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o institute proceedings immediately. In from unworthy causes. When, in tra1824, he had moved for a return of the velling over different parts of the country, number of counties to which the cominis- he saw houses rising connected with chasioners had extended their labours, and the ritable estates, which bore the date, not of number of causes which had been instituted | 1720, but the more recent one of 1821, by the Attorney-general in connexion he could not avoid guessing that their therewith. He thought the best course he erection was not unnaturally connected could pursue was, to move for a return of with the inquiries of the commissioners. a similar nature respecting the period He bore no responsibility on his shoulders which had intervened from 1824 to the with respect to the appointment of compresent time. An hon, member had on missioners. Some of the appointments a former evening objected to the expensive were, he thought, very injudicious, but nature of the Reports which had proceeded altogether, in the performance of their dufrom the commission; but he should have ties, they had fully answered his expectarecollected that the commissioners were tions: nay, they had exceeded them. He obliged to go into great detail; it being trusted he should have no more objections the object for which they were appointed to the voluminous reports of the commisto produce a permanent record of the sioners, because he considered it absolutely funds of each charity, in order that it necessary that they should include statemight be seen that they were fairly applied. ments of great detail.

Those reports He was of opinion that extensive benefit contained much curious and interesting had resulted from the labours of the com- information for the historian and antiquary. missioners and the Attorney-general. This species of information was frequently The right hon. gentleman concluded with selected for the use of the public at large, moving for a return of the nature he had and published in a detached form. stated.

The motion was agreed to. Mr. Brougham seconded the motion. There certainly was, he said, in many com- Catholic Claims.) Mr. Brougham missions, a great tendency to slumber in said, he held in his hands a petition which their proceedings ; although appointed for he trusted would receive the serious attentemporary purposes, they enjoyed a good tion it deserved from the House, as well revenue, and did little work, just enough from the importance of the body from to serve as a pretence for continuing their which it came, as the matter it contained. appointment. That observation, however, It was a petition from the general body of did not apply to the commission in ques- the Roman Catholics of Ireland, and had tion. He concurred in what had fallen attached to it the names of the leading from the right hon. gentleman respecting advocates, as well Peers as Commoners, the reports of the commission. What of that body. They prayed the House parliament wanted was a registration of the to erase from the Statute-book a law, which rights of the poor, a distinct declaration of was alike discreditable to Catholics and the objects of the various charities in the Protestants, as it made it imperative kingdom, in order that every person who upon the former to state, and the latter to had a right under the endowinents, might sanction the statement, that the Roman at once be able to claim it. The cheapest Catholic religion was damnable and idolamode of registration was by means of the trous; thus denouncing a great portion of press. Many hundreds of copies of the the empire. The petitioners further stated commissioners' reports had been spread that such a declaration was unchristian and over the country; and in various places, illiberal, pointing out as outcasts a great portions of those reports had been re- portion of the people of Ireland. They printed, to make all mankind acquainted prayed the repeal of all tests, oaths, and with the contents. He considered the obligations, which operated in producing reprinting of parts of the reports a very judi- the disabilities under which they at present cious proceeding, and was desirous thatsome laboured with respect to seats in the Counplan should be devised 'for doing it more cils of the empire. It was unnecessary for frequently. Of this he was satisfied, that him to add, that he entirely concurred in the labours of the commission had caused the prayer of the petition. He hoped the the correction of many abuses which had very respectable body who had intrusted arisen in charities; frequently, he would their petition to his care would not consider admit, from ignorance, but very often him guilty of the slightest want of zeal in VOL, XVIII,

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their cause, if he declined entering into the two aged parents to support; in addition, merits of their case at present. He de- his sister, who had assisted him in his clined doing so, because he thought that business, was a widow, and with her six the two questions as to ineligibility to par- children, entirely dependent upon him. liament, and disqualifications for certain The petitioner laid his case before two public offices, could not be separated; or, respectable barristers, friends of his, who if they could, it must be to the disadvan- go the Northern circuit. His two learned tage of both.

friends, without assigning their reasons, Ordered to lie on the table.

