The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-07 00:00:00

TIIE SUN LONDON, .SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 7, 1842.

to comp!ain; consider, and adjudicate upon that measure.-
( Hear, hear.) If Hon. Members of that House were to be
thus catechised respecting their seats, what Honourable
Member would be free from being harassed during
the whole duration of a Parliament ?—( Hear, hear.) If the
Raise should sanction such questions being put to Hon. Mem-
bers, they would make a stride, and a long
strideetowards the
resumption of the worst and most improper jurisdiction, which,
after long experience, had been deliberately • and wisely re-
nounced, and which, if revived, the seats of Honourable
Members would again become the sport of party contention,
personal envy, and inquisitiveness. In conformity with the prin-
ciple which had been adopted by that House he (Mr. R.)
declined answering the question put him by the Hon. and
Learned Member for Bath—(Ministerial cheers)—and he
protested against that House drawing any inference whatever
from his refusal to answer the question which had been
now put to him, and whioh the Honourable and Learned.
Member had no right, either personal or Parliamentary,
to put to him (Mr. R. ). The Hon. and Learned Member for
Bath might draw whatever inference he pleased in silence, and
his inference might be about as pertinent as his question.
Mr. ROEBUCK—I proceed in the examination I have pro-
posed, believing, that if I hear aught that would be detrimental
to any Member of this House, 1 will do that which is most
advantageous to the House itself. I shall now proceed to put a
question to the Hon. and Gallant Member for Penryn.—( Hear. )
1, therefore, ask him if he was a party to, 'or cognizant of,
any agreement by which he, in the month of July next, or
anywhere about that time, is to accept the Chiltern Hundreds,
although he had been declared elected by the Committee ap-
pointed to try the validity of his election, it being notorious that
acts of bribery were proved at that election, and I wish to
know if he is cognisant of any such acts?—( Hear, hear. )
Captain PL UM RIDGE—I do not think I have any fault to
find with the Hon. Member for the question he proposes.—
( Laughtc: and cheers.) I shall answer the question truly,
without fearing that I shall compromise myself; and I say
that I was not cognisant of the arrangement until after it was
made.—(Loud cheers from the Opposition benches, and
laughter from the Ministerial side of the House.) I assure you
that the arrangement did not please me then, nor does it now—
(Laughter)—but I always thought that when a person put his
case into the hands of his lawyer, it was to be entirely left with
him to settle it as he thought fit ; and in this case I think the
act was premature. I hope I have new answered the question,
and I could not do so more fairly.—( Loud cheer s.)
Mr. ROEBUCK—I beg leave to return thanks to the
Hon. and Gallant Member for the extreme candour and fair-
ness with which he has answered the question I put to him.--
(Loud cheers.) I could expect nothing from the Hon. and
Gallant Member but a fair and honourable answer.—(Cheers.)
In the same spirit of inquiry which I have shown, I now beg to
ask a question of the Right Honourable Baronet,
the Member for Nottingham.—(Laughter.) I wish to
ask whether he has been a party to, or cognizant of,
or whether, being cognizant of it, he has taken any advantage
of an agreement of the following description : that a sum of
money has been paid down to avoid the investigation of the
Committee respecting the bribery alleged to have taken place
at Nottingham—that a fresh sum has been paid down as a
pledge, by which it should be permitted to an Hon. Gentle.
man to walk over the course, as it is called, whether he has
any knowledge of it, or whether any such terms, or any ap-
proximating to them, have been come to?
Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE—I can make the same answer as
has already been given, that I do not admit the right of the
Hon. and Learned Member to put the question ; therefore I
shall not answer it. I shall say no more, Sir, because Ido not
consider that more is called for.—(Cheers. )
Mr. ROEBUCK—I agree with the Right Hon. Gentle-
man that nothing more is called for.—(Order, order.) After
I had left this House last night, I understand that a motion—
(Loud cries of " Order.") lam speaking of the Hon. Gen-
tleman the late Member for Nottingham, Sir G. H. De Lar-
pent, I think.--(Loud cries of " Order.") I was but about
to explain to the House why I was going to ask the question.
—(Order, order.) At half-past twelve or one o'clock, on the
day before, it was signified that that Honourable Gentleman
had accepted the Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds, and
therefore I cannot put the question to him.—(Laughter.)
Now, Sir, I am going to ask a question of an Hon. Friend of
mine, the Member for Lewes. lam about to ask hint if he is
cognizant of, or a party to, any agreement or arrangement, by
with which the question of bribery at the election of Lewes is to be
drawn from the consideration of the Committee, so as to admit
a Member into this House, who was not returned by the re-
turning officer, but who would come into this House by agree-
ment between the Hon. Gentleman and that party ? This is
the only question I shall put to the Hon. Member.
Mr. ELPHINSTONE—In answer to the question, I have
to state that a compromise did take place upon that Committee
by my Hon. Colleague on the other side. I must further state
that neither directly nor indirectly have 1 contemplated accept-
ing the Chiltern Hundreds.—( Cheers. )
Mr. ROEBUCK—I return my best thanks to the Hon.
Gentlemen. I have now to ask the Hon. Member for Har-
wich, or rather the two Hon. Members, whether they are pasty
to, or cognizant of any agreement, by which either of these
Hon. Members is to retire from the seat which he now holds.
by accepting the Chiltern Hundreds, for the purpose of letting
another person into the House, and by those means avoiding
the consideration of bribery before the Committee?
Major IsERESFO RD—I do in one singular particular fully
agree with the Hon. Member, viz. that his present conduct is
most extraordinary. Neither my Hon. Colleague nor myself
can conceive what right the Honourable and Learned
Gentleman has to ask me this question here in my face,
relative to any private arrangements of my own; and
therefore, I decidedly decline to answer the question,
which the Hon. and Learned Gentleman has asked me. How-
ever, if the Hon. and Learned Gentleman has any prima facia
case with regard to the Harwich election petition—if he has
any grounds to go upon, let him bring it before a competent
tribunal—let him bring it before this House, and then
I will be ready to explain to the House, and thereby
clear my character from the slurs these sort of questions throw
upon it, and I trust I shall prove myself free from all blame.
Before that tribunal 1 will willingly state all I know, and I
perhaps may then gratify the active curiosity of the Hon. and
Learned Gentlemen. 1 will not give an answer to the Learned
inquisitor himself, but to the House.— ( Cheers.)
the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the
Order of the Day for the House resolving itself into a Com-
mittee on the Property-tax Bill.
Mr. ROEBUCK considered that he was entitled on the
motion of the Right Hon. Gentleman to put it to the House
whether or not he was entitled to bring forward the question of
privilege of which he had given notice last night. He thought,
after having given a notice of the kind he had done,
he was bound to press on the Home the question whether,
on the subject of breach of privilege, he had not a right
to be heard. He had heard certain statements respecting
various Members of that House in connection with election
petitions. Those statements having came to his ear, and being
anxious at all times to preserve the character of the House,
he had thought it his duty to bring the subject under its consi-
deration ; and, as a mere matter of privilege, he claimed
the right of being heard. Having stated that the state-
ment affected certain Members in the House, he de-
manded from it the consideration of the question, and
from the Chair its decision, whether or not, it he stated in
his place, that he had heard imputations against certain Mem-
bers whom he had questioned, he was not justified in bringing
it before the consideration of the House.
The SPEAKER said, if the Hon. Member had any accusa-
tion to make against any Members of the House by which they
had incurred a breach of the privileges of the House, he must
first move that those Members attend in their places ; and then if
he proved that they had been guilty of such conduct as was a
breach of privilege, it would be competent for him to move
for a Committee to inquire whether certain actions were or
were not a gross breach of the privileges of the House. If
he did not adopt that course, he was not making such a motion
as would entitle him to precedence on the ground of a breach
of privilege.
Mr. ROEBUCK was ready to state the accusations, and
having done so he believed they would be proved to be a gross
breach of the privileges of the House, and under these circum-
stances he thought he should be justified its moving for a Com-
mittee of Inquiry on the subject.
Mr. H. ELP HIN STONE said, that if his Hon. and Learned
Friend had any imputation to throw upon him, he hoped he
would bring the charge immediately, and give him at once the
opportunity of a reply.
Mr. ROEBUCK said that he would do what he could to
put the House in possession of the facts of the cto state
ase, as
they had reached him. He was then prepared
certain imputations made against certain Members. All those
Members, or almost all of them, he believed were then in the
House ; and as they were there, he was prepared to make
in their presence the statement which he wished to lay before
the House. He had said before, that the instances he was about
to state were, he believed, a breach of the privileges of the
House, as he was sure they were a breach of the
common law of these realms. Under these circumstances he
believed he would be in order in moving for a Committee of
Privileges to inquire into the facts.
The SPEAKER said that under the c:rcumstances stated
by the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, he should consider he
would be in order in moving for the proposed inquiry.
The House was, however, in this po,ition—a motion had been
made that the Order of the Day for the Committee on the Pro-
perty-tax Bill should be read, and the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman could not make his motion unless the previous mo-
tion were withdrawn.
Mr. ROEBUCK said that he had no desire to stop the
course of the Goverbment but if the Right llon. Baronet
thought it would be advantageous for the business
of the House that a question affecting its privileges
should be immediately brought under its consideration, he
(Mr. R.) was prepared to proceed.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said that he was quite ready to
bow to the decision of the Chair when given against him ;
on the other hand, he thought it most desirable that any
Member who brought forward a motion on the ground of a
breach of privilege ought to have that precedence to which he
was entitled. But, on the other hand, he thought it would
establish a very inconvenient precedent, if an,Hon. Gentleman,
bringing forward a motion, should bring it forward contrary to
the rules of the House. For his part he was ready to abide by the
decision of the House. He need not say how anxious he was,
upon public grounds, that they should proceed with the mese
sures introduced by the Government, but at the same time
although his Right Hon. Friend had moved the Order of
the Day for the Committee on the 'Property-tax, he (Sir R.
Peel) should not insist upon that circumstance if the H.on. and
Learned Gentleman was clearly entitled to bring forvraid a
question of privilege.—( Hear, hear.) If the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman were to bring forward the motion on Monday;
he (Sir R. Peel) should gain nothing, but at the same time
he should say he thought that in the case of a motion of so
unusual a character (he would not say more) it would be for the
public advantage that there should be same delay before its discus-
sion. lie was not aware what might be the facts which the
Honourable and Learned Gentleman might reveal, but he
could not think it would be desirable that the House
should at once entertain the question. The matter was one
at)
tf
wi nhdi ieffhe rietri c
me
g toh t t hhee Government
raws a
rrde,g a rhdeetd
ht he e
etc!
umhei
not help thinking that it would be more satis-
ifeacdtiovriiyivat
los the
thatH otuhsee ,
Ha
er.
ede
umr
aohr
lee caonnds sLt eenatr n
ed with
Gjustice
atno
should give his notice for Monday next,
and allow
the House the interval for considering the matter.
But if the Hon. and Learned Gentleman insisted on the right,
which the Speaker declared he possessed, of bringing forward
this question, he, for one, should not insist on the
ance accidental
circumstance of the Right Hon. Gent!eman, the Chllor f
the Exchequer, having moved the Order of the Day as an
impediment.
Mr. ROEBUCK said, he was quite in the hands of the
House as to whether he should go on now, or defer it till Mon-
edt
tenday.—(Loud cries of " Go on, go on.")
The Hon. Captain FITZROY asked the Hon. and Learned
Member for Bath whether he included him in the list ?
Mr. ROEBUCK replied in the affirmative.
Rightooot 0f a
townsre
DB
Capt. FITZROY said, in a matter of such importance he
trusted thewouldthat
dhis
days
a allows
before
colleague, them
the t
Hon.me .
who
was
had and
B goneßzspHn. REout
unwell,
Learned Member had given notice of his intention.—(Go on.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER; in accord-
ance with the general feeling of the House, withdrew his motion
for reading the Order of the Day for going into Committee on
the Property-tax.
BBEACH OF PRIVILEGE.

