The Reformers of Oldham had resolved to call upon Sir
William Molesworth to become their Representative, but of course gave way when they found he was engaged to fight the battle of Radicalism in Leeds.
The electors in the Leeds polling district of the West Riding of Yorkshire have determined to give a public dinner to the Members of the West Riding, Lord Morpeth and Sir George Strickland, and to the Liberal Members of the boroughs of the Riding, Messrs. Baines, Blackburne, Buckingham, Gaskell, Gully, Lister, Parker, and Wood, and a number of other noblemen and gentlemen, previous to the open- ing of the approaching session of Parliament ; and, as far as possible to prevent any interference with the official duties of the Chief Secre- tary for Ireland, the middle of the next month, probably the 18th of January, will be fixed upon for that purpose. The principal difficulty hitherto felt by the Committee, appointed for carrying this patriotic object into effect, arises out of there being no public room in the town sufficiently large to accommodate the company; but arrangements are to be made as soon as possible to obviate this inconvenience.
At Wakefield, and all around, every thing affords the brightest pros- pect to the cause of Conservatism at the next election. Sir George Strickland certainly will not contest the West Riding on a dissolution a Parliament; and it is believed that Lord Morpetb, to save himself, has no objection to sacrifice his Radical colleague in favour of the Ho- nourable John Stuart Wortley, who is sure to be returned triumphantly. Mr. Gaskell, the present Member, it is admitted on all hands, has no chance of success at the next election for the borough ; while every day, nay, every hour' is strengthening the supporters of Mr. Lascelles. —Standard. [The Leeds Mercury says, with respect to the Tory ru- mour of Sir George Strickland's retirement, that it is a "lie ;" and as to Mr. Gaskell's "chance of success," it was improved by the last re- gistration, though he was almost secure before. Messrs. Wortley and Lascelles should try for some rotten borough' but the former, we sus- pect, has not the requisite cash, and Lord Harewood thinks he has spent too much already in Yorkshire elections.'
We mentioned last week, that Mr. Hardy, the renegade M. P. for Bradford, bad been dosing his constituents with a rilacimento of the Carlow election affair. He has since been endeavouring, in a letter to the Leeds Mercury, to evade the charge of having bribed the electors of Pontefract ; but the Mercury quotes his own letter acknowledging bribery to a very shameful extent, and places it by the side of his ex- plicit denial of corruption in the House of Commons.
The Nottingham Tories are endeavouring to establish a Tory inte- rest in that excellent Reforming town ; but they have small chance of success. A correspondent of the True Sun says— "How far bribery and the influence of Tory cash may cause the people to 44 swerve from their duty, yet remains to be proved. I have no doubt but there wilt be a contest. We want some high-spirited, honest pattiots to'represent the town—not of the breed of fIobhouse : the people of England have been bought and sold long enough, by such false-seeming patriots: one can only feel disgusted with their conduct, which I trust will teach the people of this coun- try a lesson, i. e. to be true to themselves."
The North Devon Journal says, that a few needy parsons and ob- scure attornies have canvassed the Northern Division of the county for Sir Thomas Acland ; but that the cautious Baronet, finding that neither a majority of the electors nor the ready money can be produced, hangs back. He is waiting for his friends to "come down with the cash."
The South Devonshire Tories intend to have a grand dinner at Totnes on the 19th of January.
Admiral Sir Courtenay Boyle, who is at present on a visit to his brother, the Earl of Cork, at Marston House, was last week presented with a requisition signed by a large number of the electors of Frome, soliciting him to become a candidate for the representation thereof at the next election. The gallant Admiral has accepted the invitation, pledging himself to be " at his post when required ;" and, accompanied by his committee, has since made a personal canvass of the town. Mr. Sheppard has likewise been paying his respects to his constituents. Mr. Matthew Bridges, the former candidate, retires from the field.— Bath Journal.
The Bath Tories had what they call "a grand dinner" on Tuesday ; but even the Morning Post admits that not a single individual of mark was present. The principal speakers were the Reverend Mr. Willis, the Reverend Mr. Jolliffe, and Mr. Ludlow Bruges, whom the Tories have got as a forlorn hope to fight their battle against Mr. Roebuck. The two parsons, but especially Willis, were violent. Bruges was in- effably dull : he seems to be a perfect simpleton.
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