§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir JOHN WALTON, Leeds, S.)apologised to the House for asking at that late hour for consideration of the Motion standing in his name. It only invited the House to adopt the course prescribed by Statute. He was not aware that in any previous case had any objection been made to it. He begged to move.
§ Question proposed, "Worcester Election—That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, as followeth:—
§ "Most Gracious Sovereign,
§ "We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament 744 assembled, beg leave humbly to represent to Your Majesty that Sir John Compton Lawrence, knight, one of the Justices of the High Court of Justice, and Sir Joseph Walton, knight, one of the Justices of the High Court of Justice, being two of the Judges appointed for the trial of Election Petitions, pursuant to The Parliamentary Elections Act, 1868, and The Parliamentary Elections and Corrupt Practices Act, 1879, have reported to the House of Commons that there was reason to believe extensive corrupt practices had taken place at the last Election for the City of Worcester.
§ "We therefore humbly pray Your Majesty that Your Majesty will be graciously pleased to cause inquiry to be made, pursuant to the powers of the Act of Parliament passed in the sixteenth year of the reign of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, intituled 'An Act to provide for more effectual inquiry into the existence of Corrupt Practices at Elections for Members to serve in Parliament,' by the appointing of Edward Tindal Atkinson, esquire, one of Your Majesty's Counsel, Attorney-General for Your Majesty's County Palatine of Durham, and Recorder of Leeds; Horace Edmund Avory, esquire, also one of Your Majesty's Counsel and Recorder of Kingston upon-Thames; and Charles. Willie Matthews, esquire, Barrister at Law and Recorder of Salisbury, as Commissioners for the purpose of making inquiry into the existence of such corrupt practices."—(Mr. Attorney-General.)
§ Ordered, That the said Address be communicated to the Lords, and their concurrence desired thereto. — (Mr.Attorney-General.)
§ And, it being after half-past Eleven of the clock, Mr. SPEAKER adjourned the House without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.
§ Adjourned at ten minutes before Twelve O'clock.