Q. Was the original ever executed?

A. I can't fay it was.

Q. Did you ever understand from the parties, or either of them, that the original was executed?

[Called in-reads.]

[Withdrew.

"A memorandum between Mr. Medlycot, of Milborne Port, and Mr. Lloyd, made for the defraying the neceffary expences fo far as hereafter-mentioned fums may extend, which may arife in procuring a feat in parliament for the borough of Milborne Port, in the faid county, for either the faid Mr. Lloyd, or fuch other gentleman as Lord North, Mr. Medlycot, or Mr. Lloyd, fhall mutually approve. The faid Mr. Lloyd agrees to depofit in the hands of Meirs. J. and S. Daniel, bankers, in Yeovil, the fum of 1500l. for the purpose of purchasing Mr. Walter's intereft in the faid borough of Milborne Port, for and on account, and for the fole ufe and rifque of Mr. Medlycot, on the faid Mr. Lloyd's receiving eight days notice from the faid Meffrs. Daniel, to pay the fame, and receiving the proper fecurity, fuch as the faid Mr. Lloyd fhall approve of before he advances the fum aforefaid; and the faid Mr. Lloyd is to receive of the faid Mr. Medlycot, after the rate of 51. per cent. per annum from the time of the depofit of the faid 1500l. until fuch time as the faid Mr. Lloyd, or the approved friend, fhail have been feated peaceably fourteen days; and in cafe the faid Mr. Lloyd or his friend thall not be returned, or have a feat, then the faid fum of 1500l. to be returned to him again, without deduction, and the faid Mr. Medlycot is to give Mr. Lloyd proper fecurity, fuch as Mr Lloyd fhall approve, for the repayment of the faid fum of 1500l. and the faid Mr. Lloyd agrees to pay Mr. Medlycot the further fum of 1500l. immediately after the expiration of the fourteen days [quiet] poffeffion of his feat in Parliament, and in the mean time to lodge proper fecurity in the hands of the faid Meffrs. Daniel, for the payment of the fame, in the name of the real candidate to be made known to the faid Mr. Medlycot, and to make his appearance fix months prior to the faid election, if required.”

N. B. The above agreement to be nulled and void, unless the above purchase of Mr. Walter's interest in the faid borough is

made.

"Mr. Medlycot further agrees, that in cafe Mr. Luttrell does not contribute the like fum, as his share towards the expence of bringing him into Parliament, which request fhall be immediately made, after the figning this agreement, then Mr. Medlycot will give Lord North the option of recommending

3

commending to him another gentleman in the room of Mr. Lloyd; Mr. Medlycot further agrees to give Lord North the recommendation of another gentleman, provided Mr. Luttrell is not a candidate on Mr. Medlycot's interest. Mr. Medlycot is to come to the knowledge of Mr. Luttrell's intentions refpecting the fame with all convenient speed, and as foon after this agreement is completed by Mr. Lloyd as poffible. Mr. Lloyd undertakes to use his endeavours to purchafe Mr. Walter's intereft in the borough, it the fame does not exceed 1500l, for the use and purposes aforefaid; and Mr. Medlycot agrees to take the faid purchase, provided it does not

exceed that fum."

Q. What was meant by Mr. Walter's interest

A. Property and houses, bonds, notes, and five capital bai

liffs.

Q. Does he think or believe that Mr. Walter was directly or indirectly privy to this agreement?

A. Within thefe ten days I have heard Mr. Walter fay, that he would fooner have given away his property then, than it fhould get in the hands it is now in; he looked upon it as the greatest he ever met with in all his life.

Q. Do you know that a Mr. Hallet, of Milborne Port, received a confiderable fum of money, 300l. or thereabouts, to carry this bulinefs into effect, with his Walter?

maiter, Mr.

A. I did not fee him receive the money, Mr. Daniel can give the whole account of that tranfaction; I made the agree ment with Mr. Hallet, and therefore don't wish to speak against myfelf.

Q. At what time of the year did you make that memoran

dum?

A. The beginning of February, 1779.

Q. Have you understood, or have you reafon to believe that that agreement, or any part of it, was carried into effect?.. A. With refpect to Mr. Walter's property it was, I am pofitive of it.

Q..Was you at any time offered a place, or a fum of money, if you would prevail on Mr. Medlycot to give up Mr. Luttrell, and not fupport him as a candidate?

A. Mr. Lloyd offered me a note of 500l. if I would prevail on Mr. Medlycot to relinquith Mr. Luttrell.

Q. Did he fay any thing of a place or public employment? A. He mentioned a place of rool. per annum.

r

Q. Did you ever hear Mr. Lloyd, or any other person declare, that Lord North's principal object was to get Mr. Luttrell out of Parliament ?

A. Mr. Lloyd at the fame time told me, that Lord North. had determined to oppofe Mr. Luttrell, go wherever he would:

Q. Was it ever expreffed, or understood in the borough, that the nomination was to be in fact Lord North's, not Mr. Lloyd's; and have you heard Mr. Medlycot declare, that he litttle confidered Mr. Lloyd, or words to that effect, that Lord North was his man?

Queftion objected to---Withdrew.

[Called in again.]

