Testimonies

Testimonies

• 1.

  (Mr. Holl.) You are the town clerk of Sandwich ? – Yes

• 1. [Mr. Justice Lewis] Do you produce all the election accounts that have been rendered to you? — Yes, my Lord.

• 2.

  And have been so for a great many years ? – Yes, more than 40 years.

• 2.

  The whole of them? — The whole of them.

• 3.

  I need hardly ask you whether you are very well acquainted with the borough ? – Yes, very well.

• 3.

  Where do you live? — In Deal.

• 4.

  I do not know whether your knowledge extends equally to the borough of Deal ? – No, it does not, except as part of the parliamentary borough, I know nothing of the municipal part. As far as the parliamentary borough is concerned, of course, I am perfectly acquainted with it.

• 4.

  Where in Deal? — High-street, Deal.

• 5.

  What were you at the last election? — I acted as agent; Sir Julian’s professional agent.

• 5.

  Can you tell me the extent of the parliamentary borough ; what does it comprise ? – It comprises the old seaport, now the borough, of Sandwich, and the two parishes of Deal and Walmer, which were added by the Reform Act – that is, as the borough is now constituted.

• 6.

  Sandwich is a borough with a mayor and corporation ? – Yes.

• 6.

  As election agent? — Not election for expenses.

• 7.

  And Deal also has a mayor and corporation ? – Yes.

• 7.

  Are you a solicitor? — I am.

• 8.

  And Walmer ? – That is a mere parish ; but it has a local board.

• 8.

  You produce all the bills that have been sent in to you, paid and unpaid? — Paid; there are some particulars not here.

• 9.

  Who is the officer in that parish ? – The clerk to the local board ; and Deal, the officer is the town clerk.

• 9.

  You must go through them? — Then I must make them out.

• 10.

  Can you tell me what was the population of the parliamentary borough in 1861 ? – In 1861, 13,733.

• 10.

  You say there are some more? — There are some more that I have not any bills of.

• 11.

  And in 1871 ? – 14,885.

• 11.

  I must have every account sent in to you? — Every item.

• 12.

  That is the whole parliamentary borough ? – Yes ; but I may say that the next census will show a considerable increase.

• 12.

  Mr. Justice Manisty.] Have you not made out any list? — I have not the list here.

• 13.

  Between 1861 and 1871 there was an increase of about l,000 ? – Yes.

• 13.

  You have one at home? — Yes: I can get a list.

• 14.

  Do you think there will be as large an increase at the next census ? – Yes, there will be a considerable increase. Deal and Walmer are growing year by year.

• 14.

  You must give us a perfect list of them, paid and unpaid? —

• 15.

  Can you tell me the number of the constituency upon the present register ? – 2,115 ; and the lists for the new register, recently revised, will show nearly 100 in excess ; next time it will be about 2,200.

• 15.

  Mr. Justice Lush.] You have made out a list of them? — I have made out a list.