HC Deb 09 January 1807 vol 8 cc428-9

Sir J. Newport, took the oaths and his seat. The hon. baronet, upon taking his seat, informed the house that having been returned for Waterford and also for St. Mawes, he made his election for the city of Waterford.—A new writ was ordered to be issued, to elect a member for the county of Sussex, in the room of general Lenox, who was called to the upper house, as succeeding to the title and honours of the dukedom of Richmond.—Mr. Dickenson informed the house, that being chosen to serve in Parliament for the borough of Lestwethiel and the county of Somerset, he made his election for the latter place.—Sir J. Newport gave notice that he would, on Monday, move to bring in a bill for correcting an error in an act of the 42d of the king, for regulating controverted elections, as relating to Ireland. The object of this bill would be to supply a defect in the said act, for though the commissioners were sworn to act, they were not empowered to administer an oath to the clerk who attended to take down the evidence; to empower them to administer this oath, was the object of the bill he hoped to have the honour of submitting to that house.—Mr, Adam moved that the order for the consideration of the petition, complaining of an undue election for Aberdeen, be deferred from the 23d instant to the 26th of March. In answer to a question from a member, to whom it appeared that the practice of the house, as laid down a few days since in the Thetford case, was against the enlargement, unless some special cause was assigned, Mr. Adam stated the distance of the place, and the necessity of having the attendance of Scotch lawyers, who could not attend till after the rising of the session. After a few observations from Mr. W. Dundas, the motion was agreed to.—Mr. Wingfield presented a petition, praying an enlargement of time for entering into recognizances to prosecute the petition, complaining of an undue election for the borough of Penrhyn. The petition stated, that the petitioners had completed their recognizance, and sent it up to their agent before their petition had been presented; but that this recognizance was considered as informal, and could not be received. The distance of the place, and the length of time taken in the conveyance by the post, had rendered the remainder of the time limited by act of parliament too short. Mr. W. moved for an enlargement of the time to the 19th instant. After a few observations from Mr. Swan, the sitting member, who thought the petitioners had not used all due diligence to correct their first oversight, and from Mr. Perceval, who recommended a cautious investigation of all grounds assigned for departing from the law, the motion was agreed to.—On the motion of Mr. Vansittart, the resolution of the committee of supply, on the 1st of Jan. for continuing the usual duties on malt, was read. Mr. V. then stated, that, in consequence of circumstances, into which it was unnecessary for him to enter, the bill already brought in on this resolution had been lost in another place; he therefore moved for leave to bring in another bill, which was granted.