HC Deb 14 May 1840 vol 54 cc109-13

Sir John Walsh moved, that the Speaker do direct a new writ to issue for the election of a burgess for the borough of Cambridge, the last election being determined to be void.

Mr. Warburton

remarked that the bribery at Cambridge was not proved to be so extensive as with regard to the borough of Ludlow, inasmuch as only one of the parties was proved to have been guilty of bribery, and the other party was not inculpated. Taking, however, into consideration the extent to which intimidation had prevailed, he felt it to be his duty to propose the same proceeding with respect to Cambridge which had been proposed with regard to Ludlow. At Cambridge, also, there had been, it was alleged, much bribery at former elections. The statements were to be found in the report of the committee which sat upon the subject of intimidation at elections. The first witness was an elector of Cambridge. He was asked as to the prevalence of bribery. When his examination took place, there had been three elections subsequent to the passing of the Reform Bill, and he mentioned cases of bribery, and that at the last election a house belonging to an alderman at Cambridge was kept open by one of the parties, and on a table in that house was lying from 300l. to 400l. for the purposes of bribery. The witness then referred to a document, signed by the present Bishop of Hereford, Professor Airey, and from forty to fifty other distinguished men, in reference to intimidation at Cambridge. That document was dated the 11th March, 1835, and he contended that the necessity for circulating such a paper was a stronger proof of the extent of intimidation than the proof of particular instances to be found in that volume. The witness was asked whether the circulation of such a paper would prevent the recurrence of the practice. The witness said, that he thought it might to some extent, but the proper mode of preventing it was the ballot. He had himself at first suggested this mode of taking the votes at the next election for Cambridge and Ludlow; but he had not followed up that suggestion, because he was convinced that the object could only be carried into effect by a bill; he should therefore content himself by making the same motion which had been already made, with respect to Ludlow—namely, that a select committee be appointed to inquire into the extent of bribery and treating that prevailed at the election for Cambridge, and in the meantime that the writ be suspended.

Mr. Hume

wished to ask why it was, that the committee had passed resolutions respecting the bribery practised by the agents of Mr. Sutton. It was distinctly proved that there were fifty or sixty houses kept open where men could eat and drink as they liked, and nobody knew by whom it was that the orders were given. If the House passed over such conduct without punishment, it would hold out an encouragement to continue it.

The House divided on the original motion—Ayes 162: Noes 75: Majority 87.

