§ A Petition of James O'Callagan and Thomas Thornbill esquires, was delivered in and read; setting forth,
§ "That at the last election for the borough of Tregony, Alex. Cray Grant, and William Holmes, esquires, and the petitioners James O'Callagan, and Thomas Thornbill esquires, were candidates; and that the mayor of the said borough is the proper returning officer; and that John Hearle, at the time of the said election, was mayor; and that the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant, by themselves, and each of them by himself, and by his and their agents, &c. did make presents, gifts, rewards, and entertainment, and promises, agreements, obligations, and engagements to give and allow money, meat, drink, provision, presents, rewards, advantages, and entertainment to and for several persons so having or claiming right to vote in the said election, and to and for the use, advantage, benefit, and profit of such persons so having or claiming right to vote in the said election, in order to be, and procure themselves the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant to be elected contrary to and in contempt of the provision of the act of 7th William the third, and the standing order of the House, whereby the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant were disabled and incapacitated to serve for the said borough, and the election and return of them are wholly hull and void; and that the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant, contrary to and in defiance of the act of the 49th of his present Majesty, in despite of the salutary provision therein contained, did, after the passing the said act, and previous to the said election, by themselves, and each of them by himself, or some person or persons for or on their or his behalf, give, or cause to be given, or promise or agree to give, a considerable sum of money, gift or reward, to some person or persons, upon an engagement, contract, or agreement, that such last-mentioned person or persons should, by himself or themselves, or by others at his or their solicitation, request or command, procure 247 or endeavour to procure, the return of them the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant, respectively, to serve in parliament for the same borough; and that they the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant did also, after the passing of the said act, and previous to the said election, by themselves, and each of them by himself, and by some other person and persons on their and his behalf, give, or procure to be given, and did promise to give, or procure to be given, divers offices, places, and employment to divers persons, on an express contract and agreement that such last-mentioned persons should, by themselves or others, at their solicitation, request, or command, procure the return of them the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant, whereby the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant, were incapacitated to serve in the present parliament, and the election and return of them the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant, are wholly null and void; and that the returning officer at this election admitted many persons on the poll for the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant, who had no right, and were incapable of voting at the said election; and that the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant, previous to and at the time of the said election, by themselves respectively, and by their respective agents and others on their behalf, were, and each of them was guilty of bribery and corruption, in order to procure themselves to be returned members for the said borough; and that, previous to and at the said election, public notice was given to the returning officer, and also to all the persons who voted at the said election for the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant, that they the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant, had given and allowed to divers persons having votes at the said election, meat, drink, entertainment, and other provisions, in order to be elected for the said borough, contrary to and in violation of the statute in that case made and provided, and the resolution of the House of Commons against such practices; and that the said V. Holmes and A. C. Grant had been guilty of bribery and corrupt practices, in order to be elected, and had also, by themselves, and by others in their behalf, and with their knowledge and consent, given, and promised and agreed to give, divers sums of money, gift, and rewards, and offices, places, and employment, to divers persons having votes at the said election, and also to others, in order that the said W. Holmes and A. C. 248 Grant might be returned for the said borough, contrary to the laws in being against such practices; and that, by reason of the premises, the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant had become incapable of serving as a member for the said borough in the present parliament, and that all votes given for them, or either of them, after the said public notice of their incapacity, would be thrown away; and that, by the corrupt, undue, and illegal practices aforesaid, and by various other corrupt and illegal means and practices by the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant, and their agents, a considerable number of votes on the poll was obtained by him the said V. Holmes and A. C. Grant over the petitioners; and the returning officer at the said election illegally returned the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant, as duly elected for the said borough, whereas the petitioners had a majority of legal and uncorrupt votes, and ought to have been returned for the said borough; and that neither of them, the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant, had, at the time of his said election and return, such an estate, in law or equity, to and for his Own use and benefit, in lands, tenements, or hereditaments, over and above what will satisfy all incumbrances that may effect the same, of the annual value of 300l. above reprizes, to qualify him to be elected and returned for the said borough, according to the tenor and true meaning of the act of parliament in that behalf, whereby the election and returning of each of them are void; and praying, that they may be heard, by themselves or their counsel, as to the matter of this Petition, and that the said W. Holmes and A. C. Grant may be declared not duly elected, and that tile-petitioners may be declared duly elected for the said borough of Tregony."
§ Ordered to be taken into consideration on the 23d of February.