The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-02 00:00:00

DARLINGTON.

On Wednesday afternoon, the 30th ult., a highly re-
spectable meeting was held in the Town-hall, convened
by circular, for the purpose cf taking into consideration
the income tax proposed by Sir Robert Peel. Edward
Pease, Esq., having been called to the chair, elipressed
in Strong terms his aversion to ft tax of this kind, con-
tending that no necessity existed for such an impost, and
gave instances of its harrassing operation when a tax of
this kind was last in force. The meeting was also ad-
dressed in a similar strain by Joseph Pease, sen., Egg.,
Edward Oxley, John Kipling, and John Nixon, Esqrs.,
all uniting in denouncing the " financial scheme" of Sir
R. Peel as most unjust and inquisitorial, and a Commit-
tee was appointed to draw up an address to the Queen,
and a petition to the House of Lords, expressive of the
views of the meeting; and the Committee have since agreed
upon the following for signature and presentation. The
meeting was most unanimous, and but for the short no-
tie, allowed would have been more numerously attended,
as the measure is very unpopular in this district. The
respectability of the meeting was, however, unquestion-
able :

To THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS IN PAR-

LTA:VENT ASSEMBLED.

The humble petition of tho undersigned Gentlemen;
Bankers; Merchants, Traders, and other Inhabitants
of the town of Darlington :

Sheweth,—That youi: petitioners respectfully beg to
call your Lordships'. most serious atten►ion to the Bill
now in progress to raise the supplies by imposing a tax
upon income. _

It appears to your petitioners that a tax so oppressive,
and so inquisitorial in its operation ought never to be
reorted to in a free, and more particularly in a com-
mercial country, except upon the most urgent ne-
cessity,when every other source has failed to supply
the deficiency of the revenue. This, we submit,
is not applicable to the state of the country,
no such necessity having been shown to justify the im-
posing so vexatious a burden as an income tax upon the
people. Your petitioners urge to your Lordships, in the
most decided manner, that the projected obnoxious mea-
sure of an income tax, if passed into a law, would in-
flict the deepest injury on the industry of those engaged
in trade and commerce, and from the inquisitorial pro-
cess adopted in levying it, would cause a most injurious
exposure of the affairs of individuals, destroy that
confidence which is so ' essential to the prosperity
of ,trade, and surround our commercial transac-
tions with an intricate webb of espionage disgraceful
to a Government based on constitutional principles.
For these reasons your petitioners most respectfully
entreat your Lordships to reject any bill by which the
trade and commerce of the country would be, so deeply
injured, which it must inevitably be, if so unjust and
inquisitorial a measure, as that now proposed by her
Majesty's Ministers, shoidd-be passed into a law.
And your petitioners will ever pray.
N.B.—Both the address and the petition were signed
by those present, and they have been already signed
by a large number of the inhabitants of Darlington.
" TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

" We, the dutiful and loyal subjects yf your Majesty,
the undersigned gentlemen, bankers, merchants, traders,
and other inhabitants of the town of Darlington, beg
leave, humbly and respectfully, to represent to your Ma-
jesty that we have heard with great apprehension and
regret that a tax is about to be re, ivied on. the income
arising from trades and professions, and which we hum-
bly beg leave to state is, in the opinion of your peti-
tioners, most unjust in principlo, and will be found most
oppressive in its operation. •
" That such a tax is considered by your petitioners as
only justifiable as a last resource,-in a period Of extreme
danger and distress, and that there is nothing in the pre-
sent state of the nation which either requires or justifies
its imposition.
" That many also of your petitioners have too much
reason to remember the great oppression and hardship
which attended the collection of such a tax on a former
occasion, the sufferings which from its compulsory pay-
ment it entailed on the middlejAasses of the community,
and the consequences which followed the unavoidable
exposure of the affairs of individuals, repulsive to every
sentiment of propriety and good feeling, and which your
petitioners most humbly beg leave to state was utterly
contrary to the principles of constitutional freedom, end
the just rights and privileges of Englishmen.
Your petitioners, therefore, humbly and earnestly
pray your Majesty not to give your royal sanction to
the imposition upon your people of any tax upon income.
" And your petitioners will ever pray."

