HL Deb 07 June 1811 vol 20 cc510-1

The Committee of Privileges on the Berkeley Peerage sat from ten o'clock in the morning till near five. Some witnesses were examined on the part of the Claimant, two of whom grossly prevaricated, and their evidence was ordered to be reported to the House, and themselves to attend.

Immediately after prayers, the House proceeded to take into consideration the cases of the two witnesses ordered to attend. These two persons, namely Ellis Taylor Farren and Nicholas Hicks, appeared at the bar, and the evidence of the former having been read by Mr. Gurney, jun the short hand writer, and also the evidence of Mr. Griffiths, solicitor, of Gloucester, through which the prevarication of Farren was proved, Farren and Hicks were ordered to withdraw. The Lord Chancellor moved a Resolution, That Farren had grossly prevaricated in his evidence before the Committee—which was agread to nem. diss.; and Farren having been called in, was asked if he wished to say any thing in explanation of his conduct. After hearing what he had to stale, he was ordered to withdraw, and the Lord Chancellor moved, that he be committed to the custody of the gentleman usher of the black rod, and that a warrant be issued for sending him to Newgate; both which motions were agreed to nem. diss.—Hicks the other witness, was then called in, and his evidence in chief and on the cross-examination, both together proving the prevarication, having been read by Mr. Gurney, he was asked if he had any thing to state in explanation. After hearing what he wished to say, he was ordered to withdraw, and earl Grey moved resolutions precisely similar to those moved by the Lord Chancellor in the other case; which were also agreed to nem. diss.