Star.
London, England, 1807-03-03 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER ELECTION.

The Order of the Day having been read for taking
the petition of James Paull, Efq and others into
conflderation, complaining of a high breach of privi-
lege in the undue intetfetence, and tampering with
witneffes,
Mr. SHERIDAN obferved, that he had heard,
with very great regret, that it was the intention of
fome perfons to move; as this was a quellinn of pri-
vilege, that ((rangers thould withdraw. Now this
was a meafure to which he hoped no Gentleman
would refort. He deprecated any proceeding of the
kind. There was nothing relating to this petition
whiCh it was not his moll anxious wiih thould be dif-
culled, as freely, and made as public, as pollible.—
He therefore trufieLl that no gentleman would make
any motion of the nature he mentioned.
Mr P. MOORE limed, that he held in his hand
a number of petitions from different perfons nettled;
who walled for an opportunity of being heard in their
defence, against the total calumnies with which they
wcre charged in the petition of Mr. Paull.
The SPEAKER having fuggdaed fume difficulty
as to the manner of difpoling of the original queitinn,
Lord TEMPLE observed, that it mull be the
with of every member in the Houle to have all the
light pulible thrown upon the important queftion
involved in there Petitions. It was therefore his opi•
neon that they fhould be received.
Mr. MOORE then prefented a Petition from
Henry Burgefs, praying to be heard 'in his defence.
Lod FOLKESTONE contended; that the Peti-
tion was p:etnature. It fecrued, in filet, to admit
that the allegations in Mr; Paull's Petition were
proved.

M. SHERIDAN hoped the Noble Lord 'Grid net
mean to refule to perfons accufed the liberty of being
heard in a-ir defence. He timid think it vet v hard
indeed, if witneffes fhould be fummoncd againa him,

and that he fhonld not be allowed to defend himfelf
by contrary evidence. As to the perf.ns whole namef-
were mentioned in Mr. P.tu:Ps Petition, he never
(poke to 3ne of them but in the prefence of .1 third
perfon. The objed of the Petition prefented by his
Honourable ?'•lend was nei,her more nor lee than
this, that perfons arraigned would be heard in their
defence.
Lord HOWICK, in a few words, expreffed him
felf of the Cube opinion.

Lord FOLKSTONE explained.
Mr. BIDDULPH conceived that on fo grave and
fericus a filbjeet, any perfnn bringing forward a
Petition of the nature of that prefented by the Noble
Lord, was not cnly entitled to the indulgence Of the
Houk, hut to every affirtance from the Chair.
A fecund Petition from James Wallis, and a third
from Frederick Human and Alexander jahnfon,
praying tolie heatd in their defence, were prelented
by Mr. Moore.
Mr. SHERIDAN raid, he held in hand, a lift of
witnetfes which he withed to attend on his part
Previous, however, to handing .it to the Chair, for
the purpofe of having the quettion put individually
on the names, he wai anxious to learn from an Ho-
nourable Member, why the Petition from St. Mar-
tines le Grand was riot prefented ? He held a Petition,
which would prove that the whole of the Petition
which had been rejeaed on a former day, was a
grokand infamous fraud upon the refpedlable perfons
whole names were fuhfcribed to it.

Mt.BIDDIJLPI-1 laid, that when he prefented the
Petition, he apprifed the Houfe that he was not in
any way refvnfible forth: allegations contained in it.
Mr.' WHITBREAD corroborated this llaternent.
Mr. SHERIDAN repeated, that the fraud was
of the molt grofs and infamous nature, and that there
were perfons attending to prove it at the Bar. The
Right Honour able Member then handed his Eft of
witneffes to the Speaker ; upon which, with the con-
currence of Lord Foliclione, the quettion was put on
the whole at once, when they were ordered to attend.
The Order of the Day was then read, when
Lord FOLKSTONE moved, that the Petition of
James Paull, Efq. be now taken into conlideration,
and that the Petitioner be heard by himfelf, cr Coun-
fel, and witnetres.
Lord HOWICK expreffed his doubts whether ;he
Petition could, continent with the prefent practice of
the Houfe, he taken into confideratiun. He was
aware that fuitors, generally fpeaking, were entitled
to he heard, particularly when their complaints re-
ferred to foch firkin matters as breaches of privi-
lege, and that it was the duty of the Houfe to inter-
pole, and take care that the ends of jutiice fhonld
not be fruftrated. Notwithtlanding this general prin
ciple, he had his doubts whether the pi e,ent Petition
could be entertained. There was but one precedent
of the kind on the Journals, which occurred in due
reign of King William, at a time when the mode of
tryirg Controverted EleCtions, or detet mining any
thing 'elating to them, was very different from what
it was at prefent. He was, however, difpofed to re
linquifh any objections which, for the reafons lie had
hated, he might have offered againft the prefent
mode of proceeding, and to bring the whole butinefs
before the Honk in filch a public manner, as to take
away from thofe who were concerned in promoting it
any pretence for Paying that their complaints had not
been lillened to by the Houfe. In conceding this to
them, he truaed that an i-Julgence, which was di-
reftly contrary to the fpirit and practice of the Gren-
ville Al, would not be abufed, and that the exatni-
nation would flatly be confined to the charge of
tampering with witnefres ; that ;to extraneous matter
would be introduced ; that nothing affeeing the
rights of EleCtion, or the merits of the Petition should
be brought forward. Every Court certainly had a
right to proted its own proceedings, but with this
guard, that nothing affecting the main quellicn fhould
be collaterally determined. The parties were bound
to keep as firiCtly as poLlible to the ground of com-
plaint.
The Clerk then read the precedent of a cafe which
occurred in the time of King William. It was that
of Samuel Shepherd, Efq. in which Condit was
called in, and heard at the bar, in fupport of a com-
plaint of tampering with witnefres.
Mr. T. GRENVILLE confidered this as a new
cafe, which ought not to be entirely governed by the
precedent which had been quoted. He felt confider-
able doubts of the correanefs of the Houfe having
proceeded fo far upon this bufinefs, as if it did not
come altogether within that defcription of cafes
which the law requited to be tried by a Comnfittee,

