§ A Petition of John Attersoll, esq. was delivered in and read; setting forth, "That at the last election of a burgess to serve in Parliament for the borough of Wootton Bassett, in the county of Wilts, the petitioner and Robert Knight, esq. were candidates; and that at the said election, a majority of legal votes was offered for the petitioner; but that William Cripps, esq. the mayor of the said borough, who presided as the return- 338 ing officer at the said election, received the votes of many persons on the poll, in favour of the said Robert Knight, who had no right to vote at the said election, and rejected many legal votes which were tendered for the petitioner, by which means a colourable majority appeared upon the poll in favour of the said Robert Knight; and the said William Cripps bath unjustly returned the said Robert Knight as duly elected, whereas the petitioner had a majority of legal votes, and was duly elected, and ought to have been returned; and praying that the House will take the premises into their consideration, and grant him such relief therein as to them shall seem fit."