IPSWICH ELECTION. (Hansard, 30 July 1842)

§ Mr. P. M. Stewart

brought up the report of the Ipswich Election Committee, which was read as follows:— That the right hon. John Otway O'Connor Cuffe Earl of Desart, and Thomas Gladstone, Esq., were not duly elected burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the borough of Ipswich. That the last election for the said borough is a void election. And the said determinations were ordered to be entered in the journals of this House.

House further informed, that the committee had come to the following resolutions:— That the right hon. John Otway O'Connor Cuffe Earl of Desart, and Thomas Gladstone, Esq., were, through their agents, guilty of bribery and treating at the last election for the borough of Ipswich. That it was proved before the committee, that John Downing was bribed by release from a joint security for 25l.; that Henry Greaves was bribed by 30s., under pretence of services rendered by his son as a messenger; that Amos Goodchild was bribed by a promise of 5l.; that Richard Bishop, captain of a vessel, was bribed by a bargain by his wife for 8l., as indemnity for loss of voyage, 2l. of which was detained by the owner of the vessel; that Robert Hine was bribed by 3l., through his wife; that John Cockle was bribed by 4l,, under the pretence of travelling expenses: that William Brown was bribed by 4l.10l.,; William Cole by 2l. 14s.; a person named Fuller by 3l.; and William Blythe, and others, by 30s. each, under the pretence of travelling expenses. That Thomas Bowman and Robert Naunton were bribed by 30s. each, under pretence of playing in the band. That there was no evidence to show that these acts of bribery were committed with the knowledge and consent of either the right hon. John Otway O'Connor Cuffe Earl of Desart, or of Thomas Gladstone, Esq. That the Chairman be requested to move, that this report, together with the evidence taken before this committee, be printed; and that the Speaker do not issue his writ for the return of two burgesses to serve in Parliament for the said borough of Ipswich, until the said evidence shall have been printed and submitted to the House. The report stated that Lord Desart and Thomas Gladstone, Esq., were not duly elected at the last election for the borough of Ipswich, and that they had by their agents been guilty of bribery and 889 treating, at the last election for that borough. The hon. Gentleman moved that the evidence be printed, and that the issuing of the writ be suspended till the evidence was before the House.