and not by the Houfe, yet it bordered fo clofely
upon that line which the law laid down, that it was
his opinion that it ought to be left to the decifion of
a Committee. He thould with the Houfe to paufe
fur a moment, and confider whether it was or was

not poffible for complete jultice to be done in this
cafe by a Committee appointed in the manner provi•
ded by the law ? He conceived that filch a Commit.
tee would be bell qualified to examine the whole of
the cafe, and, if any wrong was eflabliffied, they
would be competent to point out what reparation
could be made. The Committee could be ordered by
the Houfe to make a tpecial xeport, upon the allega-
tion of tampering with v.itneffes, and by this means
there would be nn inconvenience to public jullice. If
the Committee were equally competent to entertain
tl.e Wind's upon oath, as the Houle, in its general,
capacity, he could have no hefitation in Paying, that I
it was the more eligible tribunal in itfelf, as well as
the moll regular one, according to the provifions of
the law. The relent quellion might be refolved into
two : tft, whether the Houk fhould entertain the
conGderariou cf the petition ? and fecondly, whether
Counfel fhould be pet muted to be called in I or, if
Counfel were called in,whether they lhould be allow-
ed to plead as advocates, or merely obliged to con-
fine thernlelves to examining ssitnefies ? If Counfel
(horrid be allowed to plead at the Bar in favour of
the petitioner, it would be a very difficult matter to
confine them to the fimple point which the Houfe
took under its own confederation, 'and to prevent
them from faying any thing about the eledlion itklf,
which is a matter that the Houfe ought not to Wien
to, as it belongs'by law to another tribunal, namely,
the Committee appointed to try and determine the,
merits of EleCtion Petitions. •
Mr. LEIGH thought it better that the matter
fhould be altogether left to the Committee. If the
.Houfe examined the petition, in whatever way they
might determine, whether for or againit the petition,
it might prejudice the Ccromittce who were to deter•

mine upon the elation. Tithe Houk Moo'
that the petition was well grounded, they roit'.l e,,n.
fider that cattle as moll unfonal, in elicit it w ts net
ceffary M teraCtit'n k Anti unclt hana fclieines,
of tarnperirg with e.i!riCEF,WLI:Ii Vens c'-areee ;11
the petition. If, on the other hand, the pe;iti.mer's
allegation, and the evidence of his evi:ecEs, wive
not believed it, that Heide, he lone wiineff,s would
come under great cliferteht to give their neth when
they fhould be examined .t!ote the Eieni ,n corn_
mittee. He therefore cerfiltred that it e mild be
prejudging ant improperly iafiliencing the e•rermi-
, nation of the Committee, for the lltule to take this
point into their own conlide:atien.
Mr. PERCEVAL tha.teht Ocis eueflian had been
naifunderltoed by thole Ii .11. Mend) Ts who divided
it into two parts : fit sl, whether the floti_ fhould
entertain the petition ? and, fecondly, whether the
petitioner fhould he heard by his Counfel ? The lino
ple oiiint was, Whether be fhould he heard by C •ur •
fel i A? to the other point, whether the Houle flo
entertain it, thrt had elreody been decieli• i. The
Houle bed enter:aired it, mode t• :re preeo-ls itt
the dilcullion of-4i, and .hael furnmened tuft, :;;eh
attend in filppert of its allegations. The poncipal
objeaion appealed to him to be, that quellions of the
fame kind were ufually determined in the Committee.
He was by no means prepared to fay, that the Com-
mittee would be hilly as proper a place as the Flntife
to enter 'yen this invefligation. There were, hewl
ever, two principal übjetts timed in the Petition ilelf
—the flea was, punning the offence, .whist; was
Elated to have been committed, and the feeend was
to preveeit the effeas of a fyttem of tampericg Yith
the witnedes, which, if allowed to go to a greater ex-
tent, might defeat the merits of the Elation Petition.
(Mr. Sheridan appeared to Phew finale ligns of dd.-
plealure.)' He hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman
(Mr. Sheridan) did not fuppofe, that he meant to
Itate that there had aftually been any improper tame
pering with witnefTes ; he only meant to date that the
I Petitioner alledged it ; and therefore, to argue upon
his allegation, if fuch a fyftern die prevail as he had
Rated, it would evidently be neeettary that it feauld
be flopped before the cafe of the Wefiminfter Elec-
tion fhould be taken into consideration by the Corn;
mittee appointed for that purpofe. That Committee
wa; not to fit until the Lieth of April ; and therefore.
if loch praftices were refotted to as had been aliteiged,
it would appear abfolutely neceffary that the Hoefe
World extinguith them, before they had time to pro.
duce their lull circa. As to the Petitioner bring
heard by Counfel, he thought that was the regular
and ufual way. If it was merely a complaint of a
breach of privilege, he thought the H .iefe ought not
to hear its privileges &I-cuffed by a Cvuttfel at that
Bar ; but here there was a complaint an the part of
the Petitioner, to the proof of which he had been
allowed to call evidence ; and therefore he • thought
he ought alfo to be allowed the benefit of Counfel.
In all ordinary cafes, wherever a perfon was aliowed
to (peak himfe If in fupport of his petition, he was per-
mitted to be heard by his Counfel if he preferred it.
As to the Courfel exceeding the line Which alone
could be admiGible upon that (neat-tom it would be
always in the power of the Chair, or of any indivi-
dual Member, to reftrain and check them ifthey trad-
greffed the appointed boupds. e
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER.
thought it of the greateft importance that the Honk
fhould go into an immediate examination. The quel.
tion he thought lay in a very narrow compafs, and
relied merely on the balance of conveniences and in-
conveniences attending the different modes which
had been propofed. It muff be allowed on the one
fide, that as the Committee were upon oath, and hid
the power of examining witneffes upon oath, theHoufe
itielf was a tribunal comparatively inadequate but
then they muit balance the inconvenience of bringing
the matter before a more adequate tribunal, againit
the inconvenience and its confequences of delay.—
The inconvenience of not immediately enquiring into
the cloth of the allegations of the Petition, would, if
they were founded, increafe the milchief of which
they complained. He did not think the Elefliott
Committee would allow themfelves to be bioffed by
the decition oflnother tribunal upon another peint.—
He thereiore, both from the importance of an im-
mediate inquiry, and becanfe it appeared muff con-
genial to the feelings of the parties, withed that rthe
Petitioner fhould be allowed Counfel, and be now
permitted to bring forward his witneffes iu flipport of
his allegations.
Mr. SHERIDAN did not with at that Rage to fay
any thing,but only rote to interpofe as far as he could
to prevent, if potlible, any oppofition being given to
the immediate inquiry. With all pofflble reaped to
the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Grenville), for
whole talents he profeffed the greatett etteem, he
mull deprecate the fuecels of his arguments upon the
prefent occafion. He wished immediately to enter
upon his defence. The principal ground upon
which he would reit his defence again(' the charges
contained in that kandalnos libel would be, that not
a man of the number of witneffes that would be
brought up, deferved to be believed upon his oath
If, however, he were to difcredit the let of witneffes
which were now brought up, he made no doubt but
that the Petitioner could bting up a frefh fet to the
Committee. He cared not, however, whom he
brought up. His objea was not fo much to pre.
ferve his feat for Weitminfier, as to preferve his cha•
rafter and his hon.ur. He fhould therefore pray and
befeech the Houle, that when he fat down, they
would let the Petitioner bring forward his witnetfes.
He certainly would begin at a difodvantaee, for it
would take fume time to bring up other wiinettes to
prove what fort of people were brought forward on
the other fide.
Mr. BATHURST pointed nut a marked diffinc-
tion between the precedent quoted and the prefint
cafe. He was againit the hearing of Counfel.
Mr. BAKER thought it was too much to fay a
any witneffes before they were brought in, that they
were grofsly undeferving of credit, and not to be be-
lieved on their oath. He thought the Right Hon.
Gentleman had in this in fiance taken an improper
tone, and that it was the duty of the floule to pro-
tea witnefres on all tides, until it appeared that they
were undeserving of proteaton.•
Mr. WYNNE objeeted to the hearing of Counfel.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL conceived it ne-
cettary that the perfans arcufed fhould be heard by
their Counfel as well as their accufers. Although the
Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Sheridan) might be
indifferent upon this poiati yet there were many

