Brassey, Henry A | Day 21

Henry A Brassey was one of the two Liberal MPs elected at the 1874 election and returned unopposed in 1880. He continued to hold the position until 1885. He was requested to appear at the trial and bring all papers and accounts relating to subscriptions and other payments made by him relating to Sandwich, Deal, and Walmer since 1874. He also prepared a statement regarding expenses at the 1868 and 1874 elections to counter remarks made by Mr Crompton Roberts during his cross examination.

https://www.c82.net/seats/seat/preston-hall

Witness Type: Candidate / MP

Party: Liberal

Witness Testimony:

  • 21353.

    These were both gifts towards the restoration of a church in Sandwich ? — Yes, St Bartholomew.

  • 21354.

    And there is a subscription to the Deal band fund and the regatta ? — Yes.

  • 21355.

    I see the subscriptions that you have paid in these years, including the payments to Messrs. Mercer at various times, appear to have altogether amounted to somewhere about £400 a year on an average ? — Yes, or rather more.

  • 21356.

    About £500 a year on an average, is that it ? — Yes, I should think that is about it.

  • 21357.

    In 1880, the present year, I see the subscriptions have amounted to £234. “Deal and Walmer Institute, 3 guineas; the Rev. Mr. Scratton, £10; Cattle Show, £10; Mr. Emmerson’s subscriptions, £40; Edwards and Mercer’s, £89; West Kent Harriers, £10; Mr. Cornwell’s subscriptions, £20,” and so on; altogether, £234. Independently of the subscriptions, there have been some other payments, I see; to Kemball, Jacobs, Hinde, and Goymer ? — My children were down there for three or four weeks, and those payments are in connexion with that visit. I took a house here for a short time.

  • 21358.

    One of the payments is in respect of the cost of reseating St. George’s Church ? — Yes.

  • 21359.

    The rest of them appear to be more of a private nature. There are payments to Kemball, Hinde, Goymer, and Jacobs ? — They are tradesmen’s bills.

  • 21360.

    There is an item of £18 (showing same to the witness). Do you remember what that is in respect of ? — I rather think it was in respect of an entertainment I gave here to the mayor and corporation.

  • 21361.

    In 1879 there are various payments; most appear to be for hotel bills, excepting one payment for “removing wreck from opposite esplanade, Deal, £20,” and there is one to “D. Almond, £21 4s 6d.” What was that for ? — It was a wine account, on the occasion of a Foresters’ dinner.

  • 21362.

    A dinner given by you to the Foresters’ ? — No, a public dinner which I attended.

  • 21363.

    And did you find the wine for that dinner ? — I did on that occasion. It was not at any period immediately preceding an election.

  • 21364.

    Do you remember when the dinner was ? — I rather think it was in November.

  • 21365.

    The bill was paid in November, was the dinner in November ? — I think it was.

  • 21366.

    Or about that time ? — Yes.

  • 21367.

    I see in the same month of that year, “Mr. Cornwell, Nov. 21st, £6.” Do you remember what that was ? — I cannot quite call to mind what that was.

  • 21368.

    Then there is “Alpin and Co., as per voucher, £14 2s 1d.” ? — I think that was a tradesman’s bill while I was residing here. There is the bill (handing same), and I have another of Almond’s (handing same).

  • 21369.

    As I understand, all this wine was consumed at the Foresters’ dinner ? — It was.

  • 21370.

    That was on the 21st November. I understand you to say it was not a dinner given by you to the Foresters’ club, but a dinner of the Foresters’ club which you attended ? — Yes.

  • 21371.

    Are you a member of the Foresters’ club ? — I am.

  • 21372.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Do you pay for the wine at the dinner regularly year by year ? — I think I have generally.

  • 21373.

    (Mr. Holl.) You think you have generally paid for it ? — I think I have on almost all occasions when I have been dining myself.

  • 21374.

    Was that voucher which you have handed in of Almond in1876 for wine supplied on a similar occasion, the Foresters’ dinner ? — Yes.

  • 21376.

    When this dinner was given in 1879, was there any contemplation of an immediate dissolution ? — No, not at all, I think.

  • 21376.

    One word with regard to the payments in 1880. I see, “The Editor of the Deal Telegram newspaper, £25″ ? — That was to assist the paper. It was represented to me that it was in want of funds, and in consequence of that — —

  • 21377.

    Is it a Liberal organ ? — Yes; in consequence of that I talked it over with Mr. Knatchbull-Hugessen and we thought it desirable to assist the paper.

  • 21378.

    Then, “H. Webb, Deal, £9 10s,” in January 1880. What is that ? — That was an account for, I think, some beer and wine that was served round at a meeting which Mr. Knatchbull-Hugessen and I attended, which I thought excessive in amount, I must say.

  • 21379.

    That was on the 6th of January ? — Yes.

  • 21380.

    And it was a meeting you and Mr. Hugessen attended, you say ? — Yes.

  • 21381.

    Where was that meeting held? At an hotel? Where ? — I rather think it was at the Park Tavern. I think that was not an account of that date, but an account for the previous summer. Mr. Hugessen and I came down one evening in the summer previous and I think it was an account for liquor served on that occasion.

  • 21382.

    But not served at this date ? — No.