was about to state. The Hon. Member—he ias oblige, to
name him because he wanted to distinguish them—the Noble
Member for Reading was to accept the Chiltern Hundreds.—
(Laughter.) The Noble Member for Reading, under a penalty
by which either he or his friends were bound, was to vacate
his seat by a certain day. He contended that that was a
breach of the privileges of the House. Of what was the Noble
Member accused? Of bribery, of intimidation, of corruption ;
and before the question could be tried, the Committee he be-
lieved only sitting one day, the whole thing was hushed up. He
( Mr. Roebuck) charged the Noble Member with having agreed
to withdraw because he was accused of having corrupted his
fellow-countrymen, and did not desire to meet their charge.--
( Hear, hear.) Now to proceed to the town of Nottingham; it
was extremely important to know what were the accusations of
that petition. The accusations which were included in the
allegations of that petition were these, that the Right Hon.
Sir John Cam Hobhouse, anal Sir G. H. De Larpent had
been returned for the town of Nottingham ; but
that as far as the petitioners could learn, the
whole of the constituency had been corrupted; that a' large
number of them had been cooped, the meaning of which was
that they had been shut up in their houses, and that it was
through the strategetic operations of the Right Hon. Gentleman
that they had been returned. It appeared thatthere was enough
said to frighten the sitting Members.--( Hear. ) But now he
would ask the. House, what was to become of all the privileges
of Parliament, of all the honourable feelings which guided the
conduct of men in that House, if after an election petition had
been presented, it were hushed up in an hour, lest the grossest
corruption should be exposed to the public gaze 2. Nothing was
further from him than to attribute any thing dishonourable to
the Hon. and Gallant Member opposite, or to his Hon. and
Learned Friend on the other side of the House.—( Hear, hear. )
Bdt they were now pursuing a course which, if allowed to pro-
ceed further, would break up the constitution of the country ;
aud, therefore, he hoped the Honourable Gentlemen
on both sides would excuse him when, having
found both of them in the slough, he brought forward
their names. His lion. and Learned Friend allowed there
was a compromise, but he.did not state what that compromise
was.—( Hear, hear.) A compromise was entered into for the
purpose of preventing the charge of bribery being brought be-
fore the Committee. Here was the case admitted, and,
therefore, he could not be accused of rashly rushing in to ac-
cuse any persons. lie produced the facts as he found them
laid down. Hon. Gentlemen forced money into their hands,
whieh they employed for the purposes of bribing electors ;
and, in consequence of that bribery, they were returned to
Parliament. Petitions were presented against the returns;
and the parties had in their hands such proofs as enabled
them to say, If not give up your seats at once, you
If you ,
see the consequences. And being prudent men, connected
with one another, they made the arrangements ; and now he
saw the Hon. and Gallant Member in his place.—( Cheers and
laughter.) He was not accusing them, but the system.—
( Cheers.) The lion. and Gallant Member was there in con-
sequence of that system. It was the system he wanted to ex-.
pose. There he is, and here is my Hon. and Learned Friend,
is his colleague?—(Loud cheers and
answers, Where ?—( Cheers.) He
Echo answers,
Gallant Member for Penryn. He
nlbaultg
hetaemr where,.e)
oo oh
hlnedwl
ihEoencr ,
had acknowledged a compromise, but one to which he was not
not a party, and at which he was extremely angry. (Captain
Plumridge was understood to express dissent.) He begged
pardon ; the Hon. and Gallant Member said he was displeased.
But what came out before the Peuryn Committee The
Committee was appointed, and a witnesa brought forward, who
swore to direct acts of bribery ; the thing became unpleasant ;
an arrangement was made the night before the petition was
withdrawn ; and upon its withdrawal the Committee declared,
" We beg to say that we did not believe one word of what the
witness swore. —(Laughter.) They withdrew the petition—
the world knew nothing more. They did so, and the Hon.
Member retired in July.—(Laughter.) The Hon. and Gal.
lant Member was afraid of his friends—he was afraid of his
lawyers—he was afraid of that. They who knew the case to
the bottom, who brought the legal acumen, who had seen men
tried at the bar—they. said " the case is up ; we won't try
this ; you must retire in July."—( Loud laughter. ) Was he
not to retire in July? There was no answer to that—there was
no answer to his ( Mr. Roebuck's) application as to whether he
was to retire in July. Why, if that witness did not tell the
truth, why was he to retire? For .what reason? He was in
good health—( Loud laughter)—quite equal to his Parliamen-
tary duties. Theta why didlt ihe retire ?
GE—s a bed bar,-