I

her pe fons whore tharaders were implicited in the
Oaf gei,and who, in equal juttice, were entitled tobc
heard by their Counfel.
• Mr. SHERIDAN deprecated delay. He would
give his opponents all the Counfel in the world, and
would rely on the honour and good fenfe of the
Hurtle. The fame conduct he would recommend to
his friends, who were al o implicated in the charges.
The motion for the petitioner being heard by his
Coonfel was put and carried without a divifion.
On the motion of Lord HOWICK it was refolved,
OA the Speaker fhould acquaint the Counfel, that
they fhould confine themfelves to the fimple Rate•
ment of the fads to which they meant to bring evi.
Lltice, and that they were not to enter into a difcuf-
ti,,o about the eledion itfelf.
Mr. WARREN was then called in as Counfel for
Mr. Paull. His flatement was merely a recital of
the allegations of the Petition. The firft witnefs
fhquld call, the Learned Counfel laid, was a
I.it-oren. nt in the Royal Navy, a Gentleman who
I served in it with diflinguiffird reputation. Pe
infiruded to fay, that this Gentleman had
t• :o•erfed with Mr. Sheridan twice at his own
and once at Mr. Homan',. The next witnefs
a Mr. Wetherhead, alfo in the Navy. The others
.fre in the poorer clafs of perfons, but he was fure
the Honfe would pay every due attention to their evi-
dence, fo far as it was confiltent, as much as they
would to perfons of property. The arts charged in
the Petition were generally pradifed on perfons in the
lower fphere of life, and where could perfons go for
evidence but to thofe channels in which it was to be
had ? He had no doubt but thofe witneffes would
give their evidence fairly and jußly. The prayer of
the Petition was, that the Houle would take the Pe•
thinner's witneffes into their protedion ; for if he
could not be lure of them when wanted, it would be
vain for him to profecute his petition fur a feat. The
Houle would therefore fee the necetfity of adopting
lonic meafures—
The Witrefs and Counfel were here defired to
withdraw ; and

The SPEAKER acquainted the Tioufe,he thought
it his duty to obferve, that the Learned Counfcl was,
contrary to the rule laid down, going un to difcufs
the manner in which the Houle ought to regulate
their nwn proceedings ; and he wiflu_d the Houle to
ditermine whether that rule ihould not be aridly
adhered to ?

