Star.
London, England, 1827-05-09 00:00:00

PitiRTN ILICTION.

Mr. LEIGH KECK said, that in bringing under the
consideration of the House the subject of the late Penryn
Election, it was his earaest desire to do justice between
the parties concerned and the public. This was not
the first time the conduct of this Borough had been
made the subject of inquiry. In 1819, the House re-
Icognised a motion, declaring that bribery and corrup-
tion were not new in Penryn, and leave was given to
bring in a Bill for punishing such practices. In 1824,
there was another election. No bribery then took place,
at least none was proved. In 1826, great anxiety was
manifested to prevent such practices from taking place
there as had drawn down punishment on other Bo-
roughs. It would appear, however, that with recent
examples before their eyes, the voters of Penryn were
not able to resist those practices to which they had been
long accustomed. In coming to this conclusion he con-
ceived himself to be fully borne out by the evidence.
The last election commenced on the 12th June, and in
the preceding week a rumour prevailed that the old
practice of making the voters comfortable as it was
,called—(a laugh)--was not to be had recourse
The consequence was, that on Saturday the Town
Crier was employed to call a meeting for the purpose

of remonstrating against the Impropriety of not
dnlging the electors as usual with drink. The nu
of voters was about four hundred. On the Mond,
no more than 90 voters came up, and 19 on the T,
day. On Wednesday and Thursday, however,
attendance was more numerous. When the House hee
the evidence it would be impossible for them not to
' ceive that some interference was necessary on their ,
Here the Hon. Member referred to various parts of
evidence, which seemed clearly to prove that bribery,
corruption took place at the late election. Such be
the state of the case, he should suggest what appeani
to him to be the mildest, and at the same time the mostappropriate remedy. Hi, proposition was, that
elective franchise should be extended, as in theiestanr,
of other Boroughs, to the adjoining Hundreds.
asiittu on ate
the freeholders having acth, and to the adjoining Hun-
proposed to extend it in this case to the Hundred ,
awehedic,haPndentro coynwnfe sr
. possession of the land. In Penryn, at present, the actual
cumber of freeholders was, be underr ood, about eighty.
five. By his plan about 1500 more freeholders would
be added to this number. It was clear that such
extension of the franchise must prevent the practice,
which had hitherto existed. In these two Hundreds
there were, besides Penryn itself, two other Horouy'
bat very few of the freeholders in those two boren
would, under the measure he should propose, have
right of voting. It might be thought by some that
would be better to transfer the franchise to some more
,populous place. This was not his opinion, and perhaps
these were populous places that would not be disposed
to accept of the boon thus offered. When it was pro.
posed to transfer the franchise of Grampound to Leeds,
the inhabitants of the latter place were of opinion
It would not be much to their advantage. Manchester
was not of the same disposition, as he understood ;
which was right he should not take upon himself to.
In Manchester, however, there was a great difference
of opinion as to the amount of the rate to which
right ought to be attached. He felt, however, mote
disposed to adopt the course sanctioned by experieece,
than that of transfer to another district. It the House
should concur with him in this suggestion, he would
then propose resolutions, as the basis of a 13:11•
another resolution, the object of which would
prosecution of the offenders—(Hear, hear). This count
he conscientiously believed, was the most eligib'e.T
H sn. Member concluded by proposing tl.e lollowivg
Resolutions :

