This practise in Helston became the ground of a petition after the general election of 1812; and, opinions having now changed, the matter was taken up so seriously in the House of Commons, as to induce the passing of a bill for disfranchising the borough. The other branch of the legislature, however, considered the practice, although wrong in itself, yet a delictum sine crimine, in this particular instance, as it most clearly appeared that some leading gentlemen, possessed of such influence as would have enabled them to make great lucrative advantages for themselves other ways, were benefited in so slight a degree by these payments, as to make it quite evident that self-interest had not been the motive of their conduct. The bill did not pass into a law, and the town became regularly assessed like other places. The well-known connection usual in such cases had long subsisted between this town and the neighbouring family of Godolphin. At the period of the last heraldic visitation in 1640, the signatures to the return of arms, &c. were, The mark × of John Roe Moyes. Thomas Seyntaubyn. William Robinson. Thomas James. John Herbert. Dated October 9, 1640. And the members of the corporation are stated to be, BURGESSES. John Rowe Moyes. Thomas St. Aubyn, Gent. William Robinson. Alexander Bolytho. John Harbert. John Alexander. Thomas Godolphin, of Godolphin, Esq. Recorder. Thomas James. Robert Cock. William Penhaluwick. Daniel Bedford. William Trewin. Patrick Pesseme. John Cock. Thomas Randall, Steward of the said Town and Corporation. In the Parliament preceding that, the Editor’s great-great-grandfather, William Noye, afterwards Attorney-General, represented Helston; and he himself had the same honour in the Parliament following the Union with Ireland. On the total change of the parliamentary constitution in 1832, the limits of Helston were extended so as to include a large portion of Wendron and the entire parish of Sithney. And the whole was reduced to sending one Member, or, according to a familiar expression, it was placed in Schedule B. On that occasion a letter was addressed to a gentleman of the town, in return for a present of some delicacies, so full of wit and humour that the Editor, having been favoured with a copy, is induced to insert it. “Your very obliging present made its appearance this day, together with your note of the 2d instant; pray, accept my best thanks for the same, the quality of which will, I have no doubt, on trial fully justify the favourable impression already made by their fragrance.