Lord HOWICK faid, he was at the fame moment
going to make the fame nbfervation ; and he moved
that the Counfel be called in and informed, he mull
confine himiclf Ilriftly to the farts contained in the
Petition.
The Counfel.was then called in, and—

The SPEAKER. laid, he was directed by the Houle
to acquaint him, that, according to the rule laid down
he mull confine himfelf to the faits to be proved by
the witneffes. He had already done that, and he
1;10 now call thofe witneffes, and abflain from any
comments on the future proceeL!ings of the Honk.
Mr. Warren then called Mr. Drake, who began to
bive his tellimony to the following effect :—" I have
een an officer in the Royal Navy—l was ailing
Lieutenant. I entered the fervice in the year 1795,
and quitted it in tilos. I know Mr. Sheridan very
veil. The firil acquaintance I had with Mr. Sheridan
was through my marrying a natural daughter of his
.--(loud and material peals of laughter).—My acquaint.
ance with him began about five years ago. I became'
acquainted with Mr. Paull fince the eleCtior for
Weaminfter. I fupported Mr. Sheridan during the
eleCtion, and brought him a great number of votes.
During all that time, Mr. Sheridan made me a great
number of promifet: But he never kept one of them;
and when the eleetion was over, he took no notice of
me ;he would not fee me. I wrote to him fre-
quently he would not anfwer my letters; I called
at his houfe, but could not get a fight of him, and
was mfolted by his porter or footman who opened the
door ; I was infulted by his fervants. But timing
the election, he law me repeatedly, and made me
promifes—he knows it, by !—(Here there were
loud murmurs all over the Houle, and feveral Mem-
-I),:rs cried curt " Order : Order! (: lyrir ! !" )
Tire witmfs was ordered to withdraw. When he
came again to the air,

The SPEAKER Paid—" Witnefs, you mull (peak
more flowly, and you mull conduet yoorfelt before
this flonfe with propriety and decency."
The Witnefs proceeded in his evidence" Mr.
Sheridan afterwards fent for me. I was told that he
wifhed to fee me. I went to the bottle of a Mr. Ho-
roan, and took (hare of feveral bottles of wine. At
this time Mr. Sheridan did not appear. I after wards
went to the bottle of a Mr. Edwards, and there I law
!Ir. Sheridan. I told him I had been fuminow:d by
Mr. Paull ; that t had a fummons from the Speaker
of the Houle of Commons. I told him what I had
done ; he laid to me, th;:t I ought to have cnnfulted
him and his agents. He then offered me money, and
offered to procure me a place. He laid he would
provide for me."
O When Mr. Sheridan had this converfation
with yotr, did defire you to do any thing ?—A.
'• Yes ; he laid I ought to keep out of the way, and
he detired me to get a letter from Emanuel Harris, a
Jew, in Holywell-flreet, which he had written to
him. This convercation took place at the honfe of
Edwards • Mr. Sheri.lau was Wit:l me in a room in
private. I was with Mr. Sheridan nn the 9th or loth,
ard OR thz 19th. I was to meet him on Friday. I law
him fign the !otter to Emanuel Harris, and I took it
to him to liolywel.flreet."
[Here it i, necelfary to obferve, that Mr. Srt. eridan
ha. been ciarged with writing two let-ers to Harris,
prrmiting to recommend him as a fl7p-feller to his
flt;ps, &c. at the different ports, on condi-
to.a r t his fupporting Mr. Sheridan at the Eleetion.]
L rd HOWICK, at this part of the examination,
inter poled, and expretred a wills that it might be con.
hued to the limple fafts of tampering with witneffes,
which were complained of in the petition. With re-
(peel to any letter that might have been written during
the time of the elation, no evidence ought to be given
in that Hnufe.

Mr. SHZRIDAN—'. I hope, Sir, the Houle will
not cut fhort the train of this examination, nor prevent
this evidence from going forward ; becaufe on this
very evidence 116411 be able ro prove that the witnefs
fpcaks Wkly. Mr. Aaron Graham, a worthy Ma!
gillrate, who is known to many Members of this
Houle, and feveral other Gentlemen, are now waiting
in the lobby, ready to deny every word he lays.—
T'llettfo:c I truft the Houle wallet him go on."

GRENItILL obferiea that every thing:
which occurred fince the examination commenced,
only fetved to•furnith the firongeft proof cf that in-1
convenience he had pointed out a quarter of an hour
before. The Houfe could not. even by the confent
or defire of Mr. Sheridan, lilten to mat ter which
ought only to be cognizable before an Eleetion Corn-
mittce.

General PHIPPS role, and complained that the
Petitioner was at that moment talking to his withers
behind the Bar ; and thought that when they retired
from the Bar, they ought alfa to withdraw from the
Honk (loud crier of Hear, bear! Chair, chair!)
The SPEAKER—" Serjeant, fee that the order
of the Houle is obeyed."
Mr. Paull, the petitioner, who had all this time
been under the gallety, or behind the Bar, imme
diately came forward, and Paid—" I have no oppor-
tunity of addreiling this Houfe as that Right Hon.
Gentleman has againfl whom I petition ; but now,
when I hear a (fen ions fo grills and fo— ( Herefbouti of,
Chair, Chair, Order, Order, were vociferated from all
quarters.)__

The SPEAKER raid, the Houle would judge for
itfelf how it would at after what had palled. He'',
wished alio to be more precifely informed as to, the
praetice of the Houle, whether, when a Petitioner had
prayed and obtained leave to be heard by Couniel,
he ought to be heard by himfelf alto?
Lord HOWICK laid, he was jult going to take
notice of the violence of the Petitioner's conduit,'
which was a great infult to the Houfe, and a goofs
outrage on its dignity, and which it would be impof
fible for the Houfe to pats over without particular
notice. He moved therefore, that Mr. Paull fhould
be called to the Bar, and informed of the improprie.
ty of his conduit.
Lord A. HAMILTON thought, as the Hon.
General had been millaken, and fuch a charge was
likely to wound the feelings of the Petitioner, that
the Houfe might in fome degree mule the trauf.
greffion.
Lord HOWICK —•' The notice taken of it was
very lenient, and lefs than that ought not to take
place."
Mr. BAKER thought the conduit of the Peti.
tioner both improper and indecent, but that it would
be better ;t fhould be communicated by the Serjeant
than from the Chair.