List of the AYES.
Acland, Sir T. D. Filmer, Sir E.
A'Court, Capt. Freshfield, J. W.
Alsager, Capt. Gaskell, J. Milnes
Arbuthnott, H. Gladstone, W. E.
Archdall, M. Godson, R.
Ashley, Lord Gordon, R.
Attwood, W. Gordon, Captain
Attwood, M. Gore, O. W.
Bailey, J. Graham, Sir J.
Bailey, J., jun. Granby, Marquis of
Baillie, Col. Greene, T.
Baker, E. Grimsditch, T.
Baldwin, C. B. Hale, R. B.
Barrington, Lord Halford, H.
Bateson, Sir R. Hamilton, C. J. B.
Blackburne, I. Hamilton, Lord C.
Blackett, C. Harcourt, G. S.
Blair, J. Hardinge, Sir H.
Blakemore, R. Hawkes, T.
Boldero, H. G. Heneage, G. W.
Boiling, W. Hepburn, Sir T.
Bradshaw, J. Herries, J. C.
Bramston, T. Hogg, J. W.
Broadley, H. Holmes, W.
Bruce, Lord E. Hope, hon. C.
Bruce, C. L. C. Hope, G. W.
Bruges, W. H. L. Hotham, Lord
Buck, L. W. Hughes, W. B.
Buller, E. Hurst, R. H.
Buller, Sir J. Y. Hurt, F.
Burr, H. Ingham, R.
Burroughes, H. Irton, S.
Calcraft, J. H. Johnstone, H.
Chute, W. L. Jones, Captain
Clerk, Sir G. Kelly, F.
Clive, hon. R. H. Kirk, P.
Cochrane, Sir T. Knatchbull, Sir E.
Codrington, C. Knight, H. G.
Cole, hon. A. H. Knightley, Sir C.
Colquhoun, J. C. Labouchere, H.
Conolly, E. Lemon, Sir C.
Corry, hon. H. Lincoln, Earl of
Courtenay, P. Litton, E.
Cresswell, C. Long, W.
Crewe, Sir G. Lowther, J. H.
Damer, hon. D. Macaulay, T. B.
Darby, G. Mackenzie, T.
Darlington, Lord Mackenzie, W. F.
Dick, Q. Marsland, T.
Dottin, A. R. Martin, T. B.
Drummond, H. Marton, G.
Duffield, T. Maule, hon. F.
Duncombe, W. Maunsell, T. P.
Dungannon, Lord Meynell, Capt.
Du Pre, G. Miles, W.
Eastnor, Lord Miller, W. H.
Eaton, E. J, Nicholl, J.
Norreys, Lord Sandon, Lord
Northland, Lord Scarlett, hon. J.
O'Neill, J. B. R. Shaw, F.
Packe, C. W. Sheppard, T.
Pakington, J. S. Shirley, E. J.
Palmer, G. Sibthorp, Col.
Parker, M. Somerset Lord G.
Patten, J. W. Sotheron, T. E.
Peel, Sir R. Stanley, Lord
Peel, J. Stewart, J.
Pigot, R. Sturt, H. C.
Planta, J. Teignmouth, Lord
Pollen, Sir J. W. Thesiger, F.
Pollock, Sir F. Thornhill, G.
Powell, Col. Trench, Sir F.
Praed, W. T. Trevor, hon. G. R.
Pringle, A. Troubridge, Sir T.
Pusey, P. Vere, Sir C. B.
Rae, Sir W. Vivian, J. E.
Richards, R. Waddington, H.
Rickford, W. Wood, Col. T.
Rose, Sir G. Young, J.
Round, C. G.
Round, J. TELLERS.
Rushbrooke, Col. Fremantle, Sir T.
Rutherfurd, A. Walsh, Sir J.
List of the NOES.
Aglionby, H. A. James, W.
Aglionby, Major Johnson, Gen.
Baines, E. Langdale, C.
Barnard, E. G. Macnamara, W.
Barry, G. S. Marshall, W.
Bewes, T. Marsland, H.
Bowes, J. Morris, D.
Bridgeman, H. Muntz, G. F.
Briscoe, J. I. O'Brien, W. S.
Brocklehurst, J. Pattison, J.
Brodie, W. B. Philips, M.
Brotherton, J. Price, Sir R.
Bryan, G. Protheroe, E.
Busfeild, W. Ramsbottom, J.
Chester, H. Seale, Sir J. H.
Childers, J. W. Smith, B.
Clements, Lord Somerville, Sir W. M.
Collier, J. Stanley, hon. W. O.
Corbally, M. E. Stansfield, W. R. C.
Currie, R. Stock, Dr.
Duke, Sir J. Strutt, E.
Duncombe, T. Tancred, H. W.
Dundas, D. Thornely, T.
Elliot, J. E. Turner, W.
Ewart, W. Vigors, N. A.
Fielden, J. Wakley, T.
Gillon, W. D. Walker, R.
Gisborne, T. Ward, H. G.
Greg, R. H. White, A.
Greig, D. Wilbraham, G.
Hawes, B. Williams, W.
Hector, C. J. Williams, W. A.
Hill, Lord A. M. Winnington, Sir T. E.
Hindley, C. Winnington, H. J.
Hobhouse, T. B. Wood, Sir M.
Hodges, T. L. Wood, B.
Horsman, E. TELLERS.
Hoskins, K. Hume, J.
Hutt, W. Warburton, H.

Writ ordered to be issued.