Vroututts.

The election of a successor to Sir Robert Inglis as Menai:air for Oxford University took place on Tuesday, and Sir William Heathcote WAS re- turned without opposition. • He was proposed by the Warden of New College, in a Latin speech ; in the °aurae:of which the Warden..assured Convocation that Sir William would enter Parliament as a thoroughly independent man, and one who, he believed, was peculiarly well,suited to assist and advise the University in, the present crisis,—a crisis Ann which he bad full confidence the University would emerge not onlyun- injured but improved and renovated.

The Honourable Colonel Herbert was returned for Ludlow, on Tues- day, in the room of Mr. Robert Clive. This election also passed without opposition. In his speech of thanks, Colonel Herbert said he might differ on internal questions from the Government; but, now, they had adopted a decided course on the Eastern question; it would be his duty to give them assistance in maintaining faith with our allies and resisting the aggressions of Russia.

Mr. John Lloyd Vaughan Watkins has been elected; without opposition, for Brecknock.

-The nomination of the candidates for South Staffordshire took place on Wednesday, at Lichfield. Lord Ingestre was proposed by Mr. Manley of Manley Hall, and seconded by Mr. T. Williams, ironceder. , lord- Paget was proposed by the Honourable Arthur Wrottesley, asset seconded. by Mr. W. Matthews, ironmaster. Great uproar prevailed. The show of hands was in favour of Lord Paget. It is stated that, in consequence of ill health, Lord Charles Wellesley. will resign his seat for Windsor.

Mr. Lawrence Palk, of Haldon House, near Exeter, has comlaferward to oppose Sir Stafford Northcote in the approaching contest for .41se seat vacant by the death of Sir Ralph Lopes. Mr. Palk is a Conservative,. locally known for his hostility to the " Tractarians."-

Rather early in the field, for the writ is at present suspended, the Honourable F. Campbell delivered himself of his opinions before the electors of Cambridge last week as a candidate for one of the vacant seats. As far as we can gather from a not very intelligible speed), Mx, Camp- bell is for supporting Turkey by war and. appointing Lord Palmerston to conduct it; against the probable Reform Bill of " the Coalition"; and inclined to look upon Mr. Disraeli as the defender of the constitiitioir. Put to a show of hands, the meeting rejected the candidateship of Mr. Campbell.

The report of the Hull Commission of inquiry into the corruption of that borough contains a mass of proofs of bribery. It has prevailed at every election. In 1841, each party paid 600 or 700 voters; in ,1847, 1200 were bribed ; in 1852, out of the 3983 who voted 1400 were bribed. Out of 1500 freemen, 1100 were bribed once at least, many more than. once. Nor are the occupiers clear. The cost of the last three elections was nearly 27,0001. to the candidates—nearly 9000/. for each election. The cost of the last election was 92261. ; of which there was peid for cabs 354/. ; colours, 300/. ; to printers, 1096/. ; legal agents, 20661.; while the money expended directly on the voters amounted to 35431., 30001. being paid as for wages to runners. The report of the Barnstaple Commissioners shows similar zee**. In. 1852, out of 696 who polled, 255 were bribed. The cornIptifigela not confined to the poorer voters, but extends to "men whose posnioafciught to have placed them beyond the reach of corrupt influences."

Rear-Admiral Chads hoisted his flag on board the Princess Royal, 91, at Portsmouth on Tuesday ; having just been appointed second in com- mand of the North Sea Fleet, which will be under the orders of Sir Charles Napier. As soon as the Edinburgh, 58, is brought up from Ply- mouth, his flag will be shifted to that ship. Admiral Chads, long Captain of the Excellent, is a master of gunnery and steam navigation. The North Sea Fleet is to be in the Downs on the 6th of March. Men are coming in very well.

The following order was issued at Portsmouth on Wednesday-

" All Greenwich pensioners under sixty years of age, no matter how em- ployed or engaged, are directed to attend at the Pension-office between this day and Saturday next, for the purpose of receiving a printed form to attend on Tuesday the 14th instant, for inspection by officers from the Admiralty to ascertain their fitness for service. If this notice is not attended to, they will be subject to loss of pension." Captain Austen and Lieutenant d'Arando have, at the orders of the Ad- miralty, been inspecting the Ripon and Manilla, two steamers belonging to the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company, with a view of ascer- taining their capabilities for conveying troops to Malta, or elsewhere- The estimated number of troops which these vessels are capable of con- veying willbe from 800 to 1000; each man being provided with sleeping- room, &c. Should necessity require it, by the arrangement of keeping a regular watch and watch, double the number of men may, of course, be conveyed. Other ships would be equally available; and only need guns to render them fit for the service. A few days since, tenders demanded for supplying 1000 quarters of wheat for the use of the Navy, were to be delivered at Portsmouth on Wednesday. Subsequently, however, orders came down by telegraph from the Admiralty to take the unprecedented quantity of 3000 quarters ; which were contracted for as follows-1000 quarters at 868. per quarter, 1000 at 87s. 44, 100 at 888. 9d., 500 at 898., 400 at 898. 10d.

At the annual meeting of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, on Monday, a discussion ensued on a passage in the report recommend- ing the adoption of the principle of limited liability in partnerships. The special committee on the subject adopted that principle, and set forth their reasons at length ; but some of the members objected to pledging the Chamber in its support ; and the report, including the reasons of the Committee, was received, the words " without pronouncing any opinion on so important a question" being inserted.