ST. MARTIN'S IN THE FIELDS REGISTRA-
TION AND REFORM SOCIETY.
Thursday night a meeting of the above society was held
at the Cambrian Tavern, Castle -street, Leicester•square,
for the purpose of taking into consideration what men-
moos they should pursue in reference to the proposed
tariff of her Majesty's Ministers,
Mr. GIIAGAN having been called to the chair,
• Mr. Ellis, in moving the. following resolution—" That
this society do protest against so unjust and inquisitorial
a law as unnecessary while real property does not pay a
farthing towards the burdens of the State"—said
that the resolution was most congonial to his
feelings. He, as a shopkeeper, with others,
had • exerted themselves, and had succeeded in paying
taxes without the inquisitorial interferance of a com-
missioner calling upon them to look into their books.—
(Hear.) He when first a housekeeper, paid 201. a-year
for the income tax, and at one time he was not able to
pay it when called for ; the consequence of which was
that an execution was put on his goods, and if he had
not immediately paid it the execution would have been
put in force.—(Hear.)
Mr. Mumuou-sE seconded the resolution.
Mr. SOAMES made a few- remarks in favour of the in-
.
cc,:le tax. _ _

Mr. GRANT felt surprised that any gentleman should
give his support to a measure of such an inquisitorial
character.

Mr. AUSTIN, a solicitor, observed that he had met many
professional gentlemen, who were TorieS, and who depre-
cated the introduction oldie income tax. It might happen
that an attorney had not an income above 2001. a-year, and
that a person might be willing to engage him in under-
taking a cause in the litigation of which thousands would
have to pass through his hands, but on going to Somer•
set-house, finding the amount of his income not to ex-
ceed '2OO/. a year, he would refrain from entrusting the
management of his affairs to him. Was it, therefore,
not evident that the tax was inquisitorial ? A tax of a
more oppressive nature could not be proposed.
The CHAIRMAN' suggested, as an amendment to the
resolution; that " real property does not pay a farthing
to the burdens of the State, should be added, "in the
shape of probate or property duty," as he considered
that if a probate duty. were passed there would be nip
neessity tin• an income tax.
The resolution, as at-ileum, after a feW observations
front Messrs. Hocken, rurfleet, &c., was agreed to,

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF
ABDUCI lON.
•• (From tho Liverpool Mail.)
SECOND DAY'S INVESTIGATION.

