§ Mr. Redingtonreported from the select committee appointed to try and determine the merits of the petition, complaining of an undue return for the town of Southampton, the following resolutions:—
That James Bruce, esquire, commonly called Lord Bruce (now Earl of Elgin), and Charles Cecil Martyn, esquire, were not duly elected Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Town and County of the Town of Southampton.That the last Election of Burgesses to serve in Parliament for the said Town and County of the Town was a void Election.And the said Determinations were ordered to be entered in the Journals of this House.House also acquainted, that the Committee had come to the following Resolutions.That James Bruce, esquire, commonly called Lord Bruce, and Charles Cecil Martyn, esquire, were, by their agents, guilty of Bribery at the last Election for the Town and County of the Town of Southampton.That Charles Combe Callan was bribed with 10l, paid to his wife for him; that Jo- 206 seph Whitmarsh. was promised a bribe of 207., the whole or some portion of which was afterwards paid; that Joseph Redwards was bribed with 5l.; that William Andrews was bribed with 3l.; and that Giles Paskin was bribed with 3l.; each of them to vote for Lord Bruce and Mr. Martyn.That it has not been proved before the Committee that these acts of Bribery were committed with the knowledge and consent of Lord Bruce or Mr, Martyn.That the Evidence given before the Committee relative to an extensive system of treating carried on through the means of local associations, the payment of large sums to Chairmen and Colourmen, many of whom were voters, and the expenditure of a sum of money for the purposes of the Election, amounting to nearly 5,000l., and therefore far exceeding the ordinary legal charges, is deserving of the serious consideration of the House.That the Committee feel they have been prevented from ascertaining the exact mode in which the whole of this money was expended, by the loss or destruction of the vouchers and other documents connected with these payments, especially in the case of William Rouse Mabson, who, after having been served with the Speaker's Warrant, disposed of those in his possession."Report to lie on the Table.Minutes of the Proceedings of the Committee, and of the Evidence taken before them, to be laid before this House.