" Resolved—That it is notations that bribery and corn*,
took place at the last election for the Borough of Penryn; taunts
practices are not new in the said Borough, boyar be:ore
brought under the consideration of the Hethe in ISO; and
that the state of the Borough requires the most seri .us col
'ion of Parliament ; that leave be given to bring in a Hill for
the elective franchise ; and that the Attorney General b
to prosecute John Sunbury, and the other voters who .
of bribery at the last election."
Sir W. BURRELL seconded tr.e motion. They
of bribery and corruption appeared to be c:earlv
out, and it was not new in this borough. So
were the voters to the practice, that, though
the danger, they still persevered. In 1819, it sea
that the first question put to one of the candida.
whether he would be willing to give the breach
Now, the meaning of this was, that every
attended the breakfast was to have 221. puck.
hand. One of the very men now ordered to be ,
toted, named Sewell, was proved to have asked
Swan whether he would give the breakfast.
highly to the honour of the late Member for
(Mr. Grenfell). that he refused to offer hirnse.f _
didate for the place, knowing the practices that prevailed.
Here the Hon. Member read a copy of the letter of NI
Grenfell to his former constituents, declining to r
for the borough of Penryn. This practice of t: e
fast still prevailed. Ho thought that what had
proposed by his Hon. Friend was liable to no
in as much as it threw open the previlege of a he
tion to 1500 persons. He preferred estendin
franchise to the surrounding hundreds instead or
coenty. The inconvenience of the latter cour
been fully exemplified in the case of Yorkshire,
a gentleman possessing a fortune of 20,0001. a yr
been deterred from going to the pill by the
which it would bring upon him. And it
been declared in that House that the Election cost
other candidates above 100,0001. The cori•equeoce
this was that none but men of large property cool.
chosen to represent the county, without reference I
tellect or capacity. He did not mean any choir
sonal to the present Members—(A laugh). But
county was liable to be placed in that situation.
these reasons be thought so wide an extension(
right was not advisable, and that it would be
limited to the hundreds.
Mr. C. BARCLAY defended the conduct
electors of Penryn. He assured the House he h.
bestowed a shilling upon any one elector, and th.
ther be nor his Colleague influenced, by bribe nor
of reward, a single elector at the election. h
that there existed no proof of bribery beyond
of 2701. which was too small a sum to justify the
recommended by the Hon. Gentleman's motion.
The Borough of Penryn was particularly unfo•
It bad fallen under the notice of the House s
times, and the impression was not likely soon
effaced. The House should recollect, that the
in this Borough were composed of the bfrgistrairs
and respectable tradesmen, to whom it would be
did
an insult to offer a bribe. Nay, so peculfarlY
they feel, that one of his withholdM r. Barclay's) voters was offered
a considerable sum to his vote from bin), but
the honest fellow's reply was,
." No; you may lay niece
a block and cut my head ff, before I'll change al
Vote.”—(Laughter). It was a delicate subject to talk
about ; but, whilst on the subject, be felt that a
in Parliament was necessary; for out of upMembers, he was told, only about 160
ward' 4'
were returned bY
the voice of the people. He should view with greatjele
lousy any proposition to lessen the latter number.
Lord MILTON thought a consideraqe case hadbede
made out by the Honourable Gentleman in answer r!
the charges against the Borough; but there W 26
sufficient matter in them to require further investiga•
tion, and that could be had in the Committee oil the
Honourable Member's Bill. It had always appeared
to him that one of the most admirable principles in the
Constitution of that House was the varietv of classeeld
which the elective franchise belonged, and by which 111
the different interests of the country became represented
in Parliament. In his opinion, it was extremely de`
eirable to preserve that balance, and not in any Re'
ms which should be made to take the right of der
don from one class of men and transfer it to another.
If they took that right from a body of persons in Pour'
who were engaged in trade or manufactures, and gel
it to the freeholders of the neighbouring hundreds, they
should be effecting a great change in the constitution er
the House. He bad formerly made the same °kiwis

n, riserhe fotnnuo Int
per,'eri Monday i
le, the t
thheatTthoes.e
V
1
b
it
°never, the t Is
House hard , SI
ti
on their pees, All
parts of the a
t briberyand I ti
Such being I
sat appeared Ai
w
Inc the most P
o
the instances V
odreds. Hs a.
Hundred •14 °I
.
Dining Hun. an
awing actual T
t, the aetnat 0
bout eighty. h
Aden would d
hat such an d
he practice, Pe
o Hundreds
r Boroughs. In
rro borough: Al
'se. have the Al
some that k
s some more -1Z
and perhaps AM
be disposed to
it was pro. we
fld to Leech, • ear
opinion that lat
Manchester
.1)
erstood ; and
.we
imself to say. AI
eat difference 4S
to which the
saever, mote -41
'I ciperience, I
It the House • 1
on, he would 1
' a Bill; and ea
al
would be the A
). This course '.-1
; eligible. The s
the following 0
• X
y and cart*.
'enryn ; timed 4
rag be:ore km
1607, and 1111;
r n..u* COady!" •
SW
a NU for alas*
coral be era* . 11
who were pity tie
ion. Thease .tin
s clearly ode it
So attacted
agh Warned if ,
, it was proved
andidates was
: breakfast?— 11.
y person** •...lri
pectin:a hs ' CC
d to be pros.. •
me asked Nr.
blast. It an
Cr for Parra ea
him se.t a Co-
that prevailed. '
le letter of Mr.
lining to nal
e of the bleat. - •
chat had bar
.
o no Lbjecnn, s
of a free Eke del
extending de Ira
amid of to We wi
er course hi - i
wksbire, abet eV
VI. a yearhad
by the expeue orb
I it had since I
mion cost de I
tory,equence of bles
perty could le Da
.eference to is.
ss,
ny thrall pa.
PRI)). But the
kuation. T.r du
ctension of the at
•uld be better Ae
induct of It
iitin
ise he had cot p
se,
, and that rei• 54
bribe nor hope se I
He contended 4 p
4 nd the among p
le,
stify the says Las
I's motion—
/ Unfirtutige. CM
House snag lh
ly soon to he I ,
lie
oat the voters Ds
e Magistrate, RI
it would be • A
ecaliarly did
!TS was offered Po
iron him. but Po
Day lay ale ell i
ll change ay
abject to talk ins
that a Reform we
Awards pirards a 6C°
re returned bY tbe
with greatja. Pm
number. ret
case had ben all
in answer co TI
here was Still
fir
her investigs.
mittee oil the san,
'aye appeared a
inciples en tilt
im:ll°D!naVrt lirzotentes'i bi
intogslteiYdsfel leoni
t rni
classesnPaoitwaetrnabPuojehe s enjdnfit:i icii
113:
onßad et
e dee
r all
t:
gave
; Ih lb
tree,
ht
hicl