;The hearing of this case was resumed on Wednesday,
at ten minutes before, three o'clock. The transaction
had created
.extraordinary excitement, and the Court
was crowded to excess during the whole morning.• A
number of highly respectable gentlemen surrounded the
bench, and every corner of the Court from which the
proceedings could be witnessed had its occupants.
The neensed parties, John Orr M'Gill, John Osborne
Quick, Thomas Wormand Rogerson, Richard Jones, Mar-
i rtret Joa es, and 'June Clayton, were again placed.at the
Oar, when Mr. Snowball called the folk:vine' witnesses:—
Tiw Rev. John Herman Stafford said--4 am a clergy-
man and a surrogate of this diocese. I recollect the
sower Rogerson applying to me for a license ; he was
accompanied by a 1)1.. Dunlevie, a surgeon. This was
on the evening of the Ist o March. They said neither
of them was the principal. I told them that it was
necessary that one of the parties should be present to-
e.ive the affidavit before the license multi bee-ranted. One
of them—l think it was 1)r. Dunk% le—asked if I could
not fill up the affidavit, so as to be ready when die party
appeared. I filled up the affidavit, and 1-have it here (pro-
ducing the affidavit). I can hardly say positively whether
it was Mr. the or 1)r. Dunlevie who told nte. Mr.
Rogerson I conceive to be the brother of M'Gill, and
rtherefiire think it was probably hint. I altered the date
from the Ist to the od of March, and initialed the altera-
tion.—(The affidavit was read. It purported to be Mr.
111• G ill's affidavit, that he intended to marry Ann Crellin,
that lie carried a license fur that purpose, and that he
knew of no just cause or impediment thereunto, kc.)
They asked if it would be convenient for me to be at the
church the following day, to Swear the party and solem-
nise the marriage. When I filled up the form, Dr. Dun-
lovie remarked that it was a friend of his that intended
to be married, and it was not convenient for hitn to at-
tend then. Mr. Rogerson said he was the brother of the
party. I did not know that his name was Rogerson. I
attended at the church the following day, to solemnise
the marriage. The marriage 'WAS not solemnised nor
the license completed, for after wahing some time in the
vestry Mr. Rogerson came in. I asked hint if the par-
ties were there. He stated that his brother had not ar-
rived, and he was pretty sure that he would not that
day. I asked him if lie had not seen hint the evening
before, and arranged with him. He said he had, but he
was pretty sure he would not come that day, and he
would not give me the trouble of waiting any longer.
I saw a car waiting at the church gates. Ido not
think Rogerson returned to it. I saw, I think,
it was Mr. Rogerson and Dr. Dunlevie, talk-
ing to a lady whose back was turned to me. She was
dressed in either a scarlet cloak or shawl. 1 should not
know the lady awain. She and 1)r. DanleVie got into the
ear and drove off. Last week I saw Mr. Rogerson alone.
Ire asked me if it would be convenient for me to attend
in the church that morning to marry those parties. I
think it was on Wednesday or Thursday. I asked why
the marriage was not solemnised at the former appointed
time. lie said there was some disagreement about set-
tlements. He said the parties,.. in the meantime, had
taken a trip and got married together at Gretna green.
Nothing further took place except settling the hour. I
attended the church, but the parties did not come.

Mrs. Catherine George, landlady of the •George and
Vulture, Houghton-street, examined by, Mr. -Snow-
ball.—l have known the prisoner Quick about twelve
months. I recollect his coming to our house some time
in March. The first party that came to our horse was
Mrs. Clayton, on the 10th of March. She said she
wanted to ask a favour of me. She said she was going
to bring a lady to our house to meet a Mr. Martin,
" but," said she, " it's not to meet Mr. Martin, it's to
meet Mr. M'Gill, and when she comes you must tell her
that Martin was here last night, and that he will be
here again to-night." I said, " what is it all about ?"
She said, " well, there is a lady who is worth a great
deal of property, and she went twelt arch with Mr. M'Gill,
some time ago. and made a complete fool of him, and he
has tried every way to get to see her, and her friends or
some one have denied her to him, and they are now con-
triving this way to get her to meet him." While she
was in, Mr. Quick came in. He asked her whether she
had seen Miss Crellin. She said she had not been fur
her, but she would go then. •She went, and lie remained
till she returned. When she returned she said Miss
Crellin had gone out, but she had left a note for her, and
she would be sure to be down this evening. They went
away together. In the evening Miss Crellin, Mrs.
Chamlev, and Mr. Jones came about half-past nine. We
had a dancing party that night, and Mr. Quick was up
stairs. I went, and told him that the ladies had come. I
told. him that there was a gentleman there that I
knew from his manner was a friend of Miss Crellin.
He asked me to describe him, and I did, upon
which he said, " Oh, call him out, he's a friend
of mine." I called him out, and they went to the
door together. It was Jones, the prisoner at the
bar. They returned together, and Mr. Quick said he
wanted to get rid of one of the ladies. Ile went up stairs
again, saying I was to let Mr. Jones have whatever he
called for to drink. Witness proceeded to state that Mr.
Jones requested her to let him have some money, saying
that Quick would refund it, but she only let him have
sixpence. Quick, by and by, took his departure, and the
other three went away together afterwards. Martin had
not been at witness's house, but she knew him, and de-
scribed him to Miss Crellin, who told her how he had
got her money from her. next day Miss Crellin and
Mrs. Chamley again came to my house-to ask if Martin
had been there on the preceding night. I told them he
had not. While we were talking Mr. Quick came in.
Ile asked how the child was. He had not attended my
child, and I had no child ill. He went forward into the
kitchen. Here he said this was a plot laid to
catch " the • old devil," which site could not get out
of. He afterwards went into the bar and spoke to
them. I afterwards heard of the wedding. I saw
Mrs. Clayton on Sunday last. She said she had
been to Gretna Green, and Miss Crain was married.
I made answer, what a shameful piece of business
it wns. "Oh !" said she, "it served la r right." I said
%what a villain Mr. Jones must be, end his wife. She
said it served Miss Crellin right, she had served many a
one out. I said that did not matter. She said after the
wedding she got quite agreeable to it. She had a shawl
on, which she said had been bought for her at Carlisle,
and they bought Miss Crellin one like it. She said she
had to sleep with her on her wedding night ; Miss Crel-
lin had made a piece of work and was going mad, and she
had to lie down with her for quietness. She said M'Gill
slept in the same bed. She said she expected a very
handsome present, and when it was all settled she said
she would speak to the parties to have a ball at our
house. On the first day when Mrs. Clayton came to our
house, she said they had employed her to work it out for
them, mentioning Mr. M'Gill and Mr. Quick. •
By Mr. Grocott—She (Mrs. Clayton) did not tell me
whether the marriage was consummated or not. She
told me that Miss Crellin had jilted several persons.
Mr. Quick was in the habit of attending a quadrille party
at our house.

