§ EARL JERMYNsaid, he rose pursuant to notice to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether Her Majesty's Government are prepared to recommend Parliament to visit any Constituencies which have been of late, or may be hereafter convicted of gross bribery and corruption, with the same punishment as has already been awarded to the now disfranchised Boroughs of Sudbury and St. Albans?
SIR GEORGE LEWISsaid, the House had made an order, in the case of the boroughs of Gloucester and Wakefield, that no writ should be moved for without a week's notice, and, therefore, it was competent for any one, who wished that those boroughs should proceed to elect Members, to give notice and make a Motion for the issue of a writ. In the absence of any such notice, however, the franchise of these boroughs would be suspended. With respect to the borough of Berwick-on-Tweed, which had been lately reported upon, he had made a reference to the Law Officers of the Crown, to ascertain whether they would recommend that any prosecution should be made consequent on that Report.