Lord HOWICK's motion was then put and agreed
to, and the Petitioner and CountA being again
called in—

The SPEAKER Paid—" Mr. Paull, I am direeted
by the Houle to acquaint you, that in the judgment
of the Houte ycn have been guilty of a great impro-
ptietv of condo& and have committed_ a igrofs nut
rage on its dignity and alto, that you having made
an eleCtion to be heard by Counfel are nat at liberty
to be heard by vottriclf."
The SPEAKER then informed the Counfel, that
he molt confine himfelf to the allegations contained
in the Petition.

The witnefs being again called in,
The SPEAKER acquainted the Counfel he might
proceed an his examination as to the fuppreflion of
the letter, but not as to its contents.

The fccond or third queflion as to this letter again
caufed the Conniel to withdraw—and

Mr. GRENWLLE Paid, he mutt once again very I,
reluftantly intrude himfelf on the Houfe, and renew
his former objection, that the Houfe were about to
entertain a quellinn relative to the Elation which
was only proper to be entertained by a Committee.
Mr. WARREN proceeded, in confequence of an
obfervation of the Speaker, to thew the mode in
which the Petitioner's Counfel wifhed to proceed, in
order to prove the allegations of the petition. After
forme obfervations from Members, Mr. Plomer fol-
lowed on the fame fide, fisting, that the Petition
contained the charges both of tampering with wit-
neffes, and of preventing the produflion of written
teftimony.
Erake then continued his evidence.—The fecond
letter of Mr. Sheridan to Emanuel Harris, he flated,
was delivered three or four days after the com-
mencement of the Eleftion. Mr. Sheridan had told
him, at Edward's, he acted improperly in going out
of town, as he wanted him in fo critical a time,
and promifed to get him fome place, as he had
dant for feveral years paff, and that he would not
lofe fight of him. He likewife mentioned circnm-
fiances that occurred at Mr. Homan's, 22, Frith-
Ai tet.—Objeetions were taken to fome of the inter-
rogatories, and the Counfel ordered to withdraw.—
After obfervati•ms from Mr. ADtM, the LORD Au•
v care, and Mr. BATHURST, the Counfel returned
and ;domed. The witnefs went on to (late that
Mr. Sheridan faid that the getting of the letter out
of the hands of Emanuel Hauls, was of ferious
confequence to him. Subfequcntly to the eleCtion
he confidered himfelf ill treated by Mr. Sheridan,
and was very ill ofed by his porter, when he called
at his Houfe. He wrote accordingly to Mr. She-
ridan, llating to him that his behaviour fince the
election had been negleftful and improper; and'
that if he did not fulfil his promifes he would
acquaint Mr. Paull with the cireumfiances. He
afterwards informed Mr. Paull that he could
prove bribery and corruption againff Mr. She-
r idan. When he went to Mr. Paull on the fubjeft,
Mr. Paull requelted him only to (late facts : that he
fhould efleem his information a favour. but begged
him to (late nothing that he could not verify on oath.
Being farther examined with refpeft to Mr. Paull's
wifhes for his communications on th• fubjeft, be faid
that Mr. Paull refired him to take them to his Com-
mittee. In anfwer to quellions put by feveral
Members, lefpefling any authority given him by Mr.
Sheridan to offer money 4.0 Emanuel Harris, he
slated th rt nn fpecific 1 ins was mentioned ; but being
quenioned as to any general authority, he fail tat
Mr. Sheridan had only Paid, " Get the letter by all
pollible means, as it is of great confeqnence. To which
the witnefs replied, " He Is a Jew, and perhaps he
would think a little money 'lreful to him." He, of.
fered him 3)l. which the Jew refuted. This was at
the Old White Rorie Cellar, where he met him in
company with a friend of his, who ached him to (up-
per there, by the content of the witnefs. This cum
he offered from his own authority, and from what he
thought would be agreeable to Mr. Sheridan, who,
he was confident, would gladly have refunded the furn
' to have the letter in his hands again. The offer he
made to Harris was abnut two or three days after
his firß interview with Mr. Paull, at which &ft in
terview he had no convolation with Mt. Paull about

. .
the letter. He declared he had no lt.ftrOStiJn:, nor
requeit from any perfoa to procure that letter, except
from Mr. Sheridan and his agents. In anfwer to
quenions from the Speaker. he Rated, that he had
no intention to procure this letter from Emanuel
1 Harris (which Mr. Sheridan requelled him to get)
for Mr. Sheridan's benefit, but fcr the purpofe of
getting it into his own priffefilon, as he was now
fighting againti Mr. Sheridan. He told Mr. Paull
Ihe had received a letter from Mr. Sheridan, for
Harris, to promote the felling of his fl Ts, and
that this was a recompenfe to him for getting
voters. He never told Mr. Paull, tin now, that he
had been with Harris, and made the offer. (Hete
nn farther exnnination, be correded himfeif.) He
was afked if be had ken the Petition ? He faid he
had not feen that which related to tampering, but
had didated what concerned the letter and paper at
Edwards's honk, to the Solicitor a few days back.
Being afked where he was to have found the 301.
had Oie Jew agreed to his offer, he laid, that tlonigh
he might not have it in his pocket, he could draw
for it ; that he was a wounded Lieutenant of the
Navy, and hzd feveral fmall penflons of 81. and 251.
a year, &c. befides one of rol. a year from Lloyd's
fund, which he received after the battle if Camper-
down. He fpoke of receiving pay, w;:ich occa-
fioned a reference to the Navy Litl, where his name
was not to be found, and admitting that he had not
been confirmed at the Admiralty, it appeared that
he could be only a Midthipman, and consequently
not entitled to half-pay. He afterwards, however,
explained himfeif to mean by pay, his pennons. He
Rated, in anfwer to feveral queflions, that he re•
ceived a pennon at Greenwich half yearly, but teem•
ed not perfectly to recoiled the amount of his allow
antes. Being ordered to withdraw,
Lord HOWICK commented with mach force on
the prevarications of the latter part of the tefiimony
of the witnefs Drake.