Mr. William Denman examined by Mr. Snowball—l
am a paper-ruler, and carry on business in St. Thomas's-
buildings. I recollect seeing Mr. Quick one day last
week. It was on Tuesday or Wednesday. I had been
taking a walk with a friend of mine. Mr. Quick was
standing at the door of Mrs. Rogerson's house, in Boun-
dary-street. The person who was with me addressed
him, and he proceeded with us to the house of a friend in
Boundary-street. In the course of a few minutes after
we entered the conversation began 'by his addressing
some ladies. "Well, you have- lost Johnny," whom I
understood to have been Mr. lle (Mr. Quick)
said, be and Mr. M'Gill had been to Gretna-green, get-
ting M‘Gill married to Miss Crellin. The question was
asked, " Where?" and he said, " Oh, at Gretna ;" and
he proceeded thus :—"*Oh, we've had a d—d fine spree ;
we put the old devil into a coach, and otf we drove to
Carlisle. When we got to Carlisle we persuaded the old
devil we were in Warrington." 'there was a long
dialogue between him and the persons of the
house, who said the proceeding was extremely unjust
and improper. I said, how was it that she (lid not know
the difference between Carlisle and Warrington ? lle
said, "Oh, the old devil is drunk. From Carlisle we
took a post-chaise and drove off to. Gretna-green, and
got married." Ile said she was worth some 60,0001. or
70,000 L, or thereabouts. He stated that she could smoke
a great number of cigars, and drink brandy " till all was
blue."—(Loud laughter.) It was repeatedly stated that
their transaction was very improper and unjust. Ile
said, " Oh, it was correct enough, for the laws of Scot-
land differed from the laws of England. He was very
glad they had served her so, for she had jilted several."
Mr. Snowball suggested to Mr. Rushton the propriety
of adjourning the case until the next day.
Mr. Rushton assented, and the prisoners were ordered
to be remanded until this day (Thursday).
Mr. Grocott applied, on behalf of Quick, for permis-
sion for that individual to see his wife and some mem-
bers of his family.
Mr. Rushton said the case had now assumed so serious
an aspect, that he could not comply with his request.
The prisoner's solicitor would, however, have access to
them in the usual manner.

(From the Liver/we/Mercury of Friday.)
THIRD DAY'S INVESTIGATION.
The prisoners, along with James Dunlevie, whose
name has frequently occurred in the course of the exa-
mination, were placed in the dock at twenty-five minutes
to three o'clock.