re_ .ngh, to .ing
he had fought for seats in that House of Parliament he had
never, either directly or indirectly, obtained for himself a vote
by any corupt or impure means--( Hear, hear)—and for that
reason he would second the proposition of the Honourable
and Learned Member. Ile had always most sedulously
set his face against any such practices, and he
had to tell his constituents over and over again
that he would not accept a seat obtained by unfair practices.
If the Committee now moved for were granted, he should prove
the truth of his statement. If any persons, in public or private,
either in that House or elsewhere, should state that he obtained
hia seat by mal-practices, he should answer them in the lan-
guage of the Hon and Learned Member (to whom he meant no
disrespect whatever), " That such a statement was a foul lie
and calumny." He might be allowed, as the list of the number
of the objections made by both parties had been read by the
Hon. Gentleman, to state one fact in elucidation ot that point. He
must state first that he deprecated the course pursued by the
Hon. and Learned Member so far, because he thought it would
revive, in the respective boroughs, the heat of party strife.
With respect to the bets alluded to by the Hon. Gentleman, he
must state that they were merely technical bets—bets of one
shilling, of a bottle of wine, or of a pound—made for the pur-
pose of raising a legal question.—( Hear, hear.) The Hon.
and Learned Gentleman must know that there were hundreds of
the objections made on both sides, which were not tit to be
prosecuted. With respect to the number accused of being
bribed, he could only state that they were men of
ths highest possible standing in the town, and who
would scorn to be concerned in the transactions included
in the list. He was informed that their names had been in-
serted from the unworthy motive of insulting them. Ap lo-
gising to the House for trespassing on their attention, he would
conclude by reiterating the declaration which he had made,
that never had he been, and never would he be, knowingly
guilty of bribery at elections.— (Cheers.)
Mr. ELPHIN s;TONE, who was inaudible in the gallery,
from the rush of Members to the bar, said that in Lewes it was
intended that a scrutiny should take place, and six
hundred persons were included in the list of objections.
But considering the state of the Election Committees, and their
incompetence to decide questions of law, it was not thought
advisable to come before Election Committees for these grounds.
Hs had said that neither directly nor indirectly was he cogni-
zant of the facts alledged, but he had no doubt that gross
bribery had taken plane.—( Hear, hear.)
Captain PLUMRIDGE, who spoke amid great confusion
and in a low tone of voice said—Sir, I beg to state most solemnly
and most emphatically before this House, before the world, and
before God, that I never gave one penny to any one before,
after, or at the election, and that I am as pure and incorruptible
as the Hon. and Learned Member for Bath hirnself.—(llear.)
It was my pledge to all my friends before the election, that I
would not spend one farthing, and I have adhered to that
pledge most rigidly, and up to this moment I have not made a
promise to pay, paid, nor will I pay, one SOUS for the expense
of that election; and I—no matter what perjury may say to the
contrary—l can pledge myself as an honest man, as an officer,
as a gentleman, and as a Member of this House, that I have
not paid, promised to pay, nor will I pay one sous, for my seat ;
and, moreover,that I had no paid rent.—(Cheers.)
Mr. WYNN said the question before the House was a most
important one, deeply concerning the honour wf its Members.
It was a question, therefore, which he thought: required due con-
sideration from them. It was a novel proceeding to bring tor-
ward accusations of this description, and it required deliberation
as to how they were to proceed. He had already moved the
suspension of the debate on the general grounds, that it was
better in all cases of that sort to have time for consideration.
He, therefore, again moved the adjournment of the debate till
Monday next.
Mr. WARD said he saw no reason why the Hen. and
Learned Member for Bath should not acquiesce in the pro-
position of the Right Hon. Gentleman. It was desirable to
the country and to the House that they should arrive at a fair
couclusion. Be felt that there could be no objection on the
part of his Hon. and Learned Friend to acquiesce in the propo-
sition, and he (Mr. Ward) should, therefore, abstain from
making a single obsetvation on the subject then, and he would
merely second the motion.
Mr. ROEBUCK said he had no objection to the ad-
journment.
On the question being put,
Mr. C. WOOD wished to say that he believed the witness
not only perjured himself before the Committee, but he
believed had perjured himself before the House of Lords no

Mr. ROEBUCK then rose, and said, seeing both the Hon.
Members for Reading in their places, I rise for the purpose
of putting the question of which I have given notice ; but
before I do so, Sir, perhaps the House will allow me
to say that in taking this extraordinary course—extraordinary
I know it to he—l am, I think, justified in so doing, by some
very extraordinary circumstances. It has been stated very
generally, that with respect to the election for the town
of Heading, that on the merits of the petition
being tried by the Committee appointed for that purpose, there
was a compromise agreed to, and it is stated that to that com-
promise both the Hon. Members now sitting were parties.
Thinking that they would be most anxious to be relieved from
the imputation connected with such a transaction, and
desirous of maintaining the purity of this House, I
thought it my duty, as it had come to my knowledge,
to put distinctly to each Member the question which I have put
upon the notice paper of the House. I have heard, and have
reason to believe, that the Election Committee appointed to
try the questiun of the Reading Election had their business
entirely put an end to by a compromise made on the part of one
or both of the lion. Members, now the sitting Members for
Reading, and that a bond has been entered into by some parties,
with their knowledge, if not in their name, that one or ether of
them, though declared by the Committee to be the sitting
Member for Reading, should resign his seat by the accept-
ance of the Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds,
thereby defeating entirely the determination of the Com-
mittee, and, as it certainly appears to me, thereby violating
the privileges of this House. Therefore, Sir, with perfect re-
spect for both these Hon. Members, I now proceed to put the
question to Lord Chelsea, whether he is cognisant of, or party
to, any arrangement by which it has been agreed that one or
other of those Hon. Members is to accept the Stewardship of
the
nso,,tl
we
ciCtthhcsitloatmenrdmni
tgtHetehu
has
,nat
dbi neteonot
drr dye ec
tirha
reet
dol n e
dulyrviat atoef electedtht
eh epbeytsiettiahot,
the
preLseonrdtedatioEttiss
CHELSEA
House
said,
against his returnon a
n
?Learned Gentleman
y
has done me the honour to put m Hon. and
name first on the list of
those included in the notice which he has given for this evening,
am perfectly prepared to state to him how far I feel it con
with the duty which I owe to myself to gratify his
searching spirit of investigation, holding as I do a very strong
opinion that lion. Members may justly consider that matters
of this kind are strictly private, and ought not to be in-
truded upon the House. 1 think myselt bound to decline
most perenritorily and most unequivocally to give any answer
whatever to the question which the Honourable and Learned
Member has put to me. —( Cheers from the Ministerial benches.)
At the same time I trust the Hon. and Learned Member will
allow me to regret that lie should have su far departed from
the deep and sound discretion which characterises his proceed..
jogs in this House a 3 to indulge in a practice which, were the
circumstances reversed, if I were the catechiser and he the
catechumen, he would see great reason to withstand and
condemn.
Mr.IIIOEBITCK—I feel perfectly satisfied with that answer.
I proceed in the same respectful manner to put the same ques-
tion to the Hon. Gentleman, the colleague of the Noble Lord.
Mr. C. RUSSELL denied that the Hon. Member for Bath
had any right to ask him what his intentions and purposes
here
his retaining his seat in Parliament. Heheld
a right as perfect as that by which the Hon. and
thatre respecting ecsteiantgb y
Learned Gentleman held his—by the returns of a very large
majority of a very numerous constituency. That right had
been affirmed by the decision of the only tribunal which by law
was competent to consider it.—(Hear.) If any doubt existed
as to the mode in which the petition against his return
was withdrawn, it was for the Committee which formed that
tribunal, and not for the Hun. and Learned Member for Bath,