There was a meeting at Gloucester last week on the subject of reforma- tory training-schools for criminal children. One of the speakers was Mr. Baker of Hardwicke, near Gloucester, the founder of an experimental reformatory school which has been successful Resolutions approving of reformatory training institutions for the reception of juvenile offenders were passed unanimously. The necessity for individual exertion as well as state support was fully recognized.

A meeting for the same purpose, and with the same result, was held at Cardiff; the Mayor presiding, and the Dean of Llandaff supporting the resolutions.

A petition to the House of Commons, praying the Legislature to ap- point a Stipendiary Magistrate for the town of Ipswich, is in course of signature.

At a meeting held at Bath on Tuesday, it was resolved to petition Par- liament against the measure said to be contemplated by the Government for taking the management of the Police forces out of the hands of the corporations of boroughs with less than 100,000 inhabitants, and establishine.* a force with chief constables of divisions and regulated by a central board in London.

A lending department is about to be opened at the Peel Park publio library at Manchester. A considerable number of volumes are to be added to'the collection to swell the portion fitted for circulation.

Peterborough Cathedral is now thrown open to the public free of charge, from ten o'clock to four o'clock every day. A book is to be kept for the insertion of the names of all visitors.

M. Benedict will be the conductor at the approaching Musical Festival at Norwich.

Vablic works are about to be commenced for the improvement of Nor- wich and port of Wisbech, at an estimated cost of 120,0001.

The Esiex Turnpike Trustees have come to the resolution that the pre- sent systena of turnpikes is inexpedient, and that the cost of repairing the highways ought to be made a parochial charge.

At the' bflginning of the week a memorial was got up at Preston re- questing the masters to try the effect of opening their mills, as a contin- uance of.the present lock-out would ruin the town. The masters met on Wednesday, and resolved to open their factories next morning. In the address issued on the same day, they express a belief that numbers of operatives would resume work if they did not fear violence, and they promised them full protection. The terms they offered were similar to those they proposed on the 4th November.

The mills were accordingly opened on Thursday morning; but the move was not at once successful—few workpeople offered themselves, ex- cept at Almond and Co.'s, who have given the 10 per cent demanded. A large body of County Police was brought into the town to preserve the peace; but their services were not needed. An immense meeting of operatives was held at the Orchard at nine o'clock : all was enthusiasm ; the orators declared that the day of triumph was at hand, and the au- ditors were boisterous in their cheers for the "ten per cent." Meetings of sections of the workers were held in the Temperance Hall hourly during the day.

The Preston strike increases the expenditure for poor-relief very con- siderably. Last year at this time, the weekly out-door relief was 1251., now it is 280/. ; last year the inmates of the workhouse were 660, now they are 892.

At Bury the lock-out is quite at an end. The two firms against whom the men first struck have obtained hands from other places; so the rest of the manufacturers have opened their mills at the terms given before the lock-out.

Nearly all the silk-manufacturers of Manchester have willingly given the halfpenny a yard increase respectfully solicited by the weavers, and some have intimated that even a further advance may be given. The silk-weavers have recently been reduced in number from many having entered other branches, while the demand for silk goods has increased.

The shipwrights of the Wear last week struck for an increase of 18. a day ; the masters offered 5s. 6d., which was refused; subsequently the masters gave in, and granted the 6s. a day demanded. The sawyers are on strike for an advance equal to 103. a week ; it is said that these men can now earn as much as 4/. a week : the employers unanimously refused their demand.

The reports from the manufacturing districts are satisfactory. At Bir- mingham, especially, there is an increasing pressure of orders.

A gang of burglars seem to have had an intention of breaking into Wind- sor Castle ! Colonel Hood, Clerk Marshal to Prince Albert, arrived at 'Windsor at midnight on Monday. He took a short cut to the Castle by way of the Slopes ; as he was walking forward, he encountered seven or eight menwith their faces blackened, and who seemed to have their feet muffled. On perceiving Colonel Hood they ran off. It turned out that the band had been seen by a sentry on the Terrace; who threatened to fire, and they an- swered they would blow his brains out if he did ; or if he gave an alarm. At this moment Colonel Hood came up, and the burglars fled. The Police turned out, but no traces of the band could be found. The gold pantry is situated near where the sentinel was posted. [Ought not the sentry to have fired Louis /dontagnet, a Frenchman, has been committed at Manchester for stealing bills of exchange of the value of nearly 10,0001. While staying for a short time at the Queen's Hotel, which is used by American merchants and commercial travellers, he entered some of the bedrooms, cut openport- manteaus, and stole the bills and some other property. The bills were found in his possession. The inquest on Mr. Ellison, who was killed on the Eastern Counties Ft: i!- way, has ended in a verdict of "Manslaughter" against Peter Ashcroft and John Latham.

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By Prince Albert's directions, twelve cottages have been erected in Windsor Park, near Lakin's Gate. They are intended for the labourers employed in the Park ; who at present pay high rents for distant cottages, but for about 28. a week they will have one of the new and convenient cottages with a large garden. The buildings are described as of substantial a even elegant appearance outwardly, and comfortable within.