The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-25 00:00:00

LEWES,

Mr. Summers Harford and Mr. Elphinstone were re•
turned as duly elected ;
Mr. Fitzroy and Lord Cantalupe being the ippoing
candidates.

The state of the poll was—
Mr. S. Harford

411

Mr. 'l. Elphinstone
Mr. Fitzroy
Lord Cantalupe 3BB

That a petition was presented against the return of
the sitting Members by certain electors, on behalf of
Mr. Fitzroy and Lord Cantalupe, which petition, among
other things, accused the sitting Members of having
been guilty, by themselves and agents, of bribery, cor-
ruption, treating.
That a Committee was appointed to try the case
of •the said petition, but that its investigations were
suddenly arrested by a compromise entered into by the
agents of the sitting Members on the one part, and of
Mr. Fitzroy and Lord Cantalupe on the other.
. This agreement by the agents was sanctioned and
acted on b the principals ; and the Committee beg
leave to invite the serious attention of the House to the
mode in which the stipulations of this agreement, so far
as regards the alteration of the poll, were carried out, and
as explained in the answer given to question 1,053.
The terms of this agreement were, in fact, set down in

writing, but that writing itself has nut been seen by the
Committee ; by the witnesses it is described to have
been as follows :

1. That the general case of bribery and treating should
be withdrawn un the part of Mr. Fitzroy and Lord CAn-
talupe. •
2. That in case the agents should be unable to place
Mr. Fitzroy in a majority by a scrutiny, then one of the
sitting Members should resign by accepting the Chiltern
Hundreds, and that no opposition was to be off,red to
the return of Mr. Fitzroy, either by Mr. Elphinstone or
Mr. Harford.

3. That all actions and indictments preferred, respect-
ing conduct at the election, should on both sides be
withdrawn.

Mr. Fitzroy and Mr. Elphinstone were placed on the
poll above Mr. S. Harford by a pre-arranged scrutiny,
and Mr. Summers Harford was unseated.

The circumstances which induced the sitting Mem-
bers to make this arrangement were, first and chiefly,
an apprehension that the accusations of the petitions
would be proved against them; their agent declaring,
" We have only fourteen or fifteen hours to decide it in"
(viz.., whether an agreement should be made); " and
after all you have heard, I can only say, that it is lunacy
to continue the contest, and you had better arrange it."-
The second cause for making the arrangement was the
fear of incurring a heavy expense in a hopeless contest.
The Committee also found that the number of electors
was about 850 ; and that the gross cost of the election
to Mr. Elphinstone and Mr. S. Harford, on the one side,
was 5,0001.
Of this sum, 2,0001 were expended in treating, and
about 1,2001. or 1,500/. in direct bribery. -
The two Members state that they were not personally
cogizant of this bribery, either before or during the
election.
The gross cost of the election to Mr. Fitzroy and Lord
Cantalupe was, as
,71S; . as your Committee could as-
certain, 2,000/.
The manner,irrwhich this money was expended is ex-
plained in t,beevidence of Mr. Fitzroy, who distinctly de.
dares that-none was spent in direct bribery ; but states
that a portion was expended in keeping open houses be-
„fore the test of the writ. _ _ _

That the Committee think it right to add, that there
were charges of bribery made by the agents of the sitting
Members against the petitioners.
Your Committee also found that in the case of
READING,
at the last general election, Mr. C. Russell and Lord
Chelsea were declared duly elected ; that the opposing
candidates were Mr. T. Mills and Mr. W. Tooke.

The state of the poll was—
Mr. Russell
Lord Chelsea .......
Mr. Mills
Mr. Tooke

570
564
410
397

That a petition was presented by Mr. T. Mills, one of
the candidates, which charged, among other things,
that "gross and systematic bribery and corruption were
practised and carried on at the said election by divers
persons, with a view to the election of the said C. Russell
and Viscount Chelsea." _ _

That the Committee think it right to add that there
were charges of bribery made by the agents of the
sitting Members against the petitioners.
That a Committee was appointed to try this petition,
and was proceeding with the inquiry, when, on the third
day of its sitting, it was suddenly put an end to by a
compromise entered into by the agent of Mr. C. Russell
and Lord Chelsea on the one side, and the agent of Mr.
T. Mills on the other.
The arrangement was afterwards signed and acted on
by the principals themselves.
The terms thus set forth in duplicate ; one paper
signed by Mr. C. Russell and Lord Chelsea, and the
other by Mr. T. Mills.
" READING ELECTION PETITION.
"It is agreed between the petitioner and the sitting
Members, as follows :
" I st. That the petitioner shall withdraw from the pro-
secution of his petition ; and such reasons shall be as-
signed to the Committee as Counsel on both sides shall
agree on, and the sitting Members declared duly elected.
" 2. That one of the sitting Members shall vacate his
seat in such time that a new election may take place
during the present session ; and that both of them shall
use their utmost endeavours to secure the election and
return of the petitioner at the next election for the
borough of Reading (whether caused by such vacating,
by death, advancement to the Peerage, or any other cir-
cumstance), without opposition, and to induce the Con-
servative electors of the borough of Reading to do the

same.
"That in the event of the pel tioner's electionui.inn,is t
not
,beinghtt,
e. ec'ed in the way above propowd, the sitting Mern`o,:r,,
wi,l,lLfoorndthowni,tllllpaa6y2(:,lBo4o2ol..) two thou..,and ;
p, titioner. C. I{US:q',l,ll.,
66 CLIEU-_,EA.
6' Witness, .A. SAuivonits."
Corn pt oirliSed eleCtion
The petition on these terms was withdrawn.
The circumstances which inducedotflipeaysiiti.ltging2,(l:oleonl.:latetrrts.
Russellthu,to give up tamime(s)setata
caenrtirnutnv,a risk, deemed by Mr.
stated to have been-
1. An apprehension on the part of the counsel of the
sitting Members, that there was great danger iticurryd,
by2d:..Terehnedieng
&it
he seats,
ainty of gorfeitt°tBinegnitellit;.%bilt)li• vUy
chance.Of .1111._unfavourrO4o •