—( Great laugh-

Capt. PLUMRID',-
ter, which continued some time. )
Mr. ROEBUCK. asked the House, and the people of Eng-
land, if this was proper language? This was the best argu-
ment that could be used. Did they come there to represent
their fellow-countrymen to watch over their interests, to take
care of all that was clear to them and to the House ? and yet
the Hon. and Gallant Member said this was a bad bargain.
He (Mr. Roebuck) entreated lion. Gentlemen not to permit
such language. He wanted to brand with shame those who
used then. legislative capacity in this way, and to teach them
that they were unworthy °fa seat in that House. Such conduct
ought not to be permitted in that assembly. He now turned
to Harwich.—(Laughter.) The Members were charged with
g, and corruption. There were three petitions.
presentedn by Mr. Bagahawe, supporting one of the
Sir Denis le Marchaut. Before anything hap-
penedlight broke in upon the sitting Members for
bribery,otliaiey,/ candidates,wasic a
i ,t , r.euddi n
andat e
the
e
three petitions were withdrawn. The accu-
sation said that one of those Hon. Gentlemen was to retire to
let in this same
Sir Denis le Marchant. The accusation was
and the N embers retired. The Hon. and Gallant Gen-
f, and corruption. The petitioners had re-
tired,
him that he might draw what conclusion he
pleased—he drew this conclusion, that either he or his colleague
Ilreimbearny, ,
htardeattonlid
would retire.—(Hear, hear.)
Ile asserted now that one of
them was to retire.
sthli(e)
did they say they had
lihy was he to retire, or why had joy
gone forth to the friends of Sir Denis le Marchant? Why
be-
cause a compromise had taken place between those parties.—
(Hear, hear.)
• A Curious thing had occurred in Harwich—the
sitting Alembers alone had presented their objection lists; the
found in that list of got the seat of Harwich? Why,
other parties had been more careful.—( Hear, hear.) Now he
for. offering. Now he wanted to know how many voters were ob-
jected to on the other side. He did not hesitate to say a great
Im,eanoykmedo,rhee,
would
lidf objections b 3 for receiving bribes and 18
thereive ,hviemrethae
great
tmmitatneye
more. 'the present case was a curious one with respect to
wHe'oleuasrelywtohnaltdg
numbers; there were charged, by the objection of the peti-
tioners 80 as being bribed, 40 for having made bets on the
chance of the election, and 96 as corrupted. Those were
the obj !ctions of the petitioners, making altogether 216 ;
while, on the part of the sitting Member there were charged
with bribery, with attempts at bribery, with having bribed,
and with betting, no less a number than 506. Now, how
many voted ?—for Mr. Summers Harford, 311 ; for Mr. H.
Elphinstune, 109; Mr. Fitzroy, 407; and Lord Cantilupe,
308. There were, therefore, 722 objections to an election,
when the highest number for the candidates did not exceed
411. He had been told that at the last two elections for Not-
tingham 4,000 persons had received bribes. Give him a Com-
mittee, and he would prove it to their satisfaction. Let them now
go to Penryn ; the Committee was appointed and sat one day;
witnesses were heard, and what was the statement of all the
members of the Committee whom he knew— of all the lawyers
with whom he came in contact? Why, that if they had gone
one step further, if it had only lasted five minutes longer, it
would have been totally impossible to have withdrawn the
petition ? And why ? Because the thing had been
so plain, that Honourable Gentlemen upon their oaths
would have bsen afraid to hare committed themselves to the
statement. He contended that these things demanded inquiry
—he asked no more. He wanted an inquiry such as would free
Hon. Members from the accusations made against them, or
that, iustifving those accusations, would lay the ground for
further legislative measures; and what was the legislative in-
terference which he asked? Why, such as should enable the
1 House to consider election petitions as something more than a

less than ten years ago. He (Mr. C. Wood) utterly dis-
believed all the witness had said.
Mr. WYNN said he thought it was absolutely necessary
that ino.e power shonld be given to the Committees of that
House. A week or a fortnight was not sufficient punishment
for such a crime, nor was it likely to deter others from com-
mitting it. He hoped the House would recollect what the
general character of the evidence was, and would inflict greater
punishment than it had hitherto done.
Mr. ROEBUCK wished to know from the Hon. Member
for Halifax, why, if the Committee was convinced that the
witnesses had committed perjury they had not reported it to
the House.
Mr. AGLIONBY said that the Hon. Member for Bath had
anticipated him in the question he had put. It had given him
great delight to hear some of the answers of Members on that
side of the House, and the manly declaration of the Gallant
Member opposite; but he had heard with regret other lion.
Members, who had not pursued the same course. The Hon;
Member not having reported the conduct of the witnesseso
was his duty to bring forward some question before the House
on the subject, in order to see whether some legal measures
should not be adopted.
Mr. C. WOOD did not say that the Committee were
unanimously of opinion that the witnesses were guilty of per-
jury, but the Committee could not believe a word they said.
Mr. W AKLEY was anxious to impress upon the attention
of the House, that if they were to have an inquiry it should
be ample, and that they should net have a few victims only.
He asked the Speaker to read the motion before the House.
The SIEAKER said the question before the House was a
motion for a " Select Committee to inquire whether certain
practices connected with the tiial of petitions presented to this
House against the return of certain of its Members be not a
gross breach of its privileges."
Mr. WAKLEY said he understood that a great number of
petitions had been presented against the return of Members to
this House, but that some of those petitions had never been I
prosecuted to an inquiry. Practices equally evil and corrupt
as those stzted by the Hon. Gentleman had taken place in re-
ference to the withdrawal of these petitions. Would not this be
regarded as a partial inquiry, if they merely inquired into the
four or five cases that had been gone into? He hoped
the lion. Gentleman would amend his motion, so as to take in
all the other cases.
Mr. HUME differed from his Hon. Friend. If they wished
for any good result from the inquiry, they must pat some
limits to it.
The debate was then adjourned till Monday next.
PROPERTY TAX.
The Order of the Day for going into a Committee of the
whole House on the Property-tax was then read, and the
Speaker left the Chair.
Clauses 83 to 93 were agreed to.
On clause 91 being put, words were proposed to be inserted,
exempting literary institutions, and churches and chapels, from
the operations of the Act.
In reply to a question from Mr. S. O'BRIEN,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, there
were difficulties in limiting the exemption to literary institu-
tions, which required careful con.ideration ; he would give the
subject his serious attention.
Mr. HUME said, that in many parts of the county there
wereßible class-meetings and schools held in chapels—he wished
to know whether a circumstance of that kind would deprive
than of the benefit of the exemption.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that if the
chapels were used for the purpose of Divine worship, that con-

Mr. ROEBUCK then said, the RightlionOurable Bsronet
at the head of her Majesty's Government had termed the
course he had pursued on the present occasion, a very extra-
ordinary one; be quite agreed with the Right Hon. Gentleman
that it was an extraordinary course, but he thought before he
sat down he should have convinced the House that the cir-
curnidances under which he acted were also extraordi.

