Dec. 11, 1741, a motion being made, and the queftion being propofed, that the clerk of the crown do take off the file the indenture of return of burgeffes to ferve in parliament for the borough of Boffiney, in the county of Cornwall, figned by Pafko Hofkins, the fame not being figned by the proper returning-officer of the faid borough ;

Mr. Fofter, one of the fitting-members for the faid borough, withdrew.

2. Refolved, That the clerk of the crown do take off the file the indenture of return of burgeffes to ferve in parliament for the borough of Boffiney in the county of Cornwall, figned by Pafko Hofkins, the fame not being figned by the proper returning-officer of the faid borough.

And he took the fame off the file accordingly.

3. Refolved, That the clerk of the crown do annex to the writ the indenture of return of burgeffes to ferve in this prefent parliament

for the borough of Boffiney, in the county of Cornwall, figned by John Robins, he being the proper returning officer of the said borough.

And he annexed the fame to the writ accordingly.

Ordered, That Thomas Forfter and Richard

Liddel, efqrs. be at liberty to petition this houfe touching the election for the faid borough of Boffiney, within fourteen days next, if they think fit,

RIGHT of ELECTION.

All who have free land

in the borough, and live in the parish, are decmed freemen, and have votes at the elections of members and magiftrates.

NUMBER OF VOTERS.-As this is a mere hamlet of only about 20 houses, in the parish of Tintagel, the number of voters have feldom reached to the number of dwellings. At this prefent time, they are faid to be not above four or five.

RETURN

RETURNING OFFICER-The mayor.

PATRONS-Earl of Mount Edgcumbe and the

Earl of Bute,

LESTWITHIEL.

POLITICAL CHARACTER,-The mode of election in this borough is fuch as dupes the electors out of privileges with which their representative charter affects to invest them; for the feventeen common-council, who have a right of voting, being annually chofen by the seven aldermen, are fure to be fuch as will conform to the dictates of those by whom they are appointed: thus, limiting the right of this election in this manner, feems as if it were done to excite the contempt of the electors themselves against their own franchises, To be vested with power without a will, is as great an infult to the understanding, as it is an injury to the interests of mankind: nothing can more effectually tend to induce the people to abandon even their claims to the first privileges of nature and fociety, with difguft. The king to appoint feyen men, who were to nominate feventeen M 4 others,

others, to choose two representatives of the people; or the lord of the manor to appoint two elizors, who were to nominate twenty-two others, to exercife the fame powers; is fuch a burlesque on representation, as feems only intended to laugh mankind out of rights they might otherwife too seriously endeavour to claim.

ANCIENT REPRESENTATION.-This town was of fuch confequence as to have been the refidence of the dukes of Cornwall, after their removal from Reftormel Caftle. This place fent firft to parliament, A. 33 Edw. I, and then difcontinued until 4 Edw. II.

CORPORATION.-It was firft incorporated by Richard Earl of Cornwall, when he was king of the Romans; and is now governed by a mayor, fix capital burgeffes, and feventeen commoncouncilmen.

RIGHT OF ELECTION.-Dec. 20, 1769, Refolved, That the right of electing burgeffes to ferve in parliament for the borough of Leftwithiel, in the county of Cornwall, is in the mayor and fix capital burgeffes, together

together with seventeen affiftants annually chofen, and who had a right to vote at the preceding election of a mayor.

NUMBER OF VOTERS-24.

RETURNING OFFICER-the mayor.

PATRON-Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.

· ST. MAWES.

POLITICAL CHARACTER. The influence of this borough was in the late Lord Nugent, and Hugh Boscawen, esq. But the Marquis of Buckingham fucceeding to the estate and patronage of Earl Nugent, has fince had the address to poffefs himself of that of Mr. Bofcawen's likewife.

ANCIENT REPRESENTATION. This place, which is only a hamlet, confifting of a few houses, chiefly inhabited by fishermen, fent no members until 5 Eliz. The portreve is the chief magiftrate.

COR