told the petitioner, that he had no legal

remedy, and therefore it was that he had LICENSING SYSTEM.] Mr. Brougham applied to that House.-[Mr. M. A. Taylor said, he held in his hand a petition was here observed speaking to Mr. Peel, from a person named John Yule, late and Mr. Brougham paused for a moment). the keeper of a respectable inn in He then said, he was willing to wait until Halifax. The petitioner complained of his hon. friend, the member for Durham, the conduct of certain magistrates. He had got his answer, and he would then go gave the names of those magistrates, but He was extremely sorry to interrupt he (Mr. B.) would forbear mentioning private conversations, but he must proceed. them; if, however, the case which the The petitioner threw himself on the mercy petitioner stated was true, then he thought of the House, and prayed an investigation it the hardest that had ever come within into his case. If the statements in the his knowledge, and at the same time petition were true, it was the hardest case strongly illustrative of the caprice with he had ever met with, which licences were granted or withheld. Mr. M. A. Taylor put it to the House, The petitioner stated that, in May, last and to the hon. and learned gentleman year, he took a lease of a respectable inn, in himself, whether he was justified in calling Halifax, at a yearly rent of 85l, and that him to order for holding a conversation he made a deposit of a considerable sum with the Secretary of State. Did the hon. of money in advance; that last Easter he and learned gentleman wish him to call at appeared before five licensing magistrates, the right hon. Secretary's office, when he three of whom were opposed to a renewal could ask a question of him in the House of his licence. When called in he was told with so little inconvenience ? that his licence was lost: he aked why? Mr. Brougham expressed his surprise at and the answer he received was, that the the use of those distant expressions, which magistrates never gave reasons. He chal- were not very seemly between such old and lenged inquiry; he called for the testimony intimate friends; but his hon. friend, if he of any person who could shew any irregu- would permit him to call him so, must be larity on his part; he stated that his house aware that it could not be pleasant for him had never been open after ten o'clock at to be kept on his legs longer than he innight, save on a fair, or a market day; that tended. It was not for himself that he felt, on Sundays his house was never open du- but for the House, which he was detaining. ring church-time, and frequently it was He knew not how much longer his hon. kept closed during the whole of Sunday. friend's conversation might have lasted if But all would not do; the magistrates he had not, by his expostulation, called said they had made up their minds, and down the vials of his wrath. Besides the would give no reasons on the subject. One hon. member for Derry was just beginning magistrate who was standing by felt in- another conversation that might have lasted dignant at such conduct, and said that as long again. the proceeding was illegal, and then used Mr. M. A. Taylor said, he could not a stronger term to the same effect. The help retaining the impression that the remagistrates, however, carried it their own monstrance was most unnecessary and unway, and in the end the petitioner was left called-for. a ruined man; his capital was expended Mr. Brougham said, he was glad to find in the repairs of the house, the expense of that he was himself singular in the opinion the lease, and other necessary outlays; that it was necessary. that lease was still on his hands at an Ordered to lie on the table. enormous rent —the house being no longer that of a licensed victualler. The petitioner EAST RETTORD DISFRANCHISEMENT was a married man, with a family; he had | Bill.] Mr. Lumley moved, " That Jo- .

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nathan Fox, now a prisoner in Newgate, and with all deference to the topographical be brought to the bar of the House, in knowledge of the worthy alderman, he order to his being discharged."

begged to inform him that East Retford Mr. Alderman Waithman thought the was not in Yorkshire but in NottinghamHouse was bound to protect its rights and shire (a laugh.] privileges. Those privileges, like all their Mr. N. Calvert did not object to the other rights, they were bound to exercise motion as amended, but should like to for the public good. He believed that, if put the same witness again under examithis individual had not been committed, nation, to see what effect his punishment not a word of truth would have been got had had on him. out of the other witnesses. It was idle to Mr. W. Smith thought the punishment talk of their ignorance. Those low York- too slight, considering the grave nature of shiremen were possessed of as much cun- , the offence. ning as any hon. member in that House. Mr. Crompton stated, as an apology for But, if they were to bring this man up to the witness, that he was in ill health when be discharged, surely they would take care he was called to the bar. that it should not be without a reprimand. Mr. Tennyson objected to the re-exami

Mr. Stewart supported the motion for nation of Fox, lest it might be said that the discharge of Fox.

his evidence had been obtained by the apSir C. Burrell also thought the motion plication of a sort of torture. ought to be agreed to.

