 He promised that, if he were still alive after Downing's death, he would contest the seat again.When Downing died in 1764, the freemen once again offered the seat to Barne, who agreed with the Vannecks (also a family of former merchants who had purchased a seat in Suffolk) to be joint patrons of the borough, thus ousting the Downing influence.Barne was elected in 1764 and served until 1777, voting infrequently, but usually with the Government, and listed as a friend of the Newcastle and Rockingham ministries; he resigned in 1777, citing ill health.