nary, and, that extraordinary evils required extraordinary fight between. A and 13. At present, the return to a seat in 1 stituted the exemption. In his opinion, a school or a Bible building licensed according to law as a chapel or house •
remediei. 'He had deviated from the ordinary course of mak- that House was considered a mere matter of Mr. A. or class, might bo fairly considered to be connected with divine divine worship, and used fur no other purposes.
ing motions before the House, but it was in conse• Mr. B. If Mr. A. gains, his party gains; if Mr. B. wins,
worship. Mr. FOX MAULE said that the Right Hon. Gentlerrian ,11
quence of there being grave suspicion attaching to why, his party wins. But the public burdens of this great Mr. HUME said the churches and chapels of Scotland were, had done justice to all denominations.—(Cheers.) But be ,e'S
the two Members sitting for the town of Nottingham. empire was totally unconsidered in the question, and as the House must be aware, used for meetings of various wished to know whether the words in the clause would ex- aa
He should be able to show the House that there they bought and sold the constituencies of this coun• kinds. but he presumed that they were not, on that account, to empt Dissenters' chapels in Scotland from the tax. ea
.
ia
was grave reason for suspicion against the two Mem- try as if they were a flock of sheep.—( Hear, hear.) be deprived of the exemption. He thought that the words had The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that ...e
hers for Nottingham.—( Cries of u• One ! One !") Yes ! Look at the case of Nottingham. The Hon. Baronet had better be left out, and the Commissioners left to decide what the words were taken from the Assessed Taxes Act, and if be
One had resigned. He should be able to show bought the whole constituency— (Cheers)—and Mr. Walter was, and what was not, a place of divine worship. found, on inquiry, that those chapels were not exempted, the s 4
the House that there was grave reason for suspicion against has bought it through him. The Hon. Baronet had had a bad Mr. P. SCROPE asked what remedy would a man have words should be altered.—( Hear, hear.)
' ~ i
es
, es
the two Members for Harwich, or at least against one bargain, and had sold it for less than he had bought it who was supposed to be worth 150/. a yaar in trade, but in Mr. FOX MAULE said, that what the Right Hon. Gen-
Gen-
of them ; he should also show that there were grave before, but still he had sold it. It was this he wanted to reality was not worth so much ? Would he have to pay the tleman stated was perfectly satisfactory, and he begged to re-, sa
suspicions resting on certain transactions connected inquire into. He did not confine his accusation to one side of tax, or would he be exempt? And if he were to be exempt turn him thanks. . .
with the representation of Penryn and Falmouth ; that there the House or to the other—he had made it no party question ; from the tax, what would be the mode of relieving such a per- Several suppleMentary clauses were then agreed to. ,„
was the same grave suspicion resting on the two members for but he stood up for the purity of the
House, and. God willing, son;? Would he have to pay the tax in the first instance, and , EXEMPTION OF SOLICI FORS FROM THII-1. f r
Reading, and also on the two Members for Lewes. Now what he would make it pure.—(" Oh, oh," and cheers.) He could would an allowance be made to him afterwards ? INCOME-TAX.
reasons were there for entertaining these suspicibns ? not make it pure if they allowed such things to go by without The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that Mr. H. R. YORKE moved "'that it be an instruction to
This was a matter in which of all others it behoved the inquiry. Be now addressed himself to both sides of the House was no other mode of giving exemption than that pointed out the Committee on the Property•tax Bill, that they have power
House to be watchful. It was no less an accusation slanting, —to the protection of the public wealth—the protection of the by the Hon. Gentleman. The party should pay the tax in the to introduce a clause to exempt attorneys and solicitors from
that certain Members; of that House had obtained their Commonwealth—and he asked to be allowed to lay these first instance, and then get -ecertificate for the amount from the annual payment of certificate duties during the time they
seats through intimidation and bribery. He charged things before them. They knew them to be well founded ; the Commissioners of Stamps and Taxes. If such a course shall be subject to a tax upon income."
the night Hon. Member for Nottingham with bribery. He there was not one of them but would say, however ill-advised were not adopted the Hon. Gentleman must see that facility The clause was then brought up, and, on its being proposed
charged the Gentleman who had recently resigned his he had been, he had told the truth. What ! would the Hon. would be given for much fraud. to be read a first time,
seat for Nottingham with bribery. He charged the Member for Lewes say that he sat there for nothing? It was After a few words from Mr. HUME, Colonel SIB'I' HO iiP said he would support the dame,
Honourable Member for Harwich with bribery. He charged impossible. Give him a Committee, and he would prove The clause was then agreed to. because the solicitors were called on to pay a duty for their
one of the Members for Penryn and helm iuth wife what he said. Clause 95 was then proposed, and the blanks having been certificates, and he hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman would
bribery. He charged the Hon. Members for Reading Mr. FITZROY—I will vote for you. filled up, the clause was agreed to. take their case into hiseeensideration.
with bribery. He charged the Member for Lewes with bribery. Mr. ROEBUCK was glad to hear it; it was just what he Clause 96 was then proposed, with the Schedule D and the The clause was then read a first time.
How, it might be asked, had these facts been with- expected. Bat when all these things had gone abroad, and the rules thereunto annexed. On the first rule for the computes On the question being put,
that the clause be read a second
drawn from the cognizance of the tribunals by law public mind was impressed with these details of corruption and tion of the duty on trade being proposed, time, •
establishes!? This it was that had led to the extraordinary baseness, would they shrink from inquiry? Was there any Mr. HUME objected to
.the duty being computed on an The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that it
proceeding which he had adopted. The law was framed in man in that House so bold—any man so careless of his own average of three years. His Hon. Friend the Member for would not be proper to exempt attorneys and solicitors from
such a manner that those who were coenisant of their own guilt, reputation, as to deny him (Mr. Roebuck) the means of in- Greenock proposed to calculate the duty on the profits of the the operation of the tax, on account of the duty on certificates
were enabled to withdraw the consideration of the subject from query? He hoped his motion would be seconded by the Right past year. He (Mr. Hume) thought it ought to be calculated which were necessary for the conducting of their professions;
the tribunal by law appointed. But should it therefore be Hon. Gentleman the Member for Nottingham.—( A laugh.) on the current one. If he believed our distresses to be tern- If they were to allow all persons who paid duties an exemption •
that Parliament, which possessed large powers, which insti- He (Mr. Roebuck) would net appeal to others to do so—he porary, he should not care so much about the average of three from the Property-tax, he feared it would fall very short of the
tuted inquiries of a much more stringent nature, should there- asked him ( Sir J. Hobhouse) to second his motion.—(Cheers years being taken, but he thought the distress would go on amount that was expected from it.
fore suffer these things to be withdrawn from its cognizance? and laughter.) ne told the Right Hon. Baronet that his increasing, and that therefore it would be most unfair to calcu- Mr. Alderman HUeIPHERY said, that if the present
Au Act of Parliament had been passed, appointing a tribunal (Sir J. Hobhouse's) character was concerned. That the ac- late the duty on an average of three years. clause passed, he should propose that merchants be exempted
for the trial of election petitions—any one presenting an election cusations brought against him would not be got rid of by his The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that on on account of the ditty they paid en receipts and bids of Ax,- ••:
petition had by that Act the power of withdrawing it, and this mere refusal to answer a question. He (Mr. Roebuck), there- that point a great variety of opinion existed. Those who con- change. .
was the manner of proceeding which had taken place. He would fore, called upon the House to grant him a Committee to in sidered the three last years as bad years, and who were of Mr. WAKLEY said, if the Chancellor of the Exchequer'
suppose a case. Suppose a general election about to take vestigate those accusations which he had made in his place in opinion that things would mend, approved of the average of adopted this proposition with regard to attorneys, he must
place, and that the two seats for Nottingham were about to Parliament, in his own name, and he asked the House of Com- three years. It was generally found in matters of this kind that adopt a similar proposition with regard to other persons. salmi-
be contested; a sort of a Parliamentary Napoleon determines mons to grant him a Committee to inquire into the truth of to take the estimate for ass longer period would give the fairer lady situated. The licensed victualler?, for instance,. like --
to conquer that town ;he jumps upon it, as Napoleon would have those accusations.—( Loud cheers.) result. the attorneys, were obliged to take out a licence to carry on
said, with both his feet—he rushes down intothe town, he bribes Mr. FITZROY rose, amidst loud cries of " Hobhouue." Mr. HUME only appealed to the Government to do what their business, and he thought the claims of licensed victual-
every man he meets, he frightens his opponent out of the town, " Hobhouse." He had not the slightest objection to second was just. He would only ask whether the profits of the year lers to exemption were much stranger than those of; the
and he is returned. The party who has lost, petitions; the Coal- the motion.—( Cheers.) He was thankful to the House for were better than they were last year? He did not think they attorneys.
.
V: 4,
mittee is to be struck, say on Monday—fear seizes the Members, having suffered this question to have precedence—for not having were, and therefore it was hard, to tax the present year, which Mr. HUME advised his Hots. Friend to withdraw hisMoitioTht
and they enter into a compromise with theparty opposed to them. deferred the discussion until Monday ; and he appealed to the was ba ~ with the amount °Kit year. He thought the tax upon those certificates ought to belitidieftee,
They pay down money for the purpose of exculpating them- House if the Hon. and Learned Gentleman had not failed to. Mr. W. ELLIS said that. as far as he could understand, off, but that the present was not the proper time for briibgit4f
selves, and of escaping from the scrutiny of a Committee. 'f hey attach any suspicion to him (Mr. Fitzroy). He had asked the the universal sentiment was that the country was in a state of it forward. It' this exemption were allowed other exemptions
further pledge themselves, to allow the other candidates, to walk Hon. and Learned Gentleman, across the floor, if he included gloomy depression, which, however, might be removed as soon would be claimed, and it would be impossible to. know where
over the course. He (Mr. R.) hearing of those. things, him (Mr. Fitzroy) in his list, and the Hon. and Learned as the Government measures were passed. With regard to to atop. If his Friend brought forward his motion mai proper
put a question to the Right Hon. Gentleman who must be cog- Gentleman had said that he did. Now he (Mr. Fitzroy) had last year, the greatest losses were sustained . and he believed occasion, he (Mr. Hume) would support him.
nisant of the circumstances. And now he asked the House paid the greatest attention to the speech of the Hon. and there were few commercial houses that paid their expenses. Mr. H. R. YORKE would say, that if . there
what 'would have been the conduct of each Member of that Learned Gentleman, and the Hon. and Learned Gentleman The years 1839 and 1840 were tolerably good, but the last were ether parties equally entitled to exemption;
House if he had not been cognizant of the fact? Sappose had failed to attach any accusation to him.—(Cheers.) He year was very bad. Amid if there were any signs of returning they ought to be exempted. He had no connexion
such a question as he had asked to-night had been put to him, asked, how had the Hon. and Learned Gentleman attached to prosperity, he would not.nbieet to the Government measures ; whatever with attorneys, and had brought forward
what would have been his answer? Should he have him that he had committed any breach of privilege. He had but there were no appearances of a revival of commerce. his motion, only because he believed it was founded in justice
-
sheltered himself under the plea—" that the Hon. and Learned obtained, by petition, the seat which he believed be justly Sir ROBERT PEEL said there had been a general corn- and fairness; and therefore, although he was at all times
Member for Bath had no right to put such a question?" No. and ;fairly his own, and it had been conceded to him by the
plaint respecting the depression of trade for the last three years anxious not to give the House any trouble, he felt bound to press
He should have been glad of such a question ; he would have Member against whom he had petitioned. Had he beets guilty and more. It was impossible to say that one of those three his motion to a division.
said in the face of that House, and of the country, of which he of any breach of privilege, by taking possession of that seat years had been prosperouS. He thought that any tradesman Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, and the Commite .
was a representative, that the whole statement was a which had been conceded to him ? Was he to act as a public would give the preference to the average of three years being tee divided,'when there appeared ,
foul lie and calumny. Had not one of those Honourable prosecutor ? Because he had accused the Honourable taker, instead of one year. Hon. Gentlemen must recollect For the clause .... ........ ... 18
Members already what he (Mr. Roebuck) anticipated Gentleman, who had been returned, of bribery, was he that in that Bill there was an option given to compound for the Against it
at five o'clock yesterday—accepted the Stewardship of (Mr. Fitzroy) to subject himself to the expense of an tax. Sueposing the next year should be a bad one, or good in Majority against the clause ...
.—1 65 ..
the Chiltern Hundreds for the purpose of keeping that very investigation, which might last, perhaps, three weeks? the preceding one, in that case the party would be charged Colonel bIBTHORP moved the insertion of, a " Clause to
contract which he (Mr. Roebuck) had then given notice of If he were to be the public prosecutor. he hoped the House upon the average of the last three years, and so, if the two secure payment of the tax from foreigners temporarily residing •
bringing under the consideration of the House ? He (Mr. would attach a large salary to the office. On account of the years were bad. Now he (Sir R. Peel) should be very sorry in this country, and deriving
_income or profits from any erne .
Roebuck) was met by a statement upon this subject omiasion to fill up certain heads of objection, he felt aware that to express any very sanguine expectation of the recovery of ployment or business therein." He thought that foreign dancers-
to which he must advert. It was said, suppose that, it would have been useless to attempt to secure the return of trade. He was bound 10, say that the spring had disappointed and singers, who derived from this country very considerable.
under the circumstances mentioned, the Honourable his late Noble Colleague; and as the Hon. Gentleman against his expectations, for he was in hopes there would have been a sums, ought not to be exempt from the tax. Some of them
Member. found it expensive to protect his seat, whom he (Mr. Fitzroy) had petitioned had retired, what was restoration of trade; bust Hon. Gentlemen must admit that the received many thousands in the course .of a few months, and
what was he to do? He (Mr. R.) allowed that, but his there to prevent his taking possession of the seat? Was there spring had not advanced far. The House ought to adopt mese 3et they were not liable to any tax.—The clause was brought up.
charge whnt further; his charge went to say that he any breach of the privileges of the House in so doing? The stares likely to restore the trade of the country, and Mr. HENLEY moved the insertion of a clause," To enable'
heard, and had reason to believe, that some money had beets Hon. and Learned Gentleman seemed to think that it would be he thought the measures proposed would have that ef- the Commissioners, or other Government officers, to relieve .
either promised or paid down, for the purpose of escaping the a desirable system to force every one presenting a petition feet. —Hear, hear.) He did not think it was an in- occupiers of land, in certain cases, from the whole, or any part
scrutiny of an Election Committee.—( Hear, hear.) Now, that against the return of a .Nletnber, containing accusations of bri- justice to calculate the average of the last three years, nor of the duty charged upon them under Schedule B, as to theta-
was not simply acting as if he was unable to go berg and corruption, to proceed at a great expense to investigate did he think that any one could complain in parties being al- may seem just."—The clause was ordered to be brought up;
through the contest. It was saying that he was guilty of that every circumstance connected with those accusations, without lowed to compound for the tax. He thought a great number On the Order of the Day for the second reading of this. classes!.
which the petition laid to his charge_ that he was prepared to having the power of withdrawing them. Whether such a course would be found to object to a shorter period for the average being read,
Mr. WAKLEY said he
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that he
give something to escape from an inquiry. Now he (Mr. R•) was desirable or not, it was not for him (Mr. Fitzroy) to say. than three years.
net
been
thep
introduced,eti ti on er soh e torndauin t a
ißn
eudt thought that it was a matter of ex. thought sufficient indulgences to meet the exigetwies..of the
treme difficulty to tell what was the best course to pursue where case had been shown to that particular class to which the clausit
ewiarcsuplraetpedutehdrotougsalil everyand did
portion
say, that at tn he e had
town heardire
which
h ithosech
he
e hadthings
asH He
ssuheohu
al d
law b e inclined
had
not toos compel oe mt
been. He was prepared to say, that if they gave him that he was free from any imputation of having committed a so many interests were concerned. Some men were of one referred. He thought it much better that the clause should neci'S
power to bring the question before them, and to breach of the privileges of that House. He had taken a seat con- opinion arid some of others, and he really did not know that be inserted.
examine the agents engaged in those transactions, ceded to him with no unworthy bargain on his part. He took the he had himseif come to any conclusion as to whether it wore After a few words from Mr. DARBY, ' - '• •
he would get-out all about them. Was the House prepared to sees because the Hon. Gentlemen who had occupied it had better to take the last year, or the average of three years. The Mr. HENLEY said, he thought he was bound to hay,
say that that gross bribery—that bribery of a whole town for failed to defend it. He was one of those who wished the House, as Right Hon. Berenet had, with a good deal of candour, admitted brought this under the attention of the House, but it was not
electioneering purposes—was rot a gross breach of its well as his own public and private character, to stand pure be- that he had been disappointed with regard to a revival of trade. his intention to press it to a division. He begged to willies's's*
privileges? If they were prepared to say so, he fore the world ; and he believed that there was ne political He believed that the badness of trade was owing to the tee- his motion.
had no answer to make; but, if not, there Ihe was guilt on the part of any man but must also attach to his psi- certainty of measures in that House—( Hear)—and he did Mr. F. MAULE said he thought that the Hon. Gentleman
in hit place, to say that he believed the accusation, and vate character. He believed that all political delinquency mutt think that the House ought to go to work on Monday. had done quite right in withdrawing his motion,
that, believing it, he was able to prove it. Now he would attach to the private character. From any course of that kind and go through with this question and the tariff immediately, Mr. B. WOOD wished to know whether the Right Roof
go to Reading. He had heard, and he had reason to believe, however, he had abstained, and he rose publicly there in the —( Hear, hear.) It was quite impossible that trade could re- Baronet proposed to introduce his clause, of which he ''sire
that a bond had been entered into for the purpose which he presence of the representatives of England, and in the presence vive, till these Bills were decided one way or the other; and WoOd) had given notice, into the Bill. • • ,
- ' —ss obliged' if One far more high, to state that, during the contests which he believed that if the Right Hon. Baronet would appeal to Su* R. PEEL said that he should commit this Billead
--•.. . .. .