Mr. Grecott said that Dr. Dunlevie had been brought
there as a witness for the defendants, and as he (lid not
think there was anything to implicate him with the
transaction, further than going for the license, he hoped
he might be discharged.
INEr. Rushton intimated that it was his duty not to
allow any person implicated in this affair to escape, and
he certainly thought there was evidence sufficient to de-
tain Dr. Dunlevie.

Mr. Snowball proceeded with the witnesses for the
prosecution.

- James Mead, car-driver to firs. Sharpies, Egremont
hotel, recollected driving ])r. Dunlevie, Rogerson,
M'Gill, Mrs. Dunlevie, Mrs. Jones, and Miss Crellin, in
a coach to Bidston, a short time ago. He drove them
from Dr. Dunlevie's house to the Ring of Bells, at Bid-
ston ; thence he took them to Dr. Dur.levie's again,
where he pulled up only for a moment or two; and then
drove them to Egremont
Philip Hagan, dealer in cigars, recollected being at
Mr. Fryer's public-house, North John-street, on the
evening of the 23d of March. When he was there,
Messrs. Jones, Duval, and WoOd, came in. Wood said
to witness, " This is Mr. Jones, who has been at Gretna-
green with Mr. M'Gill, getting married." They asked
Jones to give an account of the trip to Gretna-green.
Jones said Aliss Crellin was drunk when they started,
and they kept her drunk all the way. When they were
going intofarlisle, Miss Crellin asked where she was,
and Jones said they were about a quarter of a mile from
Warrington. Miss Crellin said she must get home that
night, and Jones replied that they would all be home
that night. They then went to Gretna-green, and got
married.
Inspector R. Campbell of the Liverpool Police, recol-

looted Mi-s. Clayton charging Mr. Martin with stealing
:2U from her. She stated that she had received 20/.
from him for the trouble she had with him, and .that two
or three day.; after he demanded this money back again.
She refused to give it up, and one day when she was out,
he had gone to her cupboard and taken '331. out of a.
purse. Clayton and Martin (who afterwards ~ace his
m nae in Bridewell as 1)r. Copeland) were .t hen brow:lit
to the office of Mr. Dowling, who ordered Copeland to
be locked up. Next day he was brought before Mr.
Rushton and discharged, Clayton not appearing against
him. Clayton told the witness that she had given Cope-
land a receipt for 20/., and this receipt was found upon
Lim in Bridewell, as well as another receipt for 201.,
signed by Richard Jones.
Mr. Drvden,a surgeon, who was examined at length,
sad made statements little creditable to the pa-Aiesquirxc'd
up in this foolish affair, not excepting the lady married
against her will.
Mr. Snowball then intimated that this was his case.
Mr. CI rocott wished to address the Court on belia'r of
Ur. Dunlevie and Rogerson, maintaining there vins no-
thing to implicate them in the transaction after being at
St. Paul's church.
Mr. Rushton was of a different opinion.
1)r. Dunlevie wished to make a statement.
Mr. Rushton thought he had better reserve it, for he
did not think that anything he could say would alter his
present decision.

