64 RECORDS OF OLD TIMES 



which ruined many a county family by fighting 

 a ParHamentary contest. Bribery and corruption 

 were fertile snares of ruin to a candidate. In my 

 researches I have been surprised at the numbers of 

 petitions against the return of members, and the 

 enormous legal expenses incurred. I find that on 

 July 3, 1783, Lord Mansfield gave judgment in the 

 Court of Queen's Bench against Lord Rochester in 

 favour of Mr. Petre, respecting damages, in an 

 action for bribery in the election for Cricklade. Mr. 

 Petre recovered damages for 14,000/., besides the 

 costs of the suit, which were said to amount to more 

 than 10,000/. A curious case occurred in the 

 little borough of Wendover. The voters in this 

 small place fancied themselves aggrieved by some 

 action of Earl Verney's, and took the opportunity 

 to retaliate. His lordship had every reason to 

 apprehend that he should lose his seat for the 

 county of Bucks, and he therefore offered himself 

 and a Mr. Jolliffe, as candidates for the little 

 boroush. The voters were well aware of the sad 

 state of his private affairs, and consequently put up 

 their ' free and independent ' suffrages to the 

 highest bidder. A certain individual engaged to 

 find the candidates to contest the seat against his 

 lordship, and his interest, for the round sum of 

 6,000/ ! This was agreed to, and a gentleman was 

 employed to go down accordingly. He was met 

 outside the town, and the voters asked, ' What news 

 from the moon ? ' He answered that he had 

 brought from that satellite 6,000/, which was to be 



