MR. DEASYreported from the Select Committee appointed to try and determine the matter of the Petition of Robert Alexander Shafto Adair, complaining of 714 an undue Election and Return for the Borough of Cambridge; That on the meeting of the Committee this day at the hour to which they had adjourned from the previous sitting, the Marquess of Blandford, one of the Members of the said Committee, did not attend, and was not present within one hour after the meeting of the Committee, and that he the Chairman had received a certificate from Edward Headland, Surgeon, verified upon oath before Joseph Prior, Mayor of Woodstock, and stating that the Duke of Marlborough was alarmingly ill, and in a state that made his recovery very improbable:
That the Marquess of Blandford was at the bedside of his father, and it seemed absolutely necessary, on every ground, that he should remain with him; and that a Letter had since been received by the Chairman from the Marquess of Blandford, stating, that his father's death had subsequently taken place.
Certificate delivered in, and read, as follows:—
I hereby state that the Duke of Marlborough is alarmingly ill, and in a state that makes his recovery very improbable.Lord Blandford is at the bedside of his father, and it seems absolutely necessary on every ground that he should remain with him.EDW. HEADLAND,Surgeon.Blenheim, June 30, 1857.Deposed and sworn before me, JOSEPH PRIOR,Mayor of Woodstock.
§ Ordered, That the Marquess of Blandford be excused for not attending, and be discharged from further attendance on the said Committee.
Mr. DEASEYfurther reported from the said Committee, That they had adjourned till this day, at half after One of the clock.
§ Ordered. That the Report do lie upon the Table.
§ MR. GROGANasked if it were competent for the Committee now to proceed with the investigation of the case before them?
§ MR. SPEAKERIt is distinctly provided by Act of Parliament that they may do so.