§ What is this house of your's? My house is the Queen's Head.—What do you deal 56 in? Spirits, and porter, and wines, and all sorts of liquor.—Is it a house open in the night-time? It is open for the market in the morning.—Is it open all night? No, it is. not.—The greatest part of the night? From between 3 and 4 in the morning; I open it then.—Did you know Robertson yourself? Yes I did.—And Bazeley too? Yes.—Ans Lucy Wallis? Yes.—Were they all your acquaintance? They were none of my acquaintance but curiosity led me to know them.
Mr. Paullwas examined respecting some letters said to have passed between him and B. Hart. He acknowledged the hand-writing, and was proceeding to offer some observations upon the question to the house, when he was reminded by the Speaker of the capacity in which he then stood at the bar of the house.
Mr. B Hartwas next examined. He had been employed by Mr. Paull during the election; he did not, however, consider himself as Mr. Paull's agent. Mr. Paull called at his house and left his card: he called a second time, and requested him to come to his house, Charles-street, St. James's-square, which he did, when Mr. Paull entreated him to exert his influence to procure him votes. About a week after the election he had some conversation with Mr. Paull and Mr. Powell respecting some suspicions that had gone abroad about bad votes said to have been given to Mr. Sheridan, and they recommended to him to endeavour to procure information respecting that matter; he however soon after fell ill, in which state he continued some weeks, and had not seen Mr. Paull since.
§ Mr. Sheridanwas proceeding to ask the witness several more questions respecting his employment during the election, whether he did accompany Mr. Paull in his carriage to and from the hustings, &c. &c., when
Lord Howickobserved, that his hon. friend, according to his own principle laid down on a former occasion, thought it best not to touch upon the general conduct of the election, but merely upon the allegations contained in the petition.
§ Mr. Sheridansaid, that such was the object he had in view; but he thought it necessary, at the same time, to ascertain the characters of the persons who were made the instruments to attempt to prove these allegations, and carry on one of the foulest conspiracies that the malignity of man had ever conceived.—The examination and testimony of the last witness was then ordered to be expunged from the minutes taken at he bar, on the ground that it entered too 57 much into the merits of the petition to be entertained by the house.
§ Mr. Sheridanobserved, that, if the house should deem it necessary to adapt any further proceedings relative to what was disclosed at their bar, there were several other witnesses in readiness, whom, perhaps, it might be thought necessary to call in, as they might possibly corroborate many of the particulars which had fallen from the other witnesses, or fill up some trifling chasms in the evidence; for his own part, however, he did not mean to trouble the house with any farther evidence, but was perfectly satisfied to let his case rest where it was. The papers which had been moved for that night, by a noble lord (Howick), world be sufficient to shew that there was not a word of truth in what had been said by Drake and another, who was thought to be a principal witness on the part of the petitioner.
Lord Howickdeclared his firm conviction, that a foul and scandalous conspiracy had been entered into against the sitting member; and in order that the house might have an opportunity of judging more precisely as to the quality of the .evidence which had been adduced at their bar, he moved that the evidence be printed, which was ordered accordingly.
§ Mr. Whitbreadobserved, that it might be neceesary to take some measure to secure the future attendance of the witnesses at the bar, in case the house should think fit to take any further steps relative to the nature of the evidence which they had heard,—The house then ordered, that the further proceeding on the Westminster petition and evidence should be resumed on Friday the 15th instant, and that the witnesses should attend on that day.
§ Mr. Sheridanthought it but justice to Mr. Cobbett to state, before the rising of the house, that notwithstanding What Drake had asserted, he was fully satisfied that he was entirely unconnected with the scandalous proceedings which had been taken against him.