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:

  • 21383.

    It was paid in January ? — Yes, but the accounts were served in the summer of the previous year.

  • 21384.

    The summer of 1879 ? — Yes, I recollect sending down.

  • 21385.

    Then, “Bell Hotel, Sandwich, £44 12s 6d ? — That was a dinner Mr. Hugessen and I gave to the mayor and corporation of Sandwich, and I think it was in January last.

  • 21386.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Was there more than one dinner given by you to the Corporation of Sandwich ? — No, I think it was in January.

  • 21387.

    (Mr. HoIl) I see Lord Brabourne mentioned it as taking place in the autumn of 1879 ? — I think he was mistaken with regard to the date.

  • 21388.

    I understand that afterwards Lord Brabourne corrected that and said the date was January ? — Yes, I believe it was the latter end of January, but I could not say the precise date.

  • 21389.

    Then, “Frost, Brothers, £17 17s.” I suggest these are the ironmongers here ? — Yes, that was for a bill incurred during my residence here last autumn.

  • 21390.

    Then, “S. Willoughby, Deal, £11 10s.” ? — Yes, I gave a dinner in November. That is the hotel bill.

  • 21391.

    What other dinner was that ? — Mr. Hugessen and I gave a dinner to the mayor and corporation of Deal in November last.

  • 21392.

    Last November; this year ? — No, November 1879.

  • 21393.

    Then there was one dinner to the corporation of Deal in November 1879 (the autumn of 1879) with dinner to the corporation of Sandwich in January 1880 ? — Yes.

  • 21394.

    Have you got the bill for the dinner at Deal? Mr. Willoughby’s bill ? — I have here Filmer’s receipt for the dinner at Sandwich. That will probably mention the date when the dinner was.

  • 21395.

    (Mr. Jeune.) It is dated the 27th of January 1880 ? — That was the date, no doubt.

  • 21396.

    Where was the Deal dinner given ? — At the Queen’s Hotel.

  • 21397.

    How many people were there ? — I think there must have been about 25, probably. I could not say exactly. It was a general invitation to the mayor and corporation of the borough.

  • 21398.

    (Mr. Holl.) Twenty-five, including the mayor and corporation ? — Yes; I think there was one or two besides. I rather think Mr. Cottew was there.

  • 21399.

    Have you got the bill for that dinner? I do not find it among these vouchers you have handed in. I do not find any bill of sufficient amount, as it appears to me, to cover the dinner for the corporation ? — I believe I have it (handing same). I think that is it. I think it is for other expenses besides the dinner.

  • 21400.

    This is not included, I think, amongst the papers mentioned in this account you have handed us, is it ? — No, I have a separate account of what I spent during my residence at Deal last autumn, or rather the autumn of 1879 (handing same to the Commissioners). I was here for three weeks or a month; three weeks, I think. I thought I had better make a separate account of it.

  • 21401.

    This account contains your expenditure during the time you were staying here in the autumn of 1879 ? — Yes.

  • 21402.

    And you have included the dinner you gave to the mayor and corporation at that time in this account ? — Yes.

  • 21403.

    “De Lorme.” Who is he ? — That is one of my servants. I gave him cheques to discharge certain accounts. I believe I have the receipts here.

  • 21404.

    Then, “Waters, £60.” What item is that ? — He is my butler.

  • 21405.

    May I take it these expenses mentioned in the last account you have handed in are your personal expenses whilst here with the exception of the dinner to the corporation ? — Yes. They included rent of house, and everything; my expenses in fact. I was here with my family.

  • 21406.

    Except the dinner to the corporation, are any of these expenses other than what I may call personal expenses of your residence here ? — No. I took a house here, and my family were here. It was quite an exceptional visit.

  • 21407.

    Were you alone here, or was your family here ? — My family was here.

  • 21408.

    Then this is the expenditure of yourself and family for the three weeks you were here with the exception of the dinner to the corporation ? — Yes; I think that represents everything I spent.

  • 21409.

    Striking out that dinner, it appears to amount to about £100 a week, the expenses of yourself and your family ? — I should think it would be about that.

  • 21410.

    The first list of subscriptions which you handed in, were they subscriptions on behalf of yourself and Lord Brabourne, or your own subscriptions ? — Those are my own expenses.

  • 21411.

    And I understood you that the accounts of subscriptions and expenses you have handed in do not embrace the £116 mentioned in Mr. Edward’s letter ? — I fancy not.

  • 21412.

    These accounts carry your expenses up to the 1880 election, for it ends at February 1880. The account of the expenses, and so forth, is up to the present month, December ? — Yes.