§
House informed, that the committee appointed to inquire into the Lyme Regis Election had determined,—
That William Pinney, Esq., was not duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Lyme Regis.
That Thomas Hussey, Esq., was duly elected and ought to have been returned a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Lyme Regis.
Determinations to be entered in the journals. House further informed, that the committee had unanimously come to the following resolutions:
That the committee think it right to inform the House, that although the general charge of bribery, alleged in the petition, has not been gone into, yet it has appeared in evidence, in the course of the scrutiny, that a corrupt practice has for some years prevailed in the Borough of Lyme, of lending money upon notes of hand, bills of sale, or other securities, to a considerable portion of a constituency which did not exceed 280 by the last registration.
That, in the opinion of this committee, a practice so insidiously corrupting and demoralising, is peculiarly adapted to interfere with the free and honest exercise of the franchise, especially in small constituencies; that it has had this effect in the Borough of Lyme, and that it deserves serious attention and inquiry on the part of the House.
§ Report to lie on the Table. Return to be amended.