2 NOVEMBER 1872, Page 2

We regret to perceive that Mr. T. Hughes has intimated

his intention of retiring from the representation of Frome. Mr. Hughes stood originally for that little borough as a strong church- man and advocate of co-operation, both of which seemed to his

and trading constituents very abstract ideas.. They now think them pressing questions, so pressing that there is little chance of Mr. Hughes' re-election. Unluckily for the party in Frome, Mr. Hughes, with his usual generosity, decided to give the Liberal Committee the amplest opportunity of finding a more acceptable candidate, and his decision having oozed out on the spot, there is a quasi-electoral contest in the borough already, in which the Tories have the advantage of producing their man, while the Liberals are still seeking one. Blame is attributed to - Mr. Hughes in the matter, but is, in our judgment, due to him only for giving up his Beat from an almost Quixotic fidelity to party. He should have fought it through, and relied on the consumers against' the distributors.