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1827.
STOCK EXCHANGE, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

In consequence of unfavourable news from Portugal, received
Ws moruing, the Consol market has net so geed an appearance as
was expected. Consols opened at 82 1 for the Account, after
which they were done at st}, with little doing at present.
Guatemala Papers have arrived to the Bth of February, which
represent the revenue of that &ate in a most deplorable condition,
owing to which, a forced loan has been decreed: the Treasury is
without a dollar.

In the Foreign market little is doing.
Current prices: OW Spanish 121 j. Mexican 621 69, Colom-
bian 531 4, Portuguese 77, Brazilian 01 62, Rauslan 901 1,
Banish 61 4, Greek 161 1.
CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.

The unfavourable information front Lisbon has not lead the ex-
pected effect on the Consol market, which has not fluctuated sore
than per Cent. up to the present time. They left off yesterday
at 83 tellers, anti have been done this morning at 62j for the
Account, at which price they now remain, with an agitated market.
PRICE OF STOCKS A 7 FOUR O'CLOCK.
Sulk Stock India Stock 245 244
per Cent. Red. 82j 81} 82 Ditto Bonds
3 per Cent. Cons. 82* j I Old Annuities
%per Cent. oak New Ditto
siper Cent. Red. sBf j it £lOOO Exchequer Bills 47 48
4 per Cent. New 98j !, 99j £5OO Ditto 47 45
4 per Cent. Scrip .100 and £2OO Ditto 47 49
per Cent. 1826, 98 97j Bank for Account
long Ann. 19 181 Consols for Acct. 89; 83 821

►ORBION FUNDS. TWO O'CLOCK.
entomblan foods, 6 p Ct. Portuguese Eds. S p C. 77g
Rims 8d5,1624, Do. Acct.
o. Acct. S 3 6 6 Russ. lids, 1842,5 pC. 901 6
liet. Bd.. 1625,6 p Ct. 6111 Span. Ws S p Ct.
Do. Acct. 661 j 1 6 Do. Ace. 161
Peruvian Bonds 6 p C. 504 Do.Boeds,lBa,Sp C. 6
BRITISH AND FOREIGN SHARES, TWO O'CLOCK

MAIL tam
Brazilian 100 20 214 24
?neon La Pas & Perim. Asso. IS S 11 15$ 11 14a

We received this morning Lisbon Papers to the 3d
inst. Thek contents are far more important thin we
were prepared to expect, as they announce a revolt in
the important fortress of Elvas, great agitation in the
public mind at Lisbon, preparations for the immediate
return of the British army to that capital, and, above
all, the alarming indisposition of the INFANTA REGiNT.
The revolt at Elvas is the more to be lamented, as it
Etst broke out in a regiment, which had till that mo-
ment conducted itself even in an exemplary manner,and
Ld been selected for its fidelity to the existing Govern-
sent, to form part of the garrison of that important
place, The mutiny too seems to have taken the Gover•
lorilrolly by surprise, not% ithstanding the many proofs
be had all along given of his vigilance in the discharge of
his duties. The plea of the mutineers (the Bth Regiment
of Infantry) was arrears of pay; and, upon this plea,
they marched from their quarters in a body, and with
their arms, to the principal square on the 29tb, at eleven
o'clock in the morning, where by their seditious cries
they soon proved that, whatever may have been their

original pretext, their intEmions wore now of the most

criminal character." Don Miguel fur ever r Dawn
with the Constitution !" were the significant cries that

mounded from their ranks, after their Officers had

made every effort in •ain to bring them back to a sense
of their duty. They were soon after joined by the rab-
ble of the place, who encouraged them by their cries
and gestures, to persevere in their offence. In the
meantime, Brigadier General BCNTO ns FRANCA, one
of the superior Officers of the garrison, who had placed
himself at the head of the Sd Regiment of cavalry, was
preparing to disperse them, but seeing that they
were joined by patties from other regiments, particularly
the 3d regiment of artillery, he was obliged to forego his
design, and seek a reinforcement in his turn. He then
marched through the city, accompanied by most of the

