House of Commons
Wednesday, May 16 1804
Minutes
A message was brought from the Lords, requiring the attendance of this house at their lordships' bar, to hear his Majesty's assent given by commission to certain bills. Mr. Speaker, accompanied by several members, accordingly attended forthwith, and being returned, reported to the house, that the Royal assent had been given, by commission, to the two Loan bills, the Excise Duty bill, the Militia Officers' bill, the Militia Adjutants' Allowance bill, and the Statute Duty bill.—The further report of the committee on the Irish Currency was brought up, and ordered to lie on the table, and be printed.—An Account was laid before the house from the commissioners of customs in Scotland, of all the clover seed imported into Scotland for the last 7 years.—An Account was also laid before the house from the commissioners of excise in Scotland, of the arrears and of the balances now in their hands. Ordered to lie on the table.—A paper was laid before the house from the sec. of state's office, respecting the returns relative to the expence and maintenance of the poor in the different counties of England. Ordered to lie upon the table.—The bill for regulating licences taken out in Scotland, for retailing exciseable liquor in Scotland, was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow.—The Criminal Offenders' bill was read a second time, and committed for Friday.—Sir John Newport gave notice, that on to-morrow se'nnight he should bring forward a motion respecting the property tax, as far as it affected income drawn from Ireland.—A new writ was issued for the election of a member for Sutherland, in the room of the Right Hon. W. Dundas, who, since his election, had accepted the office of sec. at war.—Mr. Wilberforce gave notice, that he should bring forward his motion for the abolition of the slave trade to-morrow se'nnight.
Liskeard Election
, from the select committee who were ap- pointed to try and determine the merits of the petition of Thomas Sheridan, Esq. complaining of an undue election and return for the borough of Liskeard, reported to the house, that William Huskisson, Esq. is duly elected, and that the said petition did not appear to the said committee frivolous or vexatious.
, from the select committee who were appointed to try and determine the merits of the petition of William Huskisson, Esq. respecting the last return of a member to serve in Parliament for the borough of Liskeard, reported to the house, "that William Huskisson, Esq. only ought to have been returned a burgess to serve in Parliament for the said borough." The said determination was ordered to be entered in the Journals of the house, and the deputy clerk of the Crown was ordered to attend to-morrow with the double return for the borough of Liskeard, and amend the same, by taking off the file the indenture by which Thomas Sheridan, Esq. was returned. Mr. Rose, also acquainted the house, that the said committee had come to a resolution, "that Mr. John Dayman, under sheriff of the county of Cornwall, in annexing to the writ the indenture complained of in the said petition, acted contrary to his duty, and in violation of the privileges of Parliament." The right hon. gent. in compliance with the injunctions of the committee, then intimated his intention of submitting a motion to the house, on a future day, respecting the conduct on that occasion of the said under sheriff of Cornwall.
said, he was extremely glad to find that the charge of corruption, about which so much had been said on this subject, made no part of the report from the committee. In the resolution just reported, he sincerely believed the committee had decided according to the evidence before them; but he was also sure, that if Mr. Damon should be brought to the bar of that house, he would be fully able satisfactorily to exculpate himself, and to prove, that he, had acted from no corrupt intention.
replied, that Mr. Dayman had the advantage of very able counsel before the committee, and had been ably defended. He did not mean to impute to him any corrupt motive, nor did such a charge constitute any part of the report. But it appeared that he had acted wilfully; and although the same degree of moral turpitude did not attach as if he had acted corruptly, yet the result to the public was equally mischievous. In the motion he was about to make, it was not his intention to precipitate any measure in relation to Mr. Dayman, but give him full time for preparation; and he should therefore move that the report be taken into consideration this day fortnight. Ordered.—The minutes of the proceedings of the said committee were ordered to be laid before the house.