Mr. moNTAGUE wifhed to proted him from the
anger of the Houle, and pleaded as finne kiad o! cx
tenuating circumlance for him, the wounds lie hart
received, and the lots of his leg, in the ler + iC2 of hi,
country; and there evidently was a deficiency of un
derflanding about him which entitled him to peculiar
confideration. But he mull be a fool beyond all folly,
if he were capable of liming any thing about pay
which was unfounded, as the fallehood could be fo
eafily deteted.
Lord HOW ICK repeated that he did not mean to
prefs any proceeding again(' the witnefs, but begged
the Houle to recoiled that he had fpkeir of birth pay
and penfion—the former of which he could not have
received, and of the amount of the latter he was quite
ignorant.
Captain HERBERT obferved, that the witnefs in
having confounded pay and penfion could not plead a
mere miflake, for no man in the fervice could be un-
aware of the diaindion.
After a few words from Lord HOWICK. General
PAULETT, &c. the witnefs returned, and related in
his further examination, that his motive for offering
the thirty pounds arnfe from his fear lea Mr. Sheri.
Jan fhould get the letter out of Harris's hands, and
from his ailual defire to make ufe of it again(' Mr.
Sheridan. He received his firs penfion is 1797, of
181. a year. He had received no money fince the
cledion from Mr. Sheridan or Mr. Paull. He had,
in order to get the letter from Harris, (Nerved to
him, that he had voted as Henry, and not as Emanuel
Harris, and that he could bring that forward. He
had not received any commit ion, or any money or
protnife from Mr. Paull. The firs letter written by
Mr. Sheridan he admitted that he bad defiroved, and
before he had procured the fecond from Harris.—
The fira letter was written three or four days before
the election, and he denied that there was any doubt
call upon it of its being a forgery. He had not re-
ceived any divirion of prize money recently, nor had
any money been left him by relations; nor had he
Rated, that he had any command given him of either
of two {hops (the l'hifbe, and another that was
named by Mr. Sheridan) ; nor had he Paid that he
was only in want of money to enable him to gn on
board, fince he teed he at no lots for money. In
anfwer to a cluellion by Mr. Sheridan, he admitted
that he had pretended to have filch a command ;
but that his reafon £.r cluing fo was merely to
prevent him from being troubled by Mr. Sheridan.
He had never (in anfwer to Mr. Jeffry's Trellian)
applied to Gentlemen for money, Elating that he
had been ill treated in the Navy, and none dare
fay fo. He would (wear to Mr. Sheridan's hand
writing. He wrote the firs letter to Harris, and
pot down M. P. at the end of the place for Mr.
Sheridan's fignature, and then Mr. Sheridan figned
his name and returned the letter to him, and he took
it that night to Harris, who objeded to it, tirtl,
becaufe of the M. P. there being n a exiaing Par-
liament ; fecondly, becanfe there was not Treafurer
of the Navy under the fignature ; and, thirdly, be-
cattle of the badnefs of the writing. He never laid
he was determined to get tome money out of the',
Candidates. His meeting at Edwa-(l,'s was Cubic-
; quently to his 111 ufage ft orn Mr. Sher idart's let vants,
`but denied any previous quarrel with Mr. Sheridan.
—ln the entitle of a very long and tedious exam.
nation, he was frequently interrupted by diteuf-
lions on points of order, and interrogated by Mem-
bers, particularly Lord Howick, the Speaker, Mr.
I Sheridan, Mr. Whitbread, General Phipps, Lord
Mahon, Mr. Montague. Mr. Spencer Stanhope, the
Attorney General, the Lord Advocate, Su. John An.
flruther. Mr Giles, Lord Folketlyne,C,Jonel Barry,
Mr. Jeffry, Mr. Horner, Mr. Wonkier, Mr. Mathew,
I Mr. Adam, Capt. Herbert, Mr. 131 agge Bathin a, Sce.
• Weatherhead, the fecund witnefs, was then called in.
He had been to Mr. Sheridan's, where he faw Drake
and lime others (Homan, &c. &c.), a curious motley
groupe, in a large fpocious room fronting the Thames,
in the Government houfe. The letter alluded to was
written by Drake in his pretence, but he did not fee
'Mr. Sheridan adually tip it. After Mr. Sheridan
had figned it, he faw Drake put it in his pocket, but
faw no more of it. Mr. Sheridan afterwards did not
deny the fignature, though he teemed at firs to Phew
. , fuck an inclination. Upon crofs.e xamination, he ad-
-1 mitted that he had been on board Captain Trollope's
1 fhip, and that he had been difcharged by the Captain
for his own pleafure, and for no other reafon he knew
! o% Refpeding the fuppufed forgery of the letter, he
allhwed that he had Paid, i.; the pretence of a Mr.
- Bedal and -tilers, that Drake ought to thank him
!for having advifed him to defiroy the firs letter. He
t i had no other reafon, for believing the fecond lett:4'

figned by Mr. Sheridan, to have Ms fighatuii tlag
the firft. He admitted that Mr. Sheridan had faids
in his hearing, that he would not talk in any QC; pri
the Weaminiter eleEtiOn bufinefi, unlefs other perfons
were prefent but he did riot care how niagy Were
prefent when he was at Mr; Sheridan's. ne.con-
fefTed, that he might have beeri introduced by' Dra.ke.
to Mr. Sheridan, as a clergyman ; he tould not help
what Drake told Mr. Sheridan : but he could fay;
that he was no thumper, though Drake had
called him the Rev. Mr. WeatLerheal
Weathethead's interrogati.,n was continued for a
confiderable time.
The Pethinner's Cognfel next called Mr. Powell,
as a wand's, for the purptfe of Inftaining the charac-
ters cf the two preceding vitneties ; but Mr. Avast
flrongly objeeed to the addunion of evidence for
the charaftgrs of Men, whole veracity was not i:n•
peached.; otherwite than by their own teflimn4.
The -Petitionet 's Citinfel next proprifed going ints
evidence, for the purpofe of proving many of tpe
al:cdg:d in the Peiiiion a„,uainft Mr. Burzei.,
and other alledgeci agent's ri Mr. Sheridan, and
afterwards to identify them with Mr. Sheridan him-
fell as the principal.
Lord HOWICK anted, if the Learned Counfel
then had doled their cafe as ag tinfi Mr. Sheti?an
himfelf ?