The Motion as amended was agreed to. Mr. Baring said, that, if ever there had After which, the House went into a combeen a case for the interference of the mittee on the bill, Mr. R. Gordon in the House, it was that of the individual ip chair. question, whose conduct had been such as Mr. E. C. Brown was called in, and to render it absolutely necessary to commit Mr. Tennyson proceeded to interrogate him. In his opinion, there would be no him. In your examination of the 4th of harm in allowing Fox to remain in New- March, you stated that you knew in some gate until the termination of the inquiry of these elections, there were above forty relative to East Retford. However, if the electors at East Retford who would not House thought differently, he was content take money. I will now put into your that the individual should be called to the hands the lists of the burgesses for 1818, bar, and discharged, after receiving a pro- 1820, and 1826. Will you mark off, in per reprimand.

any of those lists, the forty names you Mr. Secretary Peel thought the reso- have alluded to. lution of the House the other night was The witness retired with the lists, when quite necessary, because the object of the Mr. Wynn suggested, that as the witwitness seemed to have been the wilful ness had in his former examination, merely concealment of the truth; and when the given his opinion, they had better not House had once shewn a determination to dwell on an answer so given, but go into punish an individual who had so offended, the evidence of the particular fact sought they could not so trifle with their proceed to be established. ings as to extend almost as a matter of Mr. Tennyson said, he wanted to shew course their lenity to him, merely because how far the fact would, or would not, jushe came the next day and petitioned for tify the witness's opinion of there being their indulgence. He therefore wished forty who would not take bribes. If the this motion had been postponed ; but as were marked, then the opinion it had been made, and the petition was a could at once be brought to the test. proper one, he would give his consent to Mr. D.W. Harvey said, that the witness its prayer, amending it only by adding the was not called upon to give an opinion condition, that the individual be brought against the guilty, but in favour of the up on Monday instead of that night, and innocent. that he should then receive a reprimand Mr. Wynn said, that still they must from the Speaker. He trusted that, if have positive instead of secondary evithe worthy alderman had any prejudices dence; of what use, then, was the delivery against Yorkshiremen, he would not dis- of a mere opinion. play them on the present occasion. The Sir J. Wrottesley said, that even with witnesses who were to be examined that the supposition that forty refused to take night came from the town of East Retford, I bribes, it did not follow, from a mere

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opinion, that all the other electors were The number of voters who would not take guilty.

bribes had been increased by him from Mr. Stewart said, that if it were com- forty to seventy, as nearly all who had been petent for one witness to mark off forty sworn in since 1820, were in favour of sir names as innocent, it would be equally H. Wilson. When he told sir H. Wilson's competent for another to mark off as voters that he would only do what was many more who were in his opinion right and just, they knew that he meant guilty—a course both irregular and incon- that they would obtain no money. He venient.

had not used more direct terms, because Mr. Fergusson argued, that as it stood he had been told not. They replied, that on the minutes that forty voters would not they would support him nevertheless, and receive bribes, it was fit to ascertain who hence he concluded, that they would not those forty were, and whether they de- have taken bribes. If a candidate told the served the character for purity which had electors that he would do what was just been given them.

and right, witness did not believe they Mr. Batley reminded the committee, would understand that those words meant that the witness bad said, that sir H. Wil- that he would make the customary payson was determined not to give a single ment of election money. Witness had penny, but to stand on his hostility to the told the electors so, on the part of sir H. Catholic claims.

Wilson; but he believed the electors unMr. Alderman Waithman was in favour derstood him to mean that sir H. Wilson of pursuing the inquiry. The witness's would vote against Catholic emancipation. declaration in favour of the forty burgesses Many of them had promised to give their was only matter of opinion, the value of votes to sir H. Wilson if he would pledge which might be judged of by the various himself to vote against the Catholic quesmeans in the power of the committee. tion. Twenty-three of the electors who

Sir E. Knatchbull remarked, that the voted for sir H. Wilson at that election, committee could not act upon the mere received no election money. None of them opinion of the witness after it had been had complained of not being paid what given.

they were promised. What witness said Mr. Calcraft contended, that the opi- to the electors was, that sir H. Wilson nion of the witness could not influence the I would do what was just and right, and no vote of a single member, nor add at all to more. There are 219 voters for East Retthe weight of the testimony the hon. gen- ford, of whom seventy, witness believed, tleman was scraping together to disfran- had not taken the election money. He chise the borough of East Retford. The as- did not know whether the practice of paysertion of vitness was, that there were ing this money was usua He did not forty burgesses who would not take bribes, believe that if the Catholic question had and he was told to go out and mark them in not produced so much excitement among the list, without being able to say from his the electors, so many of them would have own knowledge whether such and such declined to take the money. Sir H. Wilson a man had taken a bribe. To take such was the popular candidate with the resident evidence was only to incumber the minutes, electors. There were 104 residing in the and indulge curiosity without furthering town. Sir H. Wilson polled twenty-nine the ends of justice.