Dr. Dunlevie still persisted in his desire to address
the Court, and after being cautioned that anything he
said might and would be used against him, he proceeded
—" The only object I had in making a statement is to
show you how innocently I have been introduced into
this circumstance. About the Ist of March Miss Crellin,
accompanied by another female whom I never saw in
my life before, came with M`Gill to my house and lodged.
They gent to Bidston, and during the -time of the
journey, I observed a very considerable degree of fami-
liarity and intimacy passing between Miss Crellin and
M`Gill. We eventually went to Bidston, and there I
heard M‘Gill make an observation to Crellin to the effect
of asking her would she niarry him ; to which I understood
her to assent. The same question was repeated again, and
with a like effect.. M‘Gill, in addition, stated to me
in the lighthouse that she promised to marry Lim, and
subsequently to go to Dublin by mail packet of the suc-
ceeding night. We dined and returned from Iliciston to
Egreniont,.and then Rogerson :having again questioned
as to Miss Crain having said the would marry
him, he said she had. In consequence of this Rogerson
said, "I think there would be no harm in inquiring after
the license, if this be the case." I said that under the
circumstances I thought-there would be no harm in it,
and we accordingly went to Mr. Stafford to inquire about
it, having known Mr. Stafford, who was a fellow .student
of mine at College. We then spoke to Mr. Stafford on
the subject., and he asked us if either of us was the
party, to which we replied that neither of us was. I
understood Mr. StafThrd to say, that in order to oblige
the parties, he would prepare a license, and have it •with
him in the church, to have it filled up in the morning.
I then returned home, and by invitation went to break-
fast in time morning at the hotel. We then breakfasted,
and during the time the circumstances of the brandy and
water took place, which I will explain. There was some
brandy on a side table, and it being a very wet morning,
some one said, would a little drop of brandy in the tea do
:Inv harm ? Miss Crellin then appealed to me, and said,
" 1)o you think a little drop of brandy would do me any
harm?" I replied that I thought a little would not in: e
her, and she accordingly had some. When breakfast was
over, and we were waiting to proceed by the boat to Li-
verpool, M`Gill said, the day being so wet, a glass of
champagne would do no harm. A bottle was accordingly
procured, of which each partook. I believe it was not
finished, beeause it was not good, and we then proCeeded
in the boat to Liverpool. During the passage, alluding to
Miss Crellin and to the conversation I hCaed the previous
evening, I made the observation that I•thought She had
made- a very choice selecthal for herself, as Mr.
• from what 1 had heard of him, was a very gentlemanly
man. She replied she thought she had. I said to her then
that as things were pretty nearly ready that we N;ould
proceed, on our arrival at , time pier, to the church, to
which I understood her to .assent;. and, in consequence,
on our arrival at the pier, I accompanied them in a car
to the church straight from the pier. The object of ,
going to the church was the subject of the conversation
in the car. We arrived at the church door, and Miss
Crellin then said, " What place is this ?" She was told
it was the church. She said, " not be married at
present. I must first consult my legal adviser as to the
arrongment of my property." I at once said, " It* this
is your decision or your wish, Miss Crellin, I think you
are perfectly right and justified in acting so, and if I
thought there was anything improper or dishonourable
contemplated, I should not have accompanied you."
We then went straight to Rogerson's house, and had
some refreshinent. Afterwards the party went to the
races, ‘m hich were going on at the time. They returned
to dinner between five and six o'clock. After dinner I
left, and there ended my connexion with the matter
altogether, and I can assure the Court, and the gentle-
men conducting this prosecution, that I am as innocent of
any knowledge or connexion with any impropriety as
the being that is tut yet in exi6tence ; and if it would
not belmpious, I would appeal for the truth of my asser-
tion to llun who knows my innocence of the matter. I
have nothii.a; more to. say, only this, that being brought
into the matter so innocently-, the danger and risk to
my prospects in life are of such a nature as to induce me
to ask the Court not to detain me, it* it can consistently
Ivith its sense of justice.
Mr. Rushton said, that even after hearing his state-
ment, he could not feel justified in doing so.
Dr. Dunlevie—Would you admit me to bail, then ?
Mr. Rushton intimated that, in the present state of
the case, he could not feel justified in allowing any of
the parties to go at large. lie did not know what turn
the case might take, but he would have great pleasure
in liberating him it' lie could do so with a due regard to
' justice.

The case was then adjonrned, it being a quarter past
six, and it will be brought on again not earlier than one
o'clock to-day.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.
GREAT MARLOW.
The Committee met at the usual hour.
Mr. Austin proposed to go into a new class of objec-
tions. This was opposed by Mr. Sergeant Wrungham,
and the Committee decided that one class of objections
should be exhausted or abandoned before counsel should
proceed to another.
Thomas Corby, jun., was then objected to by the
counsel for the sitting Member, and struck off the list of
voters.

