Star.
London, England, 1828-03-08 00:00:00

EASE RETFOND DISFRANCHISLKENT BILL.

The House then resolved itself into a Committee of the whir
House on this Bill. Mr. Gosport in the Chair.

Mr. S. Cromwell Brown was then called ;mid examined by Nit.
Tatiasom.—The Hon. Member desired the winless to mark upon a
list, which he Minded to him, the forty persons whom be said had
rtfused to receive bribes at the East Retford Election.
The witness was ordered to withdraw on,
Mr. WYNN rising to exprecs, that he thought it unfair to put it to
a witneas, who did or did not receive bribes.
Mr. Tasisom—The witness only the ocher evening said there
were forty persons who refused to receive 40 guiticAi a.; a bribe.

. .
A desultory conversation on the propriety of urging the point of
the Hun. Member ( Mr. "fitirsou) followed, in which Nit-. D.
W. HAREM', Mr. STENNIS', Sir J. WROTTESIES, Mr. FERGUSON,
Mr. BATTLES', Mr, Alderman WAITHIIRN, Mr. St Gls, and Mr.
Ca URA IT, St Vera Ily took part.
Mr. T►NtsoN then observed, he thought he could show that the
forty persons whom the witness said would not take bribes, were
the most TAinted.

Mr. 1-loaaca Two's said., that positive evidence and not opinions
ought to lie received.
Mr. CIIARLLS BARCLAY—The question will lead to no
end whatever.

After some further conversation the witness was again called in,
and asked whether lie had marked the lista given to hint tor that
purpo.e?—lie had. In 1818 he believed there were only twenty-
two vorers who had received money, and in 1 Bin, twenty three. Sir
11. Wilson, for whom he had been agent, would not give money
for votes.

By Mr. Terasort—lle did not state to the voters that Sir H.
Wilson would not give money.
By Mr. FEROUSOM—Wished to confine himself to Sir Henry
Wilson's words—that he would do that which was right 31111 just.
By Mr. BAITLEY— lielievrd that fury five voters voted for Sir
11, Wilson, because he was an opponent to the Catholic claims.
Ey Mr. FERCII,OII—Some of the voters might suppose that, from
the words " just and right," they would be p aid.
By Mr. STUART—Seventy voters had not taken bribes. He did
not know whether it was customary fur unsuccessful candidates to
pay money.
By Mr. O. W. Ilagvev.—Sir 11. Wilson was popular candidate,
but oat of 104 burgesses he only polled 29.
By Mr. Tensor.—ln the list of 1826 there were seventy-six
names who had refused bribes. Ile had mentioned the number as!
26, but since the time he spoke of Si new burgesses had been made.
Thos. Hastnam called and examined by Mr. Dermaw.—Witness
lived at East Retford in 1812, and had resided there since. He
had heard no complaints about not receiving money with which
he was intrusted, except in one instance. The complainant
had supposed hint to have received money. No money had ever
been paid over to him for the purpose of being distributed amongst
the electors; but he had seen money paid to headbetter and others.
Money had been intrusted to him to pay house bills, but tone for
the purpose of being distributed amongst the electors. No candidate
had applied to witness to act as agent since 1812. He had not been
charged with having applied money intrusted to him to his own use.
Examined by Mr. 1). W. HARVEY—He was engaged in 1812
for Mr. Osbaldistone. Previously to that election some sumvwere
distributed to voters, just to keep them tight in the interest, and
in anticipation; and he was engaged to point nut who were the
voters, so that no mistake might be made. He was clerk to the
Magistrates; he had been such for twelve or fourteen years. Ile
had petitioned en the subject of the Bill ; he wished the franchise
to be extended ; henhelieved there was not a man in the town who
did not wish it—(Haar, hear).—lle was not in the secrets of the
electors yet lout ye heard of their complaints of not having re-
ceived the usual compliments. He had not attended voluntarily
to give information ; he certainly should not have attended had not
the House summoned him---(A laugh).— He having been asked
whether he received fees and penalties tor the Magistrates,

Alderman WAITHMAN complained of the course
of examination pursued. It being found impossible to
shake the direct testimony c f this witress, who desired
to see an end put to the corruption; then the incidents
of his life, and even tumours, were to be inquired into.

Witness recalled—lf the franchise were extended to the Hun-
dred, containing 47 parishes, there would be about 1,200 free.
holders. The Doke of Newcastle had a large interest, such as
would give him a paramount sw..y. There were other large landed
proplietors in the district. .
By Mr. o*w:roper—When a person in Retford says that he
will do what is " just and right,' it means that he will give the
person to whom let addresses himself forty guineas—(Laughter).
The witness then withdrew.

Mi. D. W. HARVEY said, that if they examined
the poor per sons, who had been tempted to break the
law, before the bar of .hat House, tit, y ought also in
juqice to place even one of their own Members there,
when it was found he was implicAted in thet-e transac
tions. The wi.rld would then see that the House was not
backward in bt tho•e to account w ho fur ni,hed the
means of tempting WI est Indigence—(Hear !) Any feel-
ing of delicacy he might have had upon this had been
much sof teled down by the course that had been pursued
by the Hon. Member he alluded to, whose name had
been ntentii•ned in the evidence they bad heard.
Silel,ce, pet haps, would better have become that Hon.
Member; but since he had taken the course he had, he felt
no hesitation in moving, that the former Member for
Rei ford be brought before the Bar of the House—(Some
confuron, and cries of order.)
The CH AIR M AN said,th at it must depend upon the
inclination of the Hon. Member, whe.her he answered
any questions put to him or no. Cases where Members
of the House were examined were not very common ;
but he remembered Peers, on being examined by the
Home, had refused to answer questit ns put to them,
and were held justifiable in so doing. No doubt tut a
Member of that House might also refuse to answer any
que.tons put to him.
Mr. W. WYNN said, it was in the power of the Corn
mittee to demand answers to such questions as might
be put to a 'Member.
Mr. HARVEY wai-willing to have every transaction
of his life fully inqofired into—(Order, order). He early
'gave notice that the evidence of Mr. Evans and Mr.
Crompton might be rece.sary.

