the city of London, admitted from time to 51Geo.3.c.84. time by the lord mayor, aldermen, and commous of the said city, to have, hold, exercise and enjoy the said places of coal meters and corn meters respectively, in trust for the mayor and commonalty and citizens of the "said city; and the said coal meters have been "considered to be within that act, because they "have commission from the commissioners of customs; and the said corn meters have also been considered to be within that act, because the duties of customs payable to his majesty on corn imported into the port of London are "ascertained by or from the admeasurement of "the said corn meters, although the said coal "and corn meters respectively act without any "fee or salary payable out of the customs, or "other public revenues of the crown: And "whereas it is not expedient that the said act should be held to extend to such coal and to extend to corn meters respectively:" Be it therefore declared and enacted, by the king's most excellent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that nothing in the said recited act contained shall extend, or Recited act not be construed to extend, to such coal meters, or incapacitate corn meters, of the city of London as aforesaid, coal meters or notwithstanding they may have a commission cura meters of from the commissioners of customs, or be em- London from ployed in the admeasurement of coal or corn for the purpose of ascertaining the duties of customs, due to his majesty thereon, or to render such coal meters or corn meters incapable of giving their votes for members to serve in parliament, as other persons having a right of vot corn voting, 51 Geo.3.c.84. ing may do, provided such coal meters and provided they corn meters shall not receive, or be entitled to receive no sa- receive, any salary, fee, or reward, payable out of the revenue of customs, or other public revenues of the crown. lary out of public reve nnes, or are entitled to any. RESOLUTIONS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS RELATING TO DISQUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTORS. Resolutions repeated at the Commencement of every Session. Resolved, THAT no peer of this realm, except such peers of Ireland as shall, for the time being, be actually elected, and shall not have declined to serve for any county, city, or borough of Great Britain, hath any right to give his vote in the election of any member to serve in parliament. 22 December, 1698. Resolved, nem. con. That no alien (not being a denizen or naturalized) hath any right to vote in 12 Journ. 367. elections of members to serve in parliament (a). (a) For the order against peers concerning themselves in elections, see 1 vol. 285. The Stat. 25 Geo. 3. c. 81. An Act to limit the Duration of Polls and Scrutinies, and for making other Regulations touching the Election of Members to serve in Parliament, for Places within England and Wales, and for Berwick upon Tweed; and also for removing Difficulties which may arise for want of Returns being made of Members to serve in Parliament. [The other sections of this act contain re- (For § 1, see 1 vol. 623. § 2, ib. 702. § 3, ib. 629. § 4, ib. 533. § 5, ib. 648. § 7, ib. 584. § 8, ib. 649. § 9, ib. 626.) 10. "AND whereas an act passed in the 10Geo.s.c.16. "tenth year of his present majesty's reign, (intituled, An act to regulate the trials of controverted elections, or returns of mem "bers to serve in parliament); and another "act was passed in the eleventh year of his 11 Geo. 3. c. "said majesty's reign, for explaining and 42. " ́amending the said former act; and whereas 66 no provision is made therein for the hearing and determining any petition, unless the same If no return made to writ on or before the day on which the writ is returnable; or if writ issued during rogation, and no return in 52 days after test of writ, or if there be a 23Geo.3.c.84. «shall complain of an undue election, or re"turn of members to serve in parliament;" Be it therefore enacted, that from and after the first day of August, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, if upon any writ or writs to be issued for the election of any member or members to serve in parliament, no return shall be made to the same on or before the day which such writ is made returnable; or if a writ shall have been issued during any session or prorogation of parliament, and no return shall be made to the same within fifty-two days after the day session or pro- on which such writ bears date; or if the return, made in either of such cases, shall not be a return of a member or members, according to the requisition thereof, but contain special special return, matters only concerning such election, it shall and may be lawful for any person or persons, having had, or claiming to have had, a right to vote at such election, or claiming to have had a right to be returned as duly elected thereat, who shall think himself or themselves aggrieved, to petition the house of commons concerning consideration, the same; and upon such petition being prethe notice and sented, a day and hour shall be appointed for taking the same into consideration, and notice thereof, in writing, shall be forthwith given by the speaker to the petitioners, and to the returning officer or officers by whom such return ought to have been made, or shall have been made, accompanied with an order to him or them to attend the house at the time appointed by himself or themselves, his or their counsel or agents; and a select committee shall be appointed according to the directions of the said two recited acts for regulating the trial of con any person claiming to have a right to vote may petition; and on petition presented, a time to be ap pointed for taking it into order herein being given. troverted elections; which committee shall try 25 Geo.3.c.84. and determine whether any and which of the person or persons named in such petition, ought to have been returned, or whether a new writ ought to issue; which determination shall be final to all intents and purposes, and the house being informed thereof by the chairman of the said select committee, shall order the same to be entered in their journals, and give the necessary directions for ordering a return to be made, or for altering the return, if made, or for the issuing a new writ for a new election or for carrying the said determination into execution, as the case may require. be in effect as § 11. And be it further enacted, that all and Rules, &c. of every the rules, regulations, authorities, and recited acts to powers, given or prescribed by either of the to petitions said recited acts for regulating the trial of con- under this act. troverted elections, with respect to select committees to be appointed by virtue of the said acts, or either of them, shall be in full force and effect, with respect to select committees to be appointed by virtue of this present act, in as full and ample a manner as if the same were herein repeated, and particularly and especially enacted concerning the same. be fouud so as § 12. Provided always, that if the returning If returning officer or officers, by whom such return ought officer not to to have been made, or has been made, cannot to be served be found so as to be served with the notice or with notice, or does not aporder herein-before mentioned, or being served, pear, &c. house shall not appear by himself or themselves, his may permit any or their counsel or agents, at the day or time pear in bis appointed for taking such petition into consi- stead, person to ap |