Objection was then taken on behalf of the sitting
members to the vote of George Brown.
The objection was not disposed of when the Commit-
tee rose.

WEYMOUTH AND MELCOMBE REGIS.
The Committee met at the usual hour,•and were occu-
pied all the morning in hearing the arguments which
were commenced yesterday, and seem almost intermina-
ble, on the vote of James Maine, .objected to by the
petitioners, beeanie he had removed between the periods
of the registration and the election. Every decision
henceforth will be of increasing interest an the petitioners
and the sitting Members are now equally balanced on
the poll, while the number of disputable votes is much
reduced.

On the conclusion of the lengthy arguments, the room
was cleared, and the Committee decided that the vote of
James Maine was a bad one.

The next vote proceeded with was that of James
Berridge, which was objected to by Mr. Cockburn, on the
part of the petitioners, on the ground that he had bribed
another person.
J. Lovell, an ostler, at the King's Ilead, Weymorth,
was called as a witness, and he deposed, that a voter.
named Strickland, was offered money by Kerridgc if he
would poll ; that he was subsequently offered a sovereign
if he would poll again in the name of another man, John
Bartlett, but that Strickland refused, urging, that he
" had done one good deed already."
The voter, Strickland. was also called, and stated ex-
pressly, that he was offered money to vote the second
time, but he could not recollect the amount ; he did not-
think that any particular amount was offered. lie
denied that any money was offered for going to the poll
the first time. He did not ♦ole the second time, having
refused, because " it would not do."

George Bailey, a messenger, engaged at the polling
booth, stated, that :he did not see Strickland poll. It
appeared that he was sent out of the way by a trick,
while the rote was polled.
Mr. COCKBURN contended, that the law was clear that
a person bribing another lost his own vote, and adduced
various legal authorities defining the offence of corrupting
and bribing, showing that it was immaterial whether the
party bribed voted or not. ThiS. question did nut now
arise for the first time, but arose before one of the most
memorable committees that ever sat, the first Ipswich
Committee, on the vote of Arthur Butt Cook, which was
struck off on the same objection as the present. lle con-
tended that the present vote came strictly within the de-
, cision given on this point, and recapitulated the facts as
stated by the witnesses, in order to support his objec-
tion. He pointed out that no statute on the subject of
bribery made it necessary that any specific sum should
be offered ; the mere offer of any reward, however
vague, was quite sufficient to constitute the offence. If
the evidence of the first witness was credited, the fact of
bribery by Berridge was fully established, as it was of
no importance whether the otter of reward was made to
a bona fide or not.
Mr. TALBOT said a more miserable case was
never brought before a Committee ; the question
was never raised in the present form before the.
Ipswich Committee ; the decision .of that Com-
mittee had not been followed up, and there had even
been a decision against it. The offer of a bribe
by a voter was a high misdemeanour, but had not been
held to disqualify the party offering it from voting. He
went over the depositions of the witnesses, pointing, out
some discrepancies between them. The case, at most,
amounted only to an offer of money, not by any means
proved, by a voter to another man not a voter, to person-
ate a third person. He contended that there was no
decision taking away the franchise from the voter,
making such an offer.
Mr. Coexpunti replied, arguing that, from all the au-
thorities on the subject, it must be inferred, that a person
directly or indirectly influencing a voter, not only those
votes became illegal, but the party influencing was disqua-
lified from exercisini, his franchise.
The Committee decided that the vote of Berridge was
a bad vote.

The vote of George Mace was objected to on the same
ground, having accompanied Berridge during the trans
actin with Strickland. The objection was supported
by the evidence of the same witness, Lovell ; the otherA
were not called.
The arguments of Mr. Cockburn and Mr. Talbot on
the evidence of this witness were to the same efrect as
l
in the preceding case. Mr. Talbot contended that no
evidence had been given as' to the tiine when -Mace:gtve
his vote, and he might have polled before he made the

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