§ MR. T. H. BOLTONasked Mr. Attorney General, Whether he is aware of the interference of certain Lords of Parliament in the election of Members of this House, especially in the Metropolis, by those Lords sending their carriages and hired servants to convey voters to the poll; and, whether, having regard to the Resolution of this House, which declares that—
It is a high infringement of the liberties and privileges of the Commons of the United Kingdom for any Lord of Parliament … to concern himself in the election of Members to serve the Commons in Parliament,he will consider the propriety of advising 1516 proceedings to support the Resolution of this House?
§ COLONEL BROOKFIELDasked, whether the hon. and learned Gentleman was aware of and would inquire into the interference of certain Lords of Parliament in the election of Members of this House, especially in the North Riding of Yorkshire; whether he was aware also that the interference of a Lord of Parliament in one case took the form of sending £1,000 to an election committee for election purposes?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Mr. CHARLES RUSSELL), in reply, said, that he was not aware of the matters to which the hon. and gallant Member for Eye referred; but perhaps he would put his Question on the Notice Paper, in which case inquiries should be made. As regarded the Question of the hon. Member for St. Pancras (Mr. T. H. Bolton), it was the fact that carriages had been sent by Peers to convey voters to the poll. As to the Resolution of the House relating to the liberties and Privileges of the Commons, he must repeat what he said the other day—that that was not a subject which was at all in any special sense within his sphere of duty. It was a matter for the House to deal with; and if the hon. Member desired information with regard to it, he should address his Question to the Leader of the House. With reference to the latter part of the Question, he did not propose to offer an opinion about it, unless it was asked by the Government.