Q. Whether the part of that paper, not written by Mr. Lloyd himself, but written by him, the witness, was with the approbation or privity of Mr. Medlycot?

A. The whole was with the privity of Mr. Medlycot; he was prefent in the room all the time.

Q. Did you mean to have it understood, that no fuch agreement was carried into effect, or rather you meant to fay, that you could not, pofitive to your knowledge, declare that it had been executed?

A. I meant to fay, that I could not take upon me to fay, that the agreement was figned by the contracting parties, it was a late hour of the night, and we had put about the bottle pretty brifkly.

Q. Do you mean, when that rough draft was taken, or at a fubfequent day?

A. On that very day, that the rough draft was taken, and I believe it was executed about one o'clock in the morning, if it was executed at all.

Q. Can you inform the Houfe of Mr. Hutchins's declaring to you of his having been in London on a visit to Mr. Robinfon, the Secretary of the Treafury, on this tranfaction?

[Question objected to---Withdrew. [Called in again.]

Q. Who were prefent, when that memorandum was drawn, and the business fettled?

A. Mr. Medlycot, Mr. Lloyd, the two Mr. Daniels, and myself.

Q Was Mr. George Hutchins there?

A. No.

Q. Do you know of any contract or engagement for indemnification entered into by Mr. George Hutchins, or in which Mr. George Hutchins was a party?

A. Mr.

A. Mr. Bryan can better inform you of this-I never drew any myself.

Q. Have you feen any?

A. I can't fay I ever read it.

Q. Do you know of a draft for 3000l. or fome fuch fum, to be paid eventually on the fuccefs of Mr. Lloyd's negociation? A. I did fee a note of hand for that fum, figned with the name of an honourable member of this House.

Q. What was the condition of that note?

A. I can't recollect.

Q. By whom was it figned?

A. By Mr. Coombe.

Q: Did you ever fee Mr. Coombe's hand writing?
A. I can't fay I ever faw him write.

Q: Do you know of any part of this tranfaction in which Mr. George Hutchins was a party ?

A. Nothing more than I have heard him say.

Q. Do you know to whofe order Mr. Coombe's note was payable? A. I can't fay.

Q. Do you not know of any indemnifying engagement entered into by Mr. George Hutchins in favour of Mr. Lloyd, in cafe the treaty for the borough of Milborne Port should not fucceed?

A. I was in the room when Mr. Bryan was ordered to draw fuch a note by the parties; I can't say that I read it.

Q: Was it an indemnification for any specific fum of money, and what?

A. I understood it to be such.

Q. What fum ?-A. Six thousand pounds.

Q. Did Mr. Hutchins declare that he had given up Mr. Luttrell, at Mr. Robinson's house in London?

[Question objected to---Withdrew. [Called in again.]

Q. Did you ever meet at Mr. Medlycot's, or was in company for the purpose of hearing any declaration refpecting this treaty for the feat at Milborne Port on Mr. Hutchins's return from London? [Question objected to---Withdrew. And it being near one o'clock in the morning, further hearing was adjourned.

March 17:

Mr. Luther prefented a petition from the clergy, gentlemen, and freeholders of the county of Effex, fimilar to that received from York; ordered to lie on the table.

Mr.

Mr. Crewe brought in a bill for the better fecuring the freedom of election, by preventing certain placemen from voting for members of Parliament, and moved that it fhould be read for the first time.

Mr. Harris faid, he thought he should not do his duty, if he did not object to this bill, even on its first reading, as it went, in his opinion, to deftroy the rights of the electors of Great Britain. So long ago as twenty years, he was applied to for the purpose of bringing in fuch a bill, but he declined it; for he really thought it of a moft arbitrary and despotic tendency; and as he thought fo ftill, he should certainly give it every means of oppofition in his power.

Sir Philip Jennings Clerke faid, it did not in the leaft furprife him, that the honourable gentleman fhould take a refolution of oppofing the bill brought in, as the borough he reprefented was entirely voted away by excife office and placemen, and no others.

The bill was then read, and ordered for a second reading on the 21st.

Mr. Hartley intimated to the Houfe an intention of troubling it very foon with a motion refpecting America. He fhould not, he said, move for declaring her independent of this country; he trusted he was not thought capable of fo grofs an abfurdity: but he fhould certainly move for withdrawing our troops. The honourable gentleman then reminded the House, that the order of the day ftood for going into a committee of ways and means, to receive the report of the taxes; but he fuppofed the order would be discharged, to make way for another bufinefs, (meaning the purchase of Milborne Port) and he hoped the report of the taxes would be put off till the 7th of April, the day after that appointed for taking the petitions of the people of England into confideration.

Lord North faid, he did not mean that the report of the taxes fhould be then brought up; but he defired gentlemen would not poffefs themselves of an idea, that it was to be deferred till after the confiderations of the petitions, as he certainly meant to take the first open day for it.

Mr. Temple Luttrell then moved the order of the day, for refuming the enquiry into the complaint he had brought against Lord North, refpecting the purchase of the borough of Mil- borne Port.

End of the SIXTEENTH Volume.

Luke Hanfard, Printer,

Great Turnstile, Lincoln's-Inn Fields.