GEORGE PALMER was examined very closely, and he stated that he had always
voted in the Whig interest, and that he had received a note from Alderman
Springfield for four shillings weekly till his brother’s child could be
got into the hospital. The note was written and signed by a Mr. Batson
in Mr. Springfield’s presence, and by his order. It was given to witness
for his vote in favour of Mr. Foster at the election of sheriff in 1832.
Witness had never been offered the hospital by any alderman on the other
side.
A great deal more evidence was adduced as to notes of admission to the
hospital given by both parties. The last part of the inquiry was the
most important, relating as it did to the effect of local elections on
the trade of the city.
J. J. GURNEY, ESQ., said, “I can assure the commissioners that they have
no notion of the sin, guilt, wickedness, and poverty, which our local
elections inflict upon this city. I wish to add an expression of my
conviction, that if the election of magistrates and other officers was
altered, the whole city would be benefitted, and no persons more so than
the poor freemen. I was lately informed by a principal manufacturer, who
has large dealings with the poor, that it was his firm conviction that
one single ward election does more harm than all the preaching in all the
churches and all the meeting houses in all the year does good; and I
believe it to be true. I would observe that I make no distinction of
parties; both, to my knowledge, are equally guilty; and whenever the
managers find a purse, they fly to it as an eagle does to a carcase.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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