§ Sir Robert Pricebrought up the Report of the Pembroke Election Committee, as follows:—"That the Committee on the Petition of the several freeholders of the county of Pembroke, complaining of an undue election and return for the said county, have determined, that Sir John Owen, Bart, is not a Knight duly elected to serve in this present Parliament for the county of Pembroke. That the last election of a Knight to serve in Parliament for the said county is a void election. That the said petition did not appear to the said Committee to be frivolous or vexatious. That the opposition to the said petition did not appear to the said Committee to be frivolous or vexatious." Ordered to be entered on the Journals. The hon. Baronet stated, that the said Committee had come to the folio wing resolutions—"That the conduct pursued by the High Sheriff, and by those under him, was strongly marked by a culpable neglect on his part, partiality on the part of the Under-Sheriff and some of the Sub-Sheriffs, and the inefficient conduct of the Assessor. That the Committee consider it to be their duty to report in such terms, more especially as they found their decision that the election is void, on the strong impression of such improper conduct having prevailed."
§ On the motion that these resolutions do lie on the Table,
§ Sir Robert Pricesaid, that he should, 524 at all events, move that the minutes of the evidence taken before the Committee be laid on the Table of the House; but he should not move that they be printed, as it was not his intention, nor he believed that of any Member of the Committee, to institute further proceedings. He, however, thought it right that the House should be in possession of the evidence, so that, if any Member thought that further investigation was necessary, he might have the necessary documents. He hoped, however, that the Resolutions of the Committee would be sufficient to prevent the recurrence of such conduct.
§ Mr. George Robinsonbegged to inquire, whether the same returning officer would be employed at the election about to take place, as made up the last return.
Mr. Robert Gordonwished the hon. Baronet would point out how any Member could take further steps if the evidence was not printed?
§ Sir Robert Priceobserved, that his hon. friend had wholly mistaken him; he had no objection to the evidence being printed; he had only said, he should not move for it to be printed.
Mr. Dominick Browne, as one of the Committee, stated, that the feeling there had been, that these Resolutions would be found sufficient; they had reason to believe that the Sheriff was an impartial man, but of a timid disposition, which had led him into the errors complained of.
§ Sir George Warrenderthought the House ought to have the evidence full before it. The hon. Gentleman who spoke last, had given sufficient reasons why the Sheriff should not again have a writ directed to him.
Mr. C. W. Wynnsaid, that as there would be another opportunity of discussing this subject, he thought that any debate at present was premature.
§ The Resolutions ordered to be laid on the Table, as well as the Minutes of Evidence.