Sir J. Y. Bullerreported from the select committee appointed to try the merits of the petition against the return of John Quincey Harris for the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme,
That John Quincey Harris, esquire, was not duly elected a Burgess to serve in this 423 present Parliament for the Borough of New-castle-under-Lyme.That the last Election for the said Borough, so far as regarded the Return of John Quincey Harris, esquire, was 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 John Quincey Harris, esquire, was by his Agents guilty of Bribery at the last Election for the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme.That it has been proved before the Committee, that John Tabbernor was bribed with 5l., William Follows with 3l., John Follows with 3l., paid to his wife for him, and Joseph Follows with 2l. 15s., paid to his daughter for him, by Thomas Mayers.That Thomas Gallimore was bribed with 4l., and Daniel Pickerill with 4l., by Thomas Conyers.That Thomas Hassell was bribed with 8l., and Henry Harrison with 3l., by Edward Leech.That such bribes were given to each of them to vote for Mr. Harris:—And that it further appear that in most of these cases a small sum by way of commission was retained out of the said sums by the briber.That no evidence was given to show that these acts of Bribery were committed with the knowledge and consent of John Quincey Harris, esquire.That from Evidence taken before the Committee it appears, that a most objectionable practice has existed for many years, and still prevails in the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, of distributing money, under the appellation of "Market Money," "Finner Money," or some other local term, to the poorer voters, after the Election.
§ Report to lie on the Table.