The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-15 00:00:00

ELECTION COMMITTEE.--(THIS DAY.)

CRAIL BURGHS, -&c.
' The Burghs of Kilrenny, Pittenweern, Craii, Anstruther Easter,
`and Anstruther Wester,, collectively return one Member of Par.
liament. The Member returned at the last election was James
Balfour, Esq., against the validity of whose election Sir Wm.
Rae, the unsuccessful candidate, and Mr. Bruce, one of the elec-
tors, petitioned, on the grounds of the Magistrates and other of-
ficers of the burghs having been irregularly elected.
The Committee sat yesterday, to inquire into the merits of the
petition.
Mr. Sergeant Spankie, Mr. Adam, and Mr. Kay, appeared on
bettif of the sitting Members ; Messrs. Harrison, Law, and
Robertson, on the part of the Petitioners.
Mr. HARRISON addressed the Committee this day. He
observed, that the objections taken by Counsel on the
other side, were merely technical, and did not at all
bear on the merits of the case. His learned friend, Mr.
Sergeant Spankie, had insisted, that as no appeal had
been. made to the Court of Sessions against the election of the
Officers of the Burghs, within two months after they had taken
places as required by the 16th of Geo. IL, there was no remedy,
but he (Mr. Honiara) hoped the Committee would go into the
merits of • the case, and not be guided by such flimsy objections.
All Committees of the House of Commons which ever sat on such
occasions decided on the fair and substantial merits of complaints,.:
uninfluenced. by technical objections. ,
The CilautssAw asked Mr. Harrison if he could produce any
precedent, analogous to, the present, which would serve as a guide
to tbe.Committee ? •

Mr. 71-lAesisat; > replied in the negative, observing that the
Scotch laws differed so widely from the English, that no similar
ease-could occur in-this country, but that Committees had always
decided on the rights of the elective franchise, without reference
to what had been done in the Courts below.
A MExase asked if this case had been discussed in the Courts
below ? •

Mr. Sergeant SPANKIE replied in the affirmative, stating that
it had been decided in favour of the elections.
zilaanzsoll obseryed, that the Committee was not to be
guided by the decisions which took place at the Court of Sessions,
as they were appealed from to the House of Lords, and final judg-
ments not yet pronounced. It would appear very aukward
the Committee were to decide one way and the House of Lords
another way.; he again pressed them not to decide on a formal oh-
jectiou but on the rights of the Elective Franchise. Strangers"
were 4eu ordered to withdraw, the Committee having deliberated
for half an hour, - • .
- —The CliAtalitAN announced, that the question respecting elec:-
tion of the officers in the Burgh of Pittenweena, having been de-
cided in the:Court of Session, the Committee did not.deeni it
proper to,rwa:eany further inquiries into it.

• Me. Heaitisox•urged the propriety of .adjourning the question,
until the:Chancellor should should give judgment in the appeals.,
His Lordship had taken home the papers on Tuesday night-411inch
laughter)—and had promised to give judgment within this Week.
(Loudlaughter): If the judgment of the House of Lords should be
against his clients, it would be decisive of the merits of the pe-
tition.

Mr. Sergeant. SCANKirs objected to the adjournment. Any
person who knew the Lord Chancellor must be aware that no
reliance should be placed on his promises to give judgment, inde-
pendently of which, the Committee ought not to be bound by it ;
they should judge for themselves.
The question of adjournment being decided in the negative by
the committee,

Mr. -HARRISON prayed for a re-hearing of Counsel on behalf of
the petitioners, which, being refused, it was announced, on be-
half of the petitioners, that.theywould not press their opposition
further; whereupon
The Committee having deliberated for a few minute,

The CILAIRMAN declared their decision to be—that Jame!!
Balfour, Esq. had been duly elected to serve in the present Parlia-
ment, and that. the petition of Sir Wm. Rae and Bruce, o 1
Edinhurgh, Advocate, was nut frivolous or vexatious.