However, in 1779 Nesbitt died £100,000 in debt, and the 

Court of Chancery made a decree to

auction his property for the relief of his creditors, but his nephew anticipating this managed to sell the
Nesbitt interest in the borough back to the government's supporters (in the person of The Earl of
Darlington) for the very considerable sum of £15,000, shortly before the court's decree came into
force. Ministers were free once more to consider both seats at the ministry's disposal. However,
Oldfield notes that Nesbitt's power in the borough was one of influence rather than of any direct
property in the votes (as might have been the case in a burgage borough where the right to vote
could literally be bought and sold) – and that whatever the bargain between Nesbitt's nephew and
Darlington, the voters themselves were not a party to it and had still to be persuaded to co-operate.
Therefore what was sold, in effect, was the unhindered right to bribe the voters without interference,
the customary price by this time being apparently £100 per vote.