PARLIAMENTARY BRIBERY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 958, 27 August 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY BRIBERY.

The price "f a member's vote ranged, miller George 111 , from L2oi) to L 10;)!». Mr Grenville, in ashing L)rd'Saya anil Sele, by letter fur his support, enclosed a I .TOO note. Lord Saye-wrote back, piomiMng his vote, bu(£ returning the money, fie observes that he has made it a rule never to accept presents of that sort. Mr Grenville replies by complimenting him on his nice sense of honour. Tillotsnn had the courage to remonstrate with William 111, against the practice. The King took the lecture in good part, and told the Archbishop ho was very sorrow, but could not help himself. It was in that reign that Sir John Trevor, Speaker of the House of Commons, was found guilty of taking a bribe of a thousand guineas to forward a private bill. He was ordered to move a vote of censure on himself from tbo chair. Next day be was to have moved bis own expulsion from the House. He contrived, however, to be ill on tbo morrow ; and the House good-naturedly accepted the excuse. The Duke of Leeds was reported by a Committee of the Commons to have accepted a g ftof LSOOH under suspicious circumstances, and impeached acoordinly. Luckily or unluckily lor tbo Duke, the witness on whom the Commons counted instantly disappeared. The impeachment bail to be dropped, but tbo Duke’s reputation was gone. It is characteristic of the age that his Grace, nevertheless, remained President of the Council for some time longer. A good story belongs to this period. Under James 11, a member was going to vote the wrong way. “Sir,” significantly remarked a Minister, I think you have a place in the Customs ?’’ “Yes,” replied the bon. gentleman ; “ but my brother died yesterday, and left me L7OO a-ycar, so I don’t care."—From “ A Scat in thollouse” in the Cornhill Magazine for May.