§ The EARL of ABERDEENmoved, that the House agree with the Commons in the address to Her Majesty for a Commission to inquire into the existence of corrupt practices at elections in Barnstaple.
LORD BROUGHAMstated, that he and his noble and learned Friend, Lord Truro, had minutely examined the evidence in this case, and they had no doubt whatever that the Committee had come to a sound conclusion, and were fully justified in reporting as they had done. There was every reason to believe that corrupt practices extensively prevailed at the last election for Barnstaple. He would only mention one fact. Voters living at Swansea, a distance of 200 miles from Barnstaple, hearing that the articles in which they dealt—namely, their votes—were bringing 15l. for a plumper, and 7l 10s. for a single vote, left their homes and went to Barnstaple, where they found a ready market. He hoped a long time would not be allowed to elapse before an effectual cure was provided for the bribery and corruption that prevailed at elections in all parts of the country.
§ Motion agreed to.