votes. There were forty-two electors to The witness was recalled. He stated, poll when the election closed, of whom that he had marked seventy names in the twenty-nine were for him. The general list of 1826, of persons who would not answer witness had when the votes have received a bribe. He spoke from were refused was, that they were alhis own knowledge, because, when he told ready promised. Fifty-one electors had sir H. Wilson's voters that he would give been admitted since 1820. The witness them no money, they replied, that they was asked, why he had omitted in the forwould support him notwithstanding, on mer part of his evidence to add the words the ground of the Catholic claims. He had “and no more,” in the statement of what not said in terms, that sir H. Wilson would he had said to the electors on behalf of sir give them no money, but that he would H. Wilson ? His reply was, that he had do what was right and just, and no more. always made use of the additional words. By the words « right and just,” he meant The short-hand writer read the evidence, that no money would be given to them, which was contrary to the witness's state,

ment. The explanation he gave was, that of the enfranchisement of the borough ; he had seen the words in the public papers, he had signed it because he thought and thought he had used them. Being it right; and he did not believe that there pressed to answer the question, whether, was a man in the town who did not think if a candidate or his agent was to say

he He had not discovered any of the would do what was just and right, the secrets of his employer, nor would he do electors would not understand him to He had never given information mean that he would give the election about Mr. Osbaldeston's election till money? witness said, he believed the ma- he had been summoned by the House, jority of the voters would understand that and he certainly would not have come if the candidate meant the election money. he could have helped it. Mr. Gregson If sir H. Wilson had entertained the sug- had come down on the subject, and had gestion of giving the election money, what written him a note : until he received it proportion of the electors would you have he knew nothing of him. In consequence told him would have received it? I should of that note he went over to him at have said three-fourths. From the con- Barney Moor, and told him who had been versations witness had with sir H. Wilson, paid. This took place before the matter he believed that that gentleman never did had been brought before the House, for the intend to give a single shilling.

first time, in the shape of a petition. All Mr. Richard Hannam was re-called to that he had disclosed to Mr. Gregson was, prove, that Leadbeater was one of those he that the freemen bad been paid as usual. had seen paid in 1812, at the Angel-inn. He had not been offered any advantages Witness was cross-examined by Mr. Den- for those disclosures, nor did he know man, to ascertain whether he had not for what he had been sent down. Ever been accused of keeping some money in- since the election of 1812, it had been trusted to him? He answered very posi- notorious that many of the freemen were tively in the negative. At the Angel-inn corrupt: and he did not believe that any Pickup had the money and paid it. Wit- of the candidates had refrained from ness never touched a farthing of it: one giving them money, with the exception of man who had not attended there, was one, and he did not expect that he would under the mistake that witness had his ever stand again. money, but such was not the fact : no By Mr. Crompton. - Have you ever money was intrusted to him to be distri- received any penalties that have been buted; it was not true that the electors | levied under the game laws ? I have.had objected to his being employed as an Did you put those penalties into your own election agent, because they alleged he pocket? No; I have paid them over to had withheld any money from them. He the clergyman of the parish, and to the had only paid one man himself, and that proper authorities. The borough of East had been within a few days afterwards. He Retford was situated in the hundred of believed that the payments for the elec- Bassetlaw. If the right of election was tion of 1812, were all completed in 1814. extended over the whole hundred, there It was well known that he was the agent would be seventy-four townships, or of Mr. Osbaldeston in 1812, and he had parishes included in it. There were pointed out to Mr. Pickup who were many noblemen and gentlemen in the likely to be the friends of Mr. Osbaldes- hundred who would have influence, owing ton. There was not a farthing deposited

to their estates. If the number of voters with the witness for the purpose of mak- should be 1,200, there would be a great ing payments. He had been clerk to the number of them under the political influmagistrates of the district for twelve or ence of the Duke of Newcastle. fourteen years. Mr. Clark was the partner By Mr. Davenport.-If you were told of Mr. Vaughan, and the former had been a person had said to the freemen that he connected with a celebrated will-cause would do what was right and just, what that had been tried some years ago. Bux- should you understand by it? That he ton was not paid because he was so into- would pay them the forty guineas. lerably drunk, otherwise he could have The witness was ordered to withdraw. had his money, if he had come down for Mr. D. W. Harvey said, it now became it. The witness had signed a paper that his duty to introduce a question of consihad been brought to his office for the pur- derable delicacy, on which he wished to pose of obtaining the removal or extension (have the advice and assistance of the com

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