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

BUILDINGS REGULATION BILL.

The Report of the Committee on this Bill was brought
up and laid on the table.
ATHLONE ELECTION.

The SPEAKER informed the House tthat the sureties
of Patrick Kelly and other petitioners, complaining of an
undue election for the borough of Athlone were unex-
ceptionable,
MR. ROEBUCK'S COMMITTEE.

. Mr ROEBUCK appeared at the bar, with a special
report of the Committee appointed to inquire into certain
compromises, and other corruptpractices, alleged to have
taken place in several boroughs in connexion with the
late general election.
The report having been brought up, was read
by the clerk at the table. It stated that
the Committee, in pursuit of the inquiry for which they
had been constituted, had found it necessary to issue a
summons to. John Walter, Esq., to require his attendance
before them, and that he should bring with him all let-
ters and documents relating to the election, or to his pe•
tition against the return ; and all bills paid and unpaid
on account of the late contest for the borough of Not-
tingham. The Committee received from Mr. Walter a
letter declining to comply with the summons.
The terms of the letter were, that Mr. Walter
had to acknowledge the receipt of a summons
with the signature of J. A. Roebuck, Chairman of the
Committee. Although he would be at all times desirous
to obey the summons of the House or its Committees,
and would be glad to communicate to the Committee
which might affect no one but himself ; yet when he con-
sider the power which the Committee possessed over
those who came before it, and further the influence of
the Chairman over the proceedings of the Com-
mittee, he begged to point out to the Com-
mittee the position in which he would be placed if
he. were brought before a tribunal, at the head of which
was Mr. Roebuck, who in his place in Parliament,
on the 14th of September last, had passed a scan-
dalous and unfounded reflexion upon him (Mr. Walter)
as the author of an article which had appeared in the
Times newspaper, and of which article he (Mr. Walter)
did not know who the author was, nor had he ever
authorised any one to write that article, or insert it
in the Times. On that occasion Mr. Roebuck used the
following unbecoming expression. "that if any Members
were attacked by the Times, and did not wish the attack
to be repeated, he would recommend him at once to
horsewhip the Proprietor, Mr. Walter." He (Mr. W.)
trusted, therefore, that he would not be supposed to show
a disregard, to the orders of the House, when he
declined to place himself is the power of a Court, so
constituted and presided . over by a person who had
expressed such undisguised hostility towards him. Even
if lie should -be forcibly compelled to appear before the
Committee, he should feel. bound to decline to answer
questions put by a tribunal so constituted. At the
same time he assured the Committee that he did not
possess any letters or other documents relating to the
election, or the petition, nor any accounts of the expenses
paid or unpaid. Yet as he was anxious to
afford the Committee every information, without subject-
ing himself to personal insult, lie begged to state that Mr.
Francis Holmes of Nottingham had been his agent on
both the occasions when lie was a candidate for that
borough, and that gentleman was in possession of all
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still declining to attend, andstating that he had no other
answer to give than that whieh-vvas communicated in his
foriner letter. This letter was read in the Committee at
their meeting on the 25th inst., and they accordingly re-
solved that the two letters. should be reported to the
House, that the House might take such steps thereon as
to it might seem fitting.
Mr. ROEBUCK then moved that Mr. Walter -be
called to the bar to-morrow. • • "
Mr. WALLACE, as we understood, seconded the mo-
tion.—A greed to.
Mr. BLACKSTONE would suggest to the lion. and
Learned Member that his motion should be that Mr.
Walter should be called to the bar forthwith, as he be •
lieved he was in attendanc?.
CASE OF -MR. ST. GEORGE.
Mr..SHEIL gave notice that on going into Committee
of Supply he should move for the papers in Mr. St.
George's case.

SYRIA.
Dr. BOWRING deferred the question of which he
had given notice, with respect to. Syria, to a future day.
MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.
Lord J. RUSSELL gave notice of his intention next
session to move for leave to bring in a Bill to alter the
law with respect to Municipal Corporations.
BRIBERY BILL.

Mr. M. MILNES gave notice of his intention in
Committee on the Bribery No. 2 Bill, to move the omis-
sion of the clause which disfranchised a voter for life
who had taken a bribe, and to substitute in its place a
clause disfranchising the voter for ten years.
MR. ROEBUCK'S COMMITTEE—RIGHT OF
MEMBERS TO BE PRESENT.
Mr. COCHRANg rase and said, on presenting him-
self at the door of the room of the Committee, of-which