. _
the House, the Members would concur with him, that ever.
other matter of business should be set aside, till these important
questions were settled.—( Hear, hear.)
Lord S. WORTLEY said, he rejoiced io hear that opinion
expressed by the Hon. Member for Finsbury. He was sure
that there was nothing so anxiously looked to, as the adoption
or rejection of these measures.—(Hear, hear. )
Sir R. PEEL said, if the House would apply itself, for about
a fortnight to these matters, they would get through them. He
had a delicacy in pressing these questions on the House; but
he was sure, if the House would, for a fortnight or three
weeks, take these questions from day to day, there would be a
great savinw of public time in the end.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. MUNTZ said, that though he differed from the Right
Hon. Baronet as to the result of these measures, he thought
the sooner they were got through the better.—(Hear, hear. )
At present, it was quite impossible for mercantile men to
know what to buy, or what to sell. He would, therefore, with
a great deal of pleasure give his vote for the Hon. Member
for Finsbury
After a few words from Mr. M. ATTWOOD,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER explained
that he had given the , power of compounding. for a period of
three years. which he - gave-As a reaaJn against taking the
average for less:than thrmys;als".;"
Mr. 1-11.5M8 proposed that 'the blank' be 'filled up one
year," as tV e duration of 'the term on which the -Income-tax is
to be calculated.
Mr. BAILEY thought the three years' calculation would
operate unjustly.
Mr. BARING said that -by clause 128, parties had the
power of recovering, if they had-paidtnore than the average of
their income for three years; . .
Sir R. PEEL thought it .woultl not ba fair or just to take a
less average than three year*
Mr. ATTWOOD advOtated the substitution of one year in-
stead of three.
Atter a few observations, from Mr. FIELDRN and Mr.
Mtlasiz, the Committeidivided; When there appeared—
For the clanse
For the amendment . 27
Majority f the elause — 49
Rule 2 was agreed to.
After a short conversation, rule 3 was then passed.
Mr. B. WOOD suggested that the deduction of bad debts
should be left to the discretion of the Commissioners.
Mr. GILL thought some explanation was necessary on the
subject, as to whether a bad debt entered in a merchant's book
as such would be allowed by the Commissioners.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said that tinder the old law the Com-
missioners were empowered to levy the tax on the whole
amount of a bad debt, but that the party upon whom the tax
was levied upon application obtained a remission, and he only
paid on the amount he recovered on the debt.
After a few words from Mr. TueasEa and Mr. B. Woon,
the rule was agreed to.
Rule 4 of this clause was also ordered to stand part of the
Bill.
Rules 1,2, and 3 of the second case in this clause were
agreed to.
Rules 1,2, 3,4, and 5, applying to both the cases of this
clause, were agreed to.
Boles 1,2, and 3 of the third case were agreed to.
Rule 1 of the fourth case was agreed to.
Rule I of the filth case was agreed to.
The 6th and last case in this clause was agreed to.
Clause 97 was agreed to.
On clause 98 being proposed,
Mr. FRENCH moved that after the word "periods," the
words " except only such annuities, and yearly interest of
money, as shall be payable in Great Britain to, or on behalf of,
any person bona fide resident in Ireland," should be inserted.
After a short conversation, the clause, as it originally stood,
was agreed to.
Clause 99 was agreed to. -
Clauses from 100 to 117 inclusive, were agreed to without
discussion.
On the reading of clause 118, to the effect that Commissioners
might put questions in writing touching any assessment or
schedules, and receiving answers,
Mr. GILL opposed the clause; as it was most unjust and in-
quisitorial, empowering the Commissioners to bring before them
the clerks, agents, and servants of any person with whose
return they were dissatisfied. It was true that those persons
were not compelled to answer or to take an oath. But it
lust be evident to any in- ^qu - sted with Ix hat

