§ MR. DIVETTappeared at the bar and reported that the Select Committee appointed to try the return of Charles Townley, Esq., for the borough of Sligo, had agreed to the following Resolutions, namely:—
That Charles Towneley, Esq., is not duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Sligo.That the last Election for the said Borough is a void Election.And the said Determinations were order- 1208 ed to be entered in the Journals of this House.House further informed, that the Committee had agreed to the following Resolutions:—
That the said Charles Towneley was, by his agents, guilty of bribery and treating at the last Election for the Borough of Sligo.That Jeremiah Joyce O'Donovan, and Alderman of the Borough of Sligo, was bribed by Henry Stonor, by the promise of payment of 1037., being a portion of an outstanding Election account, to forbear giving his vote, which he had promised to Mr. Somers, and in consequence absented himself during the Election.That it was not proved that the acts of bribery and treating were committed with the knowledge and consent of the said Charles Towneley.That the influence of the Roman Catholic Priests was exercised in a manner inconsistent with their duty as ministers of religion, and destructive of freedom of choice on the part of the voters.