22 FEBRUARY 1851, Page 10

Mr. G. K. Rickards, of the Oxford Circuit, has been

appointed to succeed Mr. Booth as counsel to the Speaker.

Instructions were received yesterday at Hull and Shields, from the Board of Trade, to cancel the regulations under the Mercantile Marine Act, against which the sailors have made such a strong demonstration. It is ex- pected, therefore, that the strike will be at an end today.

A languid election contest is proceeding in Bedfordshire ; where, at the last moment, a Free-trade candidate has been started against Colonel Gilpin, in the person of Mr. Houghton, the extensive tenant-farmer of Anti-Corn- law League notoriety. Yesterday's poll gave about 1500 votes for Gilpin against 500 for Houghton.