Monday, and that he should proceed with the tariff on Tile",
day. He was sorry to inform the Hon. Gentleman that, after
much consideration, he had come to the coneltision' that it
would be very dangerous to insert his clause,. inatanuch::as.4
might lead to great evasions of the tax.
Mr. T. DUN COMBE said he had to move
the purpose of placing the borough electors on the same gro,l
as the county electors.
Sir R. PEEL expressed a wish that the Bon. 1401trabor
should give notice of his clause, and move it on the 13044
up of the Report. He had no wish to place the borough e ee"
tors in a worse condition than those of the counties. Bat 111/
this act was a temporary one, he would avoid as much AI
possible any enactment that should interfere with.the asse_e?
taxes.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said he would propose the 'clause' o
bringing up the Report.
After a short conversation between Colonel Sibthorpa
Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Sir Robert Peel, the Houo
resumed, and the Report was ordered to be brought UP °ll
• ~-,
Monday.
The remaining clauses and the preamble were then. afiroej, .0,
to, the Reimrt was ordered to be brought up, and orde!s
be received on Monday.
POOR-LAWS.
' Sir J. GRAHAM said, he should state on Monday th°ll:
:•on which- he should bring on the Poor-law.Continesocl4ic
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed
;of, an" ".
House, at Une o'clock, adjourned till Monday.

ELECTION COMIVIITTEES.
SOUTHAMPTON.
At the meeting of the Committee yesterday, Mr. Matlll'
on the part of the sitting Member, said, that after the resolir
tion to which the Committee came yesterday, it would be oe-
less for hnn to take up their time further.
The CHAIRMAN then read a series of resolutions, tof t,nbe
effect that the election was null and void ; that the sitting :Vie.--
hers, Lord Bruce and Mr. Martyn, were guilty of bribery
by
their agents ; that Charles Callan and other voters had IC"
-cepted bribes ; that the evidence showed that an extensive
system of treating and bribery had been carried on 11
means of local associations ; that large sums had been
paid to Committee-men and colour•men, who were voters;
that this expenditure, amounting to upwards of 5,0001., a sum
far exceeding the ordinary legal charges, called for the attely
Lion of the House ; and that the Committee feel they ha:t:
been prevented from ascertaining the exact merle in which tut;
whole of this money was expended, by the loss or destrecti°
of the vouchers and other documents with those payment"
especially in the ease of William lions Mabson, who, after has;
hie been served with the Speaker's warrant, disposed of tho
in his possession.

