Zbe Vrobinces.
The nomination of Parliamentary candidates for the representation of Hastings, in the room of Mr. Planta, who has resigned, took place on Thursday. There was quite a " revolution " in the conduct of the election: no banners of any kind, very few colours, and the whole passed off quietly. Three candidates were duly proposed— Mr. Musgrave Brisco, of Coghurst Hall ; Mr. R. R. R. Moore, of the Anti-Corn-law League ; and Dr. Sleigh, the Protectionist agi- tator. Mr. Brisco avowed his intention to support the present Govern- ment, the Corn-laws, and the Established Church. Mr. Moore deli- vered a Free-trade speech of two hours' duration, which was much applauded. Dr. Sleigh made a defence of the landlords and the Corn- laws ; but he was violently interrupted by groans and hisses. The show of hands was in favour of Mr. Brisco, and a poll was demanded on behalf of Mr. Moore ; Dr. Sleigh retiring from the contest. At the close of the poll, yesterday, the numbers were—For Brisco, 511 ; Moore, 169 ; majority for Brisco, 342. This is not the official an- nouncement ; but no trifling inaccuracy in the figures can affect the actual results.
The nomination of candidates at Christchurch, on Wednesday, for the seat left vacant by the retirement of Sir George Rose, created more bustle. Among the candidates had been Mr. Harvey, a Manchester member of the Anti-Corn-law League; in support of whom the League had sent down Mr. Acland to lecture. On the announcement, how- ever, that Mr. W. Tice, a Liberal banker of the place, would stand, Mr. Harvey withdrew. Mr. Tice is in favour of gradually repealing the Corn-laws. The Conservative candidate was Captain Harris; whose brother, the Earl of Malmesbury, owns considerable property in the neighbourhood. The nomination-day was made a sort of holyday ; the town being full of activity, but in perfect order. The show of hands was in favour of Mr. Tice, and a poll was demanded for his opponent. At the close, on Thursday, the numbers were—For Tice, 84; Harris, 180; majority for Harris, 96.
A meeting of twenty-four delegates of working people from the principal towns around Manchester assembled on Sunday, and passed resolutions condemning the conduct of Government in respect of the Factory Bill, and thanking Lord Ashley, Lord John Russell, and other supporters of the ten-hours proposition.
The Lancashire Central Short-time Committee met at Manchester, on Monday, and adopted a memorial to the Queen, setting forth that the House of Commons had resolved to restrict the labour of young per- sons and women to ten hours a day ; but that that humane and wise determination was in danger of being defeated by the Home Secretary's ill-advised perseverance in a course of cruelty and injustice ; and there- fore praying her Majesty to dismiss Sir James Graham from her councils.
A numerous meeting of the clergy, merchants, manufacturers, opera- tives, and other inhabitants of Bradford, was held in the Temperance Hall, on Wednesday, to petition the House of Commons in favour of Lord Ashley's amendment. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. Pollard, a County Magistrate. The first resolution, regretting the opposition to Lord Ashley, and declaring his amendment to be just and requisite, was moved by the Rev. Dr. Scoresby, Vicar of Bradford, and seconded by Mr. C. Walker, a manufacturer. Both speakers touched upon the pro- bable economical effects of the amendment. Dr. Scoresby argued that the working-classes would be better off, because, though they would get less wages in times of prosperity, they would get more in times of de- pression. Mr. Walker argued that the alteration would be positively profitable— If they looked around the manufacturing districts, both in this and the ad- jacent county, it would be found that many factories were erected which had not been employed for years. In the event of the time of labour being shortened, and if the present extent of goods were required—which he did not doubt would be the case—these factories might be set to work. Hands would be required to attend the machinery ; and, instead of five persons doing the reasonable work of six, six would be engaged to do the present work of five; which would call into employment what was called the superabundant population. Such an arrange- ment could not, therefore, have a tendency to reduce wages, because it would lessen competition among labourers for employment ; and they all knew that competition produced low prices in all things. lie made a calculation, from which it appeared that, as a manufacturer of merino, his loss would be a halfpenny a yard : but there would be less waste and fewer accidents in connexion with machinery.
The other speakers seem to have been clergymen or Dissenting mi- nisters. The proposed petition was adopted unanimously.
An inquest, adjourned from the previous Wednesday, was held at Wednesbury on Saturday, on the body of Anne Griffiths ; whose murder has created a great deal of interest in the neighbourhood, though there is little that is remarkable in it, except perhaps the stolid brutality and daring of the murderer. The scene was the house of Mr. John Crow- ther, a gentleman of some property ; with whom Griffiths lived as his housekeeper, and Thomas Witton, as man-servant. Witton went out about nine o'clock on Saturday morning the 16th instant, and his master fol- lowed soon after ; it being customary with both to go out every Satur- day morning. At half-past ten o'clock, the butcher called ; but could not, by ringing or shaking the gate, make anybody hear. Mr. Crow- ther returned home about a quarter to two o'clock, and found the back-door open. Entering, he met no one, and all was still ; no answer being given to his calls for " Anne." He was alarmed : he searched for her, and found her, with her throat cut and deluged in blood, lying on the floor of a brewhouse. He alarmed the neighbours. Wilton now returned, and observed that some spoons and Griffiths's purse were missing; while one of the table-knives was covered with blood. Suspicion fell on William Beard, a servant whom Mr. Crowther had formerly discharged for staying out at nights : be was arrested ; and his boot-soles proved exactly to correspond with footmarks near the house. The same footsteps were traced to an old " whimsey" or engine-house ; and in the boiler-bole were discovered a waistcoat and pair of trousers which had been taken from a drawer in Mr. Crowther's house. When Beard was arrested, be exclaimed, " I did not commit the murder." Several other small circumstances corroborated the evidence against him. It does not appear that Griffiths was at all acquainted with Beard; as when be came once to borrow a scithe of Witton, she asked who he was, and expressed surprise that Mr. Crowther should have had such a wild-looking man in the house. The Jury returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder " against Beard ; and he was committed for trial at Stafford Assizes.
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