(79I* Parliamentary Proceedings* 301 



t is not the buGnefs of this committee to take into confidera* 

 ion : and that the committee cannot liften to any animadver- 

 ionon the condudt f)t any member, or on the proceedings of the 

 ■loufe." And that the committee had likewife refolved, "That 

 he chairman do direft Mr Home Tooke to go to the matter 

 )f his petition, and ftate the circumftances of the undue elec- 

 ion, and return of the fitting members, which is the caufe they 

 ire to determine upon." 



Mr Tooke then entered upon a variety of extraneous m.atter, 

 md after a wide and diccreflbry excurfion, he told the com- 

 nittee that 't was his wifh to go back to tiie eledlions of Wcft- 

 ninfter in 1780, 1784, and 1788, to bring before them the riots, 

 he bribery, and the abominable corruption that then prevailed, 

 ind if poffible to point out the remedy. He faid his petition 

 ;ontained manv allegations, all of which he was certain he 

 oul 1 prove. The queftion he much preffcd upon the com- 

 Tiittee was, " To what extent they would allow him to carry 

 h.is proof, becai'.fe he would regulate the calling of his witnef- 

 fes by their decifion." He fpoke till half part three, when the 

 :hairman informed him, that the committee confidered he had 

 now concluded his opening, and, in obedience to the diredtiona 

 oi tiie committee, exprtfTed in their refoiutions, which the 

 :lerk had read, Mr Tooke muft next proceed to ftate the cir- 

 umftances of the undue election and return of the prcfent 

 itting members for Wcftminfter. 



Adjourned to Monday, at ten o'clock. 

 Monday, February 7. 

 Purfuant to adjournment, the committee being met at ten 

 o'clock, Mr Home Tooke was ordered to proceed. He faid, 

 he meant, it' he had leave, to call evidence on all the different 

 allegations in his petition. He then recurred to'the pretended 

 pcrjiiiy, riots, anM murder that had been committed at former 

 ledlions for Weftminfter, and faid, he m.eanf to bring proof 

 of all that he advanced ; but being told by the Chairman, that 

 no evidence would be admitted, except v/hat was immediately 

 connecfted with, and relative to, the matter under con fuleration, 

 and that the committee defired he would proceed to the ntxt 

 point in evidence that he meant to bring forward, he faid, that, 

 if he was refufcd, when lie begged leave to prove the murdars, 

 &c. that he !iad mentioned, it was in vain for him to proceed, 

 or to give tiic Commit'ee any further trouble, as, by refulin;* 

 that evidence, he was convinced that he had brought his own 

 complaint, and the grievances of the elrdors of Wcftminfter, 

 before an improper judicature, and muft now th.ink of fome 

 other method for obtaining juftice and redrefs. Mr Powys, 

 the Chairman, then afkcd Mr Tooke, if he had ciofed his 

 cafj, or had any thin;j more to fay in fupport of his petition, 

 before the committee proceeded to take into co.ufideration 



