and opposite was attached " A. Abrahams."
Mr. SHIEL—I see " paid " attached to several names
in this book. Are these the persons who, of your

knowledge, received money. -
Witness—The-word paid is not my writing, it is the
writing of Mr. Duncombe the Member for Finsbury.
The witness then proceeded to detail other cases of
bribery. Mr. Redwards received 51., and Charles
Houghton received 121. They voted for Lord Bruce
and Mr. Mostyn. During the proceedings before the
late Committee, Mr. Deacon, the Town Clerk of South-
ampton, and an active Conservative partisan, and a Mr.
Brown were conversing together. 'This was the first
day that he (Wren) was examined. Mr. Brown, after the
conversation, came to him, and said, " Now, Wren, if you
Make Mr. Martyn's election secure, I am authorised to
offer you a check for 1001." He (witness) said he had
but one course to pursue, and he refused it. He saw all
the persons, mentioned in the list handed to him, acting
on the working Committee for Lord Bruce and Mr.
Martyn. He saw the' following persons on the Finance
Committee :—Messrs. Flicker, W. H. Mackay, W. Rouse
Mabson, Mr. J. Ball, and Mr. J. Lisle, Town-sergeant.
On the day previous to the polling, he handed in a list
of the names to whom he gave money.. Mr. Mackay
objected to the sum of money given to Whitmarsh. He
(Wren) said that he gave the money under the au-
thority of Mr. Abrahams. His list was compared with
others, and one of the Members of the Committee said
that the average price was 81., and that the money
would be sent to him. When he left the Committee he met
Mr. Lisle who told him that he should have the money.
He received the money. It was between 501 and 601.
He distributed it in the following wages :—To Whit-
marsh. 20/. ; to Houghton, 121. ; to Wyatt, for an elec-
tor called Fry, 101; to Redwards, 5/. ; to Paskins and
Andrews, 31. each. He was out of pocket 2/. of his own
money by the election. He heard Coulson say that
there was 5,2001. spent at the last election by the Con-
servative side.
To Mr. Shiell—ls of opinion that the Whigs practised
- extensive bribery at the late election ; heard a person
say that they spent 4,000/. at it.
There was a General Conservative Association at one
time in Southampton. It was broken up in consequence
of some suggestion that aWard Association would be bet-
ter ; .heard Mr. Stebling say that Mr. Fleming made the
suggestion. The object of the Ward Association was to
forward the Conservative interests at the election

for corporate officers and Members of Parliament.
They met at the housas of such publicans as were mem-
bers; at one house one night, and at a different house
another night. Recollects a Conservative festival in
Southampton on the 12th of October, 1840. Several
free tickets were issued for that festival. The price of a
ticket was a guinea. He distributed about twelve tickets.
Sir William Heathcote presided at that festival. There
were other dinners given. Almost every house in
Southampton was open for the purpose of treat-
ing. Is of opinion that three hundred persons
received money on both sides at the last election. He
knows Southampton well. Knows a good deal of pre-
vious elections. He was a working committee-man.
The most expensive election that he recollects to have
taken place for Southampton was that of 1830. In 1832
he voted for the Whigs. The system was, if possible,
growing worse every day. It was customary to employ
a great number of persons as colourmen and chairmen.
The general price for them was 21. Was never
before the last election engaged in acts of bribery.
To the CHAIRMAN-It was in consequence of the great
excitement of the last election, that he lent himself to

those acts of bribery ; and also because persons, in a
more responsible situation than he, asked him to do so.
After his return home from the late Southampton Com-
mittee, proceedings were taken against him by Mr. Mackay.
He was sued fora debt of 11.45., due to a person named
Squib. Mr. Usher was Squib's attorney previously to this.
Mr. Mackay did not give him any notice before the writ
was served upon him, the costs were 11. Bs. lie since
paid the debt to Mr. Usher, and he offered his costs to
Mr. Mackay who refused it unless he paid the debt over
again. Mackay knew hei paid the debt to Mr. Usher,
wrote to him to that effect.

To Mr. SHIEL—Was offered 100/. as a bribe during
the late proceedings before the Southampton Committee,
and attributes the persecution of which he is the object
to the fact that he did not take that bribe, and because
he would not perjure himself betore the Committee. Pre-
viously to his coming to London, he had a conversation
with Mr. Mackay relative to the proceedings which were
to take place before the Committee, and the indemnity
,which was to be afforded to witnesses. He told Mr.
Mackay he should act in an open fair manner, and Mr.
Mackay said he would go for six months to gaol
before he would divulge anything. Mr. Fleming passed
by at the time, and Mr. Mackey left him. He has been
placarded and carricatured in every possible way since
the late proceedings.
-Mr. HEARN was about to examine Mr. Wren, but it
being a quarter to four, the Committee adjourned to
twelve o'clock to-morrow.

BELFAST.
The Belfast Inquiry Committee stands a ljourned
to-motrow at twelve o'clock.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
(THIS EVENING.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

The Duke of RICHMOND presented a petition from
the Board of Guardians of Newberry in Berkshire
against the rating of workhouses. The Noble Duke ex-
pressed his coincidence in the prayer of the petition.
The Earl of WICKLOW presented a petition from a
place in Wichlow, against the contemplated measure fur
altering the Medical Charities in Ireland.
The Earl of BANDON presented petitions from seve-
ral parishes in the county of Cork, against the national
system of education in Ireland.
Lord DENMAN presented petitions from societies of
Baptists and other Dissenters, in Yorkshire and Cam-
bridge, praSing that affirmations might be substituted
for oaths.