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of the Clerk or Returning Officer, setting forth that 7,222 voting
papers were delivered, and 4,500 returned, &c., is correct, there is
a good working majority left in favour of the free library. My
brother Wills drew my attention to the number of spoilt papers and
the number returned blank, which shows that a total of 4,500
persons attempted to record; that a very large number of persons
in proportion to per-centage had taken an interest in the matter
by tilling up, or endeavouring to fill up, their voting-papers.
There may have been some who did not care how it went, who did
not wish to express an opinion; but the question now comes, has
there been any unfair dealing in getting votes ? It might be that
Mr. Ross and his party had got an unfair number of votes. I
would be willing to secure purity of election in this or any other
case; but I must come to the conclusion, upon the evidence, that
there has been no improper dealing in this case by which this
expression of public opinion or majority has been arrived at. The
affidavits also alleged gross carelessness. In Mr. Ross's affidavit
this is made; and about the only practical illustration is with
regard to one man who put the voting papers into his pocket instead
of into the box. If he had been acting improperly and incorrectly,
if the votes had been spoilt or in some way or other destroyed,
I should have had to take cognisance of it. But what is the
explanation of it ? It was a wet day, the papers were limp,
and the collector cou'd not get them to force each other down
into his box. I don't know whether such was the case or not,
but there it is in the affidavit, and I must deal with it. He says
he borrowed a knife to force the papers down into the box to make
way for others; but because he did this I cannot say there has been
less general want of care or accuracy, or an attempt to set aside
the wishes of the people which I should have to consider when
dealing with an election petition; because these acts of the collector
did not affect the general result. I don't say I adopt all the charges
against these people; and that being so, I must proceed on general
grounds. Now let us look at the particulars. It is stated that the
people of Muswell Hill should have had voting papers delivered to
them; and that was a point considerably depended upon at first,
although it did not affect our mind a great deal. Because, looking
at the geographical position of Muswell Hill in regard to Clerkenwell,
I cannot think that that is a point upon which the election should
be declared void. I think it would be a very unfortunate thing for
Clerkenwell if this poll had to be taken all over again because of