officers of the revolted regiments, and forced one of the
gates of the city, exclaiming all the time " Don PtDRO
for ewer." The troops, who were stationed without the
walls, carried away by his enthusiastic example, ranged

themselves under his command, and defied the rebels to
come out and fight them. This challenge, however,
was not accepted ; and the mutineers remained the whole
of that day masters of the fortress. But their triumph
was a short one, as they were attacked early the next

morning by the Governor, the brave Genetat CAULA,
and alter an obstinate resistance, during which they

kept up a heavy fire of musquetry and artillery, were

wholly overpowered. Most of the foregoing particu

tars are derived from an un•ofcial source, the
official account, which is dated the 30th, being ex-
tremely brief, merely mentioning the revolt and its
suppression in as concise terms as possible. As is usual
in such cases, greater importance is attached to the
occurrence than it seems to merit ; and, as a matter of
course, it is insinuated that Spanish intrigue was at the
bottom of the plot. To this insinuation we can only
reply, that the contrivance, if really of Spanish origin,
was a very clumsy one, as the agents of his Catholic
MAJESTY, instead of having part of the garrison or
Badajos ready to take advantage of the mutiny, and
thus obtain possession of the fortress, did not make the
slightest stir on the occasion. It is therefore probable
that the mutiny was not a preconcerted act, but a mere
ebullition of sudden discontent, arising in the cause above
stated, though afterwards inflamed by the agents of the
Apostolical party, who are, no doubt, to be met with in
every town and city of the kingdom.
That the capital should have been thrown into agita-
tion by the foregoing intelligence, is not to be wondered
at, particularly as the most alarming reports had pre.
Tailed for some days previously respecting the health of
the INFANTA REGENT. Her illness, which was at first
a bilious fever, accompanied by hysterical affections,
did not create any serious uneasiness till the 11th day,
when the Princess became considerably worse, and bad
two fits in the course of the day. However,'the pro-
gress of the disease was arrested by some remedies
which had been applied by her Physicians. On the.
following day (the 27th) an improvement was percepti-
ble, and there was no recurrence of the fits. We
regret, however, so say, that these favourable signs
were not of long continuance, for on the 28th the fever
got again the upper hand, and the fits returned. On
the 29th the symptoms were less alarming, and on the
following day, the paroxysms did not return, though
great debility was perceptible. The last Bulletin which
was published, merely states that 4, her Serene Highness
was in her usual state;' and its undefined and vague
character, we confess, inspires us with more anxiety
than hope. It was even reported, at the departure of
the Mail, that this excellent Princess had actually ex-
pired, though we hope, for our own parts, that the
report is not true, as her death, particularly at this
time, would be a great, though net an irreparable loss.
We see, that the paper, called 0 Portuguez,l prefers
very grave charges against the Ministry; whilst it an-
nounces in the most triumphant manner, that General
SALDANHA, who before refused, under the plea of ill-
ness, to charge himself with the Portfesiille of the war
department, has emerged at last from his state of irre-
solution and inactivity, and taken his place in the cabinet.
This step is considered as more than sufficient to coun-
terbalance any bad effects that may arise from the
lukewarmr.ess or indecision of the other Ministers.—
" All alarms," says, 0 PoPtugues, " are dispelled by
this happy event. Let us hope—let all the Portuguese
hope—that his Excellency will assume, in the POrtu-
guese Administration, the same noble and resolute atti-
tude that the illustrious Canning has just assumed in
that of Lond..n, and that he will thus save the Crown
and the nation.from the dangers with which both are
menaced."

lOSTRACT OP A PRIVATZ LITTEII PROM LISBON, MAY 2.
•' The greatest excitement has prevailed here these
last 24 hours, in consequence of the news from Elvas.
The Bth Regiment of Foot has revolted—a regiment
on which the greatest dependence had been placed in
the late campaign, when they fought gallantly. Couriers
were sent off on Sunday to order the Regiment of
Guards at Cartexo to come to Lisbon in all haste.
4, I am assured that the same is experienced at Oporto
and Setubal. There was a rumour that the Princess
Regent was dead for these two days, and the Queen's
party have risen their heads, and it is expected there
will be a great struggle for the Regency. Saldanha, a
mad cap Minister, has again taken the reins.
og The Minister of War has issued orders for several I,
regiments of militia to cross into Estrernadura, but it is
said these orders have been countermanded. The state
of politics here are alarming, as the life of the Princess
Regent is despaired of; a mortification has taken place
in her ear, and the Doctors entertain but little hopes.
According to report, a week ago she had a Jose couche.
There ate nightly meetings of the Migulets, and money

Ibas been sent to corrupt the soldiers. They have agents
at BadAjw, and all over the country.
" The news from Tray os Monies say, that the people
are in the mood again of joining the rebels. Incendiary
proclamations are circulating."