Counfel anfwered, they had, except fo far as ter-
timcny might arife out of the evidence about to be
examined againf Mr. Shrridan*s agents.
Lord HOWICK objected to their going into evi-
dence again(' any other perfons until they fhould
have &it doled as again(' Mr. Sheridan, which he
hoped they would do to-night.
Mr. TIERNEY decidedly objeeed to the Counfel
going into evidence again(' Mr. Sheridan's ;.gents
with a view to fifh nut further evidence againii Mr.
Sllevidan, with re;pee to whom, individually, he
thought they flinuld now declare whether or not they
had doled their evidence.
Mi. ADAM wilhed the Houle to he extremely
cautious in the kind of evidence they received in the
prefent Rage of the bolinefs, and hoped the b.tre af-
fertions of the witneffes to be adduced, and who knew
not the le!Tal diftinelon between Solicitor and Agent,
as admiilible evidence to prove that Mr. Burgef, or
Mr. Wallace, though employed as Mr. Sheridan's
Solicitor, were alfo his agents, or aced under his au-
thority, fa as to involve him•in relponfibility for any
thing done by them without his exprefs clireeion and
authority.

Mr.SHE R IDA Ndifclaimed allfu:h refponfibility,
as he had not authorVed any man to aft for him on the
late election.

Lord HOWICK repeated his quellion, whether
Conniel had doled as to Mr. Sheridan ?

Mr. PLost ex Paid he had, except In far as he could
fubitantiate proofs againg his known and avowed
agents, in the perfons of Mr. Burgers, Mr. Wallace;
and a Mr. Galland.

John Richard; Wl5 then called—he flated that he
had been employed in the election by Mr. Downes,
and that he had received money from Burgefs by re=
commendation of Downes, for his Cervices and ez.
pences. On being crofs-examined by Mr. Sheridan,
he raid he had never feen Mr. Sheridan with Mr,
Burgcfs. He had not written a threatening letter
to Mr. Downes, but he was obliged to acknowledge
that he had farce the elation written a letter to Mr.
Thomas Sheridan, complaining that he had not been
tufficiently remunerated, and threatening to go to
Paull's fide, and to d.. every thing in his power
against Mr. Sheridan, rollers hi; demands were com-
plied with. Being examined by the Petitioning Coma-
fel, Elated, that he had been prefent at cnnverfations,
in which Wallace had Rated, that the Warrants of
the Speaker would be out when the confederation of
this Petition was pollponed, and thofe who cbofe
might go out of the way, and would recvive money
to that purple.
Jeremiah Jam: likewife (poke to different meetings
at the Peacock. and afterwards at the Barley Mow,
Drury lane, where Pullen, Richards, and Sperring
had met Wallace, who, lie laid, had treated them
with a dinner at the Barley Mow, and allowed them
money for their lots of time in Meeting him on the
days mentioned. Wallace had told them that the
sswrants would be out in confequence of the Petition
being pr:ftpnned, and that thole who went out of the
way would get rncney to dot). Wallace had afked
him what lie meant to do ; but he would not tell
him.—Wallace laid, every one in danger might go
away.—Witnefs being t•ficed :that he meant by that?
He frid that he imagined the danger referred to was
of th-.;fe who had voted being bad votes.—The firft
converfations in which Wallace had ufed expreffions
to the above effeet were aboot the roth January.
Daniel Rickard; fpoke to the fame circumftances, of
Wallace talking about thofe who were in danger
going nut of the way. Witnefs Paid, however, that
he himfeif had no nccafinn to go out of the way.—
The witnefs was preffed to explain what he meant by
that danger; or why it Outdid have been pr °pored that
any in :ull go out of the way. He gave no precife
artfwer. At fan he dropped down, overcome with
fatigue or 'agitation, and was carried out.
Krt. Ici:hardr, or Richarcycn, the wile of the pt*.
ceding witnefs, fpoke to the conveifations of Wal-
lace at. the Peacock and the Barley Mow. She added
that he Paid money to the extent of fix or Leven gui-
neas woold he given to thole who would go out of
the way. Wallace had given 53. a day to her hat-
band James, &c. for the lots of their time the days
they met him ; bt:t at laft he declined making them
any more allowances, as he laid he had loft 71. in the
Lottery. She denied that fhe had feen any agent or
attorney of Mr. Paull.

j. Bell faid he had feen Wallace on the Bth of Ja-
nuary, who, he faid, had requefled him to (peak to
Sperling to keep out of the way, and that Mr. She-
ridan would find the money. Fie had been at the
houfe of Burgefs with Wallace, Pullen, and Sperring;
that Burgefs gave him sl. for his lots of time. Sper-
ring had told him that he (Sparing) had voted for
Paoli and Hood, on the firft day in his own name,
and on a fubfequent day had voted for Mr. Sheridan
in the name of Bryan, giving a different defcription
of his abode. Sperring faid he had received sof. from
Stephen Taylor, in the pretence of Burgefs. Wallace
faid he was employed by Burgefs. When prelled to
date %eh': he was to keep away, ot make others do fo,
be could state no particular reafon. He faid he bad
given information to Mr. Paull's agent of whit he
had mentioned. He had teen Mr.,Powell frequently,
had told him what bad paired when be law J3jargefs.

