Tat IBrobinces.
The borough of Dudley was taken quite by surprise on Saturday, by the announcement that Mr. Thomas Hawkes had accepted the Chiltern Hundreds. Various candidates were at once named ; but the week opened with active canvassing, on the Conservative side, for Mr. Benbow, of Mecklenburgh Square in London, a retired solicitor, and a trustee under the will of the late Lord Dudley and Ward; and on the Liberal side, for Mr. Rawson, supported by the Anti-Corn-law League, under the auspices of Mr. Bright and Mr. R. R. R. Moore. The nomination took place on Wednesday, before a numerous attendance of electors and non•electors. In addressing the elector, Mr. Benbow vindicated himself from the charge of being too okl ; avowed himself a thoroughgoing Conservative, independent of Sir Robert Peel ; and spoke against freetrade, though he said he was a friend to it "under certain restrictions." Mr. Rawson rested on the opinions common to all members of the League. The show of hands was in his favour ; and a poll was demanded for Mr. Benbow. At the close, on Thursday, the numbers -were—For Benbow, 388; Rawson, 175; majority for Benbow, the Conservative, 213.
Previous page