William Leadbetter was called in and examined—Witness'
meant to abide by the evidence which he gave the other night,
namely, that he did ma receive money in the presence of Mr. Han-
nan—Mainsail's evidence was then read by Mr. Gurney).—What'
Hannan declared on that point, I positively deny.—(Newton's eei•
dente was then read by Mr. Burney.)—Witness denied Newton's
statement.—The witness Hannan was then confronted with Lead-
letter.—Hannan stated that that was the man who received the
money.
A )ong con Lion took place as to the difference between the
testimony of the two witticsses,which ended in Mr.tlartarr's moving
that Leadbetter be committed to Newgate.
The CH A t It hl A Si having put the question—Thailt is the old.
nion of the Committee that W. Leadbetter had been guilty of gross
and wilful falsehood,
The Hon. Mr. W YNN said, he thought the witnesi had been
guilty of falsehood, and should be.committed to.prisom
Mr. PEEL said, he had not as yet givsn. an opinion,
and he regretted being driven to the peciptlity or doing
s lie did not cOn,ider the olitneg a contempt or
Cout E. The question wag, whether the individual had
bie.i guilty ut falsehood? andsin deciding that question,'
it should be recollected that the patties who gave testi•
mony against him might possibly have misrepresented
or mistaken die Wets; and-when it WAS considered that
the witness mighi, by possibility, be right, he should be
sow in imps him. Nut that hem 'ant in say ilia
he had not a moral conviction that the %fe II ness had beet

~•
guilty of falsehood, but the question the noun had to
decide w as, whether his guilt had been strictly, he wool,'
say legally, proved? He would suggest to the Roo e
the propri. ty of calling the witness again, and giving
him an opportunity of explaining his conduct.
After some desultory ConVeriation. the witness wag called in and
cautioned by the Chairman to be careful how he gave his testimony.
—Upon his examination he said he heard of election money, bat
he does not know what it meant—nor did he ever make any
inquiry as to what it meant. He gave bis vote' because he vas
canvassed for JP—even now he could not form an opinion of who
election money meant. The witness underwent a long rsaminatioli
by several Members, but he could not recollect any thing eonnecue
with the E.st Before! election. The Committee divided—a.

-
For the Commitment a• 106
Against it . . 15
Majority . . —9l
The Douse resumed, and the Chairman having reported preg-en,
the resolu•ion that W. LeasMetter had been guilty of Nisch es),
having been agreed to, it was then ordered that he be conunitt.rd to
The House again resolved into a Committee ; and after some time
-pent in discussing the propriety or right of the House to examine
Mr. Crompton, one of its net' :Members,
Mr. Dismay, as Counsel Inc the Corporation of East Retfor,i,
addressed the Cunimittee. After which the House resumed, and
the Committee obtained leave to sit again on Nlooday.
The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and tit!
Douse adjourned at Ougo'CLocc.

THE EVENING STAR.

I4ON I/ON.

SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 18U8.

STOCK 13 \CHANGE, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

In consequence of the unfavourable accounts from Vienna, asi
the warlike preparations at constantinnple, the Conn•% markit
which left off yesterday at list j for the Account, receded tkit
morning to 85/, and at present may be quoted at 831 j, with lick
doing at present.

The Foreign market remains inactive, owing to the non-arriv4
of any intelligence from Fouell America.
CITY. HALF-PAST ONE O'CLOCK.
The Consol market remains at 83f /, with nothing in tit
market worth observa•ion.

PRICF: OF srucKs AT FOUR O'CLOCK.
Bank Stock Shut India Stock
5 per Cent. lied. Shut Ditto Bonds 9n
5 per Cr. Cons. 844 831 i South Sea Stock
.li per Cent. Shut Old Annuities
:Si per Cent. Red. Sbut £lOOO Rscheq. Hills 59 60
4 per Ct. New 1002 4 4 4100 Ditto 59 60
4 per Cent. Scrip' £lOO and £2OO Ditto 59 60
4 per Cent. 1826, Shut India for Acct.
Long Ann. Shut. Consols for Acct. 844 834 }

FORETON FUNDS, TWO O'CLOCK.
l'razilian Bds. 5p Ct. 633 Do Aect. 253
Do Actt. 633 Mex. 13d5,1825, 6 p Ct
.01 biLn Pond., 6 per Ct. Do. Ace. 343 333 43
Do. 80nd5,1824, I Russ. Bds. 1822, 5 per Ct. 89i
Do Acct 25 Do Acct. 893
Greek Bonds, 5 p Ct. Spanish Bds 5p Ct 103
D0.8d5.1825, 5p Ct. 163 Fr. Rentes, 3 p C. 693
Hex Bds. 5 p Ct. Exchange, 251 20c
BRITISH AND FOREIGN SHARKS, TWO O'CLOCK.

ADAM PAID.
100 22& 19 18
40 35 14 131 141