§ A Petition of Charles Wetherell, of Lincoln's Inn, esq. and Edward Kerrison, esq. and also of John Cooper, of the borough of Shaftesbury, ironmonger, and William Swyer, of the same place, banker, was delivered in, and read; setting forth,
§ "That, at the last election of burgesses to serve for the said borough in parliament, held on the 7th of October last, the petitioners Charles Wetherell and Edward Kerrison, together with Richard Bateman Robson, esq. and" Hudson Gurney, esq. were candidates to be elected; and the petitioners John Cooper and William Swyer had a right to vote at such election; and that the petitioners Charles Wetherell and Edward Kerrison had the majority of legal votes at such election, and ought to have been returned duly elected to serve in parliament for the said borough; and that many legal votes tendered for the said petitioners were rejected; and a great number of persons, not legally entitled to vote, were admitted to vote at the said election for the said R. B. Robson and H. Gurney; and sundry 119 votes unduly entered for them; by which means they obtained a colourable majority over the petitioners C. Wetherell and E. Kerrison, and have been unduly returned to serve for the said borough; and that, at the election aforesaid, certain voters were bribed to give their voices in favour of the said R. B. Robson and H. Gurney; and the said R. B. Robson and H. Gurney were guilty of divers acts of bribery and treating, by themselves and agents, at such election, and gave, and promised to give, by themselves, and agents on their behalf, rewards, provision, meat, drink and entertainment, to persons having voice at such election, in order to be elected to serve for the said borough in parliament; and by such, and other undue and unlawful practices, procured themselves to be returned as aforesaid; and praying, that the House will be pleased to take the premises into consideration, and to declare the petitioners C. Wetherell and E. Kerrison duly elected, and that they ought to have been returned for the said borough, or to give the petitioners such other relief as shall seem fit."
§ Ordered to be taken into consideration upon the 9th of February next.