The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

We hear from London, that the Hon. R. Lee, Esq: and Sir Thomas Stapleton, Bart. the two members for the city of Oxford, received a Letter from the Mayor and Aldermen of that city, informing them, that unless they paid down the sum of seven thousand five hundred pounds sterling, they should not be chosen to represent that city in the ensuing parliament, to which the following noble & patriotic answer was returned. Gentlemen—That they would never buy them, as they never intended to sell them.

The letter was laid before a certain great assembly, and judged an high and flagrant breach of the privilege of the house, and tending to subvert the freedom and independence of parliament, and by virtue of an order of the house, the above mentioned persons were brought up to London & committed prisoners to Newgate, but being soon tired of their lodgings, they presented a petition to the house, expressing their unfeigned sorrow for their heinous offence, and humbly representing that the continuance of their confinement would be of the utmost ill consequence to themselves and families, and that some of the Petitioners being in a very bad state of health, their lives were in eminent danger: and therefore praying the house to take their unhappy circumstances into consideration. Accordingly, the day following, they were brought to the bar of the house where they, upon their knees, received a reprimand from the Speaker, and were ordered to be discharged, paying their fees.

The Speech of the Speaker of the House of Commons, When he reprimanded Philip Ward late Mayor of the City of Oxford; John Treacher, Sir Thomas Munday, Thomas Wise, John Nicholas, John Philips, Isaac Lawrence, Richard Tawney, all of said City; Thomas Robinson & John Brown, late Bailiffs of the said City; upon their Knees, at the Bar of the said House, upon Wednesday the Tenth Day of February, 1768.

Philip Ward, John Treacher, Sir Thomas Munday, Thomas Wise, John Nicholas, John Philips, Isaac Lawrence, Richard Tawney, Thomas Robinson, John Brown,

THE Offence of which you have been guilty has justly brought you under the severe Displeasure of this House. A more enormous Crime you could not well commit: since a deeper Wound could not be given to the Constitution itself, than by the open and dangerous Attempt which you have made to subvert the Freedom and Independence of this House.

The Freedom of this House is the Freedom of this Country, which can continue no longer than while the Voices of the Electors are uninfluenced by any base or venal Motive, For if Abilities & Integrity are no Recommendation to the Electors; if those who bid highest for their Voices are to obtain them from such detestable Considerations; this House will not be the Representatives of the People of Great Britain. Instead of being the Guardians and Protectors of their Liberties, instead of redressing the Grievances of the Subject, This House itself will be the Authors of the worst of Grievances: They will become the venal Instruments of Power to reduce this happy Nation, the Envy and Admiration of the World, to the lowest State of Misery and Servitude. This is the abject Condition to which you have attempted to bring your Fellow Subjects.

Many Circumstances concur to aggravate your Offence. The Place of your Residence was a singular Advantage. You had at all Times the Example of one of the most Learned and respectable Bodies in Europe before your Eyes. Their Conduct every Instance, but especially in the Choice of Representatives in Parliament, was well worthy your Imitation. You are Magistrates of a great City, In such a Station, it was a Duty peculiarly incumbent upon you to watch over the Morals of your Fellow Citizens—to keep yourselves pure from Venality; & to prevent, by your Influence those under your Government from being tainted by this growing & pestilential Vice. How have you abused this Trust! You yourselves have set the infamous Example of Prostitution, in the most public and daring Manner.

Surely you must have felt some Remorse from the generous Disdain with which your corrupt Offer was rejected by your Representatives. They thought and justly thought, that a Seat in this House, obtained by a free independent Choice of their Constituents, was the highest Honour to which a Subject can aspire: and that discharging their Duty, as such Representatives, was the noblest of Services. Sorry I am to say, that these Considerations do not appear to have had the least Weight with you.

However, you have at last acknowledged your Guilt; and, by your Petition Yesterday, you seem conscious of the Enormity of your Offence. This House, in the Terror of its Judgements, always thinks upon Mercy; nor do they ever inflict Punishment but for the sake of Example, and to prevent others from becoming the Objects of their Resentment.

The Censure passed upon you will, they hope, have that Effect. You are now the Objects of their Mercy; and are brought to the Bar to be discharged. May you be penetrated with a due Sense of their Justice and Lenity! May you atone for your past Offence, by your constant Endeavours to make a right Use of the invaluable Privileges which you enjoy as Electors! Consider these Privileges as a sacred Trust reposed in you. Discharge it with Integrity.

But, before you rise from your present Posture, I do, in Obedience to the Commands of this House, reprimand you.—I am to acquaint you, that you are discharged paying your fees.