NEW CASTLE- U N DER • LYNE.
The Committee met yesterday at eleven o'clock, boa re;
sumed the examination of witnesses. W. Gallimur, who I',
shown yesterday to have been an active member of Mr. H3r".90,
Committee at the Cock, was examined at length, and
some severity, but nothing material was el:cited.
Mrs. Galionur was next called, and, in the course of a "41
rigid examination, admitted that her husband had received.
d
for Ins services from Mr. Conyers, a friend of the sial„"
Member. isl
Other witnesses were examined, but nothing miter
transpired, and of course no decision was came to. .

must to any ,an acquain... iusiness AA.
the working of such a clause would he.
The MIA N C ELL 0 R of the E XCHEQUER was understood
to say that the clause was not compulsory, and the Commissioners
would not resort to the powers which it entrusted to them
except in extreme cases.
Mr. HUME said the clause was such as could
scarcely be tolerated in Spain in the worst times of the Inqui
sition, But he would recommmend the Hon. Gentleman not
to attempt to amend it, as it was not worth amending.
After a few words from Mr. HOWARD, the clause was
agreed to.
Clauses from 119 to 127 were agreed to. Clause 123 was
passed with amendments. Clause 129 was agreed to without
discussion, as were all the clauses from 130 to 157. On clause
158, which gives the exemption to all perssns of incomes unaer
1505- a-year being put,
Mr. E. BULLER thought, as the clause stood, there were
no words which would enable these parties to claim the ex-
emption.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
. the Hon. Gentleman's objection would be met by filliog up the
blank with the words " one hundred and fifty." The clause,
so amended was agreed to.
Clauses from 159 to 165 were agreed to, with a few verbal
amendments.
Clause 166, giving power to the Commissioners to grant re-
lief from double assessments, were agreed to, after a short
conversation.
Clauses 167, 165, and 169 were agreed to, without any
amendment.
Clauses 170, 171, and 172 were agreed to, with a few ver-
bal amendments.
Clauses 173, 174, 175, and 176 were agreed to, without
any amendment.
The remaining clauses were then agreed to up to 188, which
provided that the Act should remain in force up to 1845. On
this clause being proposed,
Mr. HUME moved that " 1843" be substituted ior " 1845 "
Strangers were of dered to wi'hdraw, and the House
divided, when the numbers were—
For the amendment
Against it 174
Majority
On our return to the gallery, we found
Mr. P. HOWARD stating that he had voted against the
amendment because bethought the measure too expensive to be
made to continue but for one year. But he thought that two
years was quite a sufficiently long period for the continuance
of the measure. lie therefore moved that in the words " one
thousand eight hundred and forty-five," the word " four" be
substituted for " five." The Hon. Member subsequently
withdrew his amendment, and the clause was agreed to.
Clause 189, the last in the Bill, which directs that the Act
may be amended or repealed in this session was then put and
agreed to.
Mr. F. MAULE said, he wished to ask the Bight Hon.
Gentleman opposite a question in reference to the second rule
in Schedule C. He ought to apologize for asking the ques-
tion, as the Right Hon. Gentleman had made a statement on
the subject. However, he (Mr. F. Maule) was not in the
House at the time. He wished to know what course the Right
Hon. Gentleman meant to adopt with respect to the motion of
which he (Mr. Maule) had given notice—of including other
places of worship, besides those of the Established Church, in
the exemption from the operation of this Bill!
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he pro-
posedto insert after the word ," chapel" the wards " or other

LYME REGIS. 10
At the opening of this Committee, which commenced - t

inquiry yest4dai'morning, • t.
Mr. AUSTIN objected, in limine, that the petition into; el
dismissed on account of certain interlineations which apPWthe
on it, unless it could be proved that these were made before
petition was signed.
The Committee, after a long deliberation with closed do 0
decided that the petition could not be entertained unless iti`„,,
Lroved that the interlineations were inserted before the siV•
ures, or else the petitioners consented to have the petiPo-oo
read without those interlineations, and proceed only 012
other points in the petition.
11r. COCKBUFtN accepting, as was understood, the latterlifie
of the alternative, stated the case for the petitioners, su"ra
Committee was occupied the remainder of the sitting in 110t,i00
objections to votes on the ground of removal, but no dens
was given.

HAMBURGH MAIL.
iDed
GERA, APED. 26. —His Royal ilighncas the Crown ilf btet
of Hanover is betrothed to the Princess Mary, eldest (Lauf ebii
ot. the Duke of Saxe Altenburg. The Duke announce,
030
news to the Members of the Assembly of the Estates, wh°,,,,'o
yesterday to keep the 25th anniversary of his Higbo—
marriage.
DUTCH FUNO3.—AMSTCIIDASS, MAT 3.
Money. Bills•
Aci,u,.• 1-,,,ht, i,:li per Cent.
11tto, ditto S per cent.
x,,,i t ~ inlic, 4N, per c-nt 93%
1s
Ditto, ditto, 3 per cent 774
:55
Commercial Company, per cent 154%
Ditto (1N,35 and 1537) 5 per cent.
mm •vv
Loan 1,37, 5 per cant. 99 99), '
ii.;xcliiiiii{e on Lomlosi, One month l2 1O
Two months
llamburgh, One month 35 314: ;
Two months 35 V% ~
Dutch Paws, May 4. .,
.._k,i.A.ts. - Uiv Uti—Bationats, Mom S. .
Actual Debt, 2!.i per Cent.
tiothichild', Loan' 5 per Cant
Loan ot•lttirty Millions, 4 per Cent. 313%
--- 3 per Cent.
• —Thirty.seven---------
---(1A0) lOl%
Loins at City, 1t"3.2, 4 per Cent 44
inelttyot Comm, ree, 4 4 per Cent FO
Bank of Belgium, 5 per Cant .............
t4ztional Society -.
Exchange on Loaders (short) „...., .........
..„
._ brussels Papers, May 3.
1 titi Fiti A N elf:, DS.—VieNNA, Aran 25. ,
tre..cr Cents. Metalliques
woutti- per Cents.
three pwr Cents.
~ink shores ...... .. ,
HAMBU UGH BORSENHALLE, APatt3).
Bills. W0e,,,,,
109%
Austrian 5 per Cents.
Bank Shares
Anglo.ltussian Loan 171E5% 111"1)74
Russian 5 per Cent., Ist series, Certificate i 0 -"',/
Inscription, Ist series .
Russian a per Cent. Hope and Co., 3d and 4th
Series
Ditto in Certificates
. (1840) ~.,
7,
New 4 per s ent. ....... ... . . . 1.1.% 51.-st
•

Dutch -Actual Dilt, 1% per Cent ......... 5O; ---
Ditto 5 per Cent. -•.--
•16,1
Polish Booth
New Tickets
Anglo-Danish Loan, 3 per Cent.
Spanish, New b per Cents. 15%. '''''

On Wednesday the Lord Mayor gave a sPlertioddi
entertainment to the Judges. Among those present werfeal,ifist
Denman, Lord Abintier, Justices Coleridge, Pattisolis
Mack, Cresswell, and Barons Gurney and Alderson. ,
DESTRUCTI VE FIRE AT HODGES'S DISTILLS/I
Yesterday morning about half past seven, an slat-0141%00
broke out on the extensive distillery of Messrs. Hodenliel,
Son, Church-street, Lambeth. The engine on the P,rf,iool4'
was got into play, and in a very short time the engine 3 Hereing to the West of England arid the Waterloo-road station (the
also on the spot, and fortunately by the great exertion 9 orb'
firemen, in about an hour and a half, the fire was tarr IV
duel as to prevent all (Wint'er of its further extension. Defy
fire was occasioned by the bursting of the man-hole of blelj
large still filled with spirits, the violence of the explo'ifra,
off the top, and as tire spirits evaporated, they caught m'eeclotie
the flames communicated to the building. The dartagiritiir
amounts to several hundred pounds. The stock Of 0000'
the still was completely destroyed. Messrs. Hodes ara in