}

and Mr. Powell had taken down what he bad to I
fay.
Cbeift2ther Riebartlfin knows Bell. He had gone
14) rte Flurgers, and tact Wallace coming out of
Burgefs's houfe in Curzon-firect. He went with one
dallant and Wallace to a houfe in Half Moon [freer, '
when Wallace told him that when the Petition was
pollponed their cervices would be of no force, and
thole who chofe might go out of the way. The
wittier' had no reafon to keep cut of the way. He
Paid he had communicated to Mr. Powell what he
did in trying to fee Burofc, and in meeting Wallace.
He had attended Powell feveral times, and had re-
ceived ten fhillings for two days lofs of time in en-
deavouring to fee Burgefe. It was in January this
happened. He had feen Powell during the eledion.
It was one John Balaam that took Lim to look f
Burgefs; .and the object was to lee whether Burgefs
would offer them any money to keep out of the
way. They did not fee Burgefs. He had loco Mr.
Powell a day or two after, and Powell had given him
ten (billings for his lofs of time the two days he went'
with Balaam to Curzon-flreet. He had gone from
Ca rey-fireet, where Mr. l'aull's Committee fat. Mr.
Powell, he Paid, had not advifed him to go to Burgers,
but he did not know whether Mr. Powell did not
underfland that Balaam took him to look for Burgefs
rot the purpofe of trying whether he would give them
money. He had teen ore Percy at the Committee
in Carey-ffreet, who knew he had been at Burgers's,
and who after he had gone the firtt day, encouraged
him to go back to fee what Burgers would fay. Being
afkcd whether it was his object to get money from
Burgers ? he raid, " No ;" but a former anfwer being
read to him, in which he Paid the contrary, he ad-
mitted the objed was money. He had gone not to
ark, but to fee if Burgefs would offer any money.
He raid he had loft a day in going to fee if Burgefs
and Wallace would not pay him. Being examined
by Mr. Sheridan, he denied that he had lately been
locked up with a parcel of pickpockets, in the black
hole, C. Char ; but he had nut vet)? lately
been at Matlborough-[greet office.
Balaam mentioned his having gone to Burgers
with Richardfon, to fee what Burgefs would fay ;
they went to try if Burgefs would offer them terms
to go out of town. They had advifed with Mr.
Panll's Solicitor, Mr. Powell, about going to fee
Burgers. Powell only Paid, they might go to fee
what Burgas would fay. After having gone to Cur-
zon-tlreet, in quell of Burgefs, he went back and told
Powell. He does not remember whom he law at
Carey-fireet, betides. He told Mr. Powell when he
returned from Curzon (freer. Powell had told him
not to intuit Burgefs, but only fee what he would lay.
He elf„ Rated, that on the zoth January he had feen
Wallace with Sperring and others, at the Ship,
Charles-fl eet, Weliminffer.
There not being any more witneffes to be examin-
ed, the Learned Counfel were informed that on
Thurfday next they might proceed with their font
ming up, being mindful, however, that as they had
been diretled to do in their opening, they fhould con-
fine themfelves to Inch matters only as went to fop.
port the allegations in the petition.

141r.WHITBREAD obferved, that in a cafe where
a with was expreffed to punifh others for impeding
or preven, ing the regular mule of jullice by tamper-
ing with Witnetres, he had never heard of a fet of
Waneffes who more jultly merited the cenfure of the
tribunal before which they gave their tefiimony than
thole who had then been examined at the Bar of the
Houk, particularly the Witnefs Richardfon.
Sir JOHN ANSTRUTHER thought that Mr.W.
vros ton limited in his idea of cent-tire ;he (Sir J.)
was of opinion that Balaam was the principal man ;
it was he that employed Richardfon; and it was ne-
eelfary for the end of jultice that fame means thould
he taken to fccure the witneffes, as is anal in a Court
of Criminal Judicature, to anfwer for their fcanda-
lous prevarication.
Mr. PERCEVAL reminded the Hnn. Members,
that there were two modes of proceeding open to
the Houfe ; if the Houfe thought fit to punifh indi-
vidual witneffes, they would have to proceed imme-
diately ; if they (horrid think it conlittent with the
ends of public jultice to adept another mode, that
of charging all the parties, both Witnelfes and Peti-
tioner, with a confpiracy, fame further time would
then be need-dry, in cutler to prepare for fuch a flep.
After a converfation of fome length, however, it
was ordered only that the Witneires fitould appear
again at the Bar of the Houfe on 'l'hurfday.
Mr SHERIDAN intimated that, if he (tmid
think it neceffary to go into any evidence on his cafe,
it would amount to a recrimination againit thole who
brought the pretent charge before the Houfe.
Adjourned at half pall five o'chek.

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

TUESDAY, MARCH 3.
?RICE or STOCKS THIS DAY A r ONE O'CLOCK :
*awl>, for moticy,624l—for April 6-..1 63—Orunium pre.
k.sch.quur 13i1116, par 24. dif.

PRICE OF STOCKS YESTERDAY.
I,- ok Stork 2241 276 k I India Stock trG
p. Ct. Rt.! Ann. Phut I Imp. 3 per C. ()a ,rf 62'
3 ptr C. Cunr. 6i ii Facli• Bills, par 3s. di:.
4 per Cent. Boiii Englifh Tickets. 191 ins.
• per Cent. Navy, suil 'Coda; fur ace. 631 it

This day the different bidders for the loan, waited
on Lord GRENVILLE and Lord HENRY PETTY. It
had been previoufly fettled that the Contra tors
take for every tool.
£7O Three per Cent. Confute.
70 Reduced j per Cents.
And make their offers for the remainder in Navy
Un examining the uffets made, they wete
found to be as follows:
Maim. BARNES and CO. £lO 13 0
••••••••• GOLD‘MID II 3 0
••"-* BARING and Co. - It. 8 a
Rob ARTS anti Co. t 1 17 6

Of coolie Mr. BAILNES'S lift has-the furnithing of
t',l Loan, which is reck•med a very advantageousone
fur the Public.

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