| Disgrifiad | The paucity of the correspondence is indeed surprising in view of the fierce dispute to which it gave rise - a dispute which resulted in the complete overhaul of the Caernarvon borough franchise.
Sir Charles Paget, seeking re-election, was this time opposed by a new candidate, Owen Jones Ellis Nanney of Gwynfryn, Ormsby Gore, this time plumping for the North Salop constituency. Nanney, a high Tory was effectively supported by the main conservative element in the constituency, including Lord Newborough, Thomas Asheton Smith, Dawkins Pennant of Penrhyn, Sir David Erskine and noably the Bishop of Bangor and the clergy. Sanderson, reviewing the field in September was "not withour fear of an unfortunate result", especially as this time there was no prospct of drafting in any of the Amlwch miners and tenant farmers (650). It appears, however, that Sir Charles was once again able to count on the support of Dr. O. O. Roberts and the radicals, and the final result of the polling was a majority of 47 voters for Paget. Nanney immediately appealed to Parliament on the groun tha Paget had made use of 67 illegal voters at Pwllheli. Hia appeal was allowed, and teh committee examining his case ordere his name to be substituted for that of Paget i the return. But the matter did not rest there; a petition from some of the Caernaron burgesses charging Nanneuy with bribery, reopened the case, and after a painstaking sifting of the evidence and a meticulous examination of old poll books and charters, it was asjudged that 54 of the 67 Pwllheli votes previously declared illegal, were in fact valid, and Paget wemerged as the ultimate victor. This latter petition, moreover, established the right of franchise in the Scot and lot residents of Caernarvon and the old contributory boroughs. |