gbe Vrobinces.

The death of the Earl of Elgin has caused a vacancy in the repre- sentation of Southampton ; Lord Bruce succeeding to the Peerage. It is said that the Honourable Frederick Bruce, the brother of the Earl, will stand.

At a recent meeting of the Irish Repeal Association, a person who was described in the newspaper reports as " an English gentleman,"

said that he well knew the feelings of Mr. Sharman Crawford's consti- tuents, and that they would not again return him to Parliament. At a public meeting of the inhabitants of Rochdale, on the 19th of last month, the Chief Constable in the chair, the following resolution was adopted unanimously- " That this meeting having learned, with feelings of surprise, that at a public meeting in Dublin an English gentleman has asserted that W. Sharman Crawford, Esq., has lost the esteem of his constituents, and is in danger of losing his seat for this borough ; we, his constituents, take this, the earliest, opportunity of giving the most decided contradiction to that assertion, and of declaring that we have unabated confidence in the integrity and uprightness of our excellent and patriotic representative."

The Reformers of Lichfield gave a grand entertainment in the Guildhall, on the 25th, to the representatives for the city, Lord Alfred Paget and Lord Leveson. Mr. E. Wyatt, the Mayor, was the chair- man ; and about six hundred gentlemen sat down to dinner. In re- turning thanks for "the Members of the City," Lord Alfred Paget

urged the necessity of unanimity among Reformers : it was nothing but the want of that unanimity that caused the defeat of the late Go- vernment. Lord Leveson anticipated nothing but defeat for the Tory Ministers— He could say for the great Liberal party, that no defeat which they had yet experienced was sufficient to damp their ardour in the cause of general liberty.

A temporary reverse of fortune could not shake the steadfastness of their prin- ciples; and never were the leaders of their party surrounded by more sincere or ardent supporters than now that they had no places to give away or patro- nage to bestow. On the other hand, the Conservative festivals had been at- tended by numbers of wealthy persons, who evinced great exultation at the triumph of their party • which was, perhaps, perfectly natural ; but it was to him a matter of great doubt whether those who had to conduct the affairs of the Legislature and the Executive participated to the same extent in these feel- ings. He doubted, for instance, whether Lord Aberdeen, now that he had an opportunity of estimating the energy and abilities shown by Lord Palmerston in placing this country in the proud position which she occupied among other nations, and after his experience of the intrigues of foreign powers, and all their clashing interests, found his post a sinecure ; or whether his Lordship felt that he possessed the power, not to raise this country to a higher position—for that would be a hopeless task—but to keep her even in that position in which the late Government bad -placed her. It was sincerely his wish that he might do

so' but he feared that Lord Aberdeen, with all his abilities, was but too sensi- bleof the difficulties which he had to encounter, and that there was more of care

than triumph, more of anxiety than exultation, in his feelings at the present juncture. He doubted, too, whether Sir Robert Peel, the head of the Cabinet which he declared to be so united, bad quite got over the difficulties of his si- tuation by proroguing Parliament at a time when every interest was waiting with anxiety for proposals and measures of relief, in hope, perhaps, that some- thing might turn up to divert the attention of the people from the great question

of commercial reform, or that, although the Cabinet be in a divided state, in six months time be might be able to arrange some plan to satisfy Sir Edward Knatchbull and the Duke of Buckingham, and yet present something to the country which be would hope might go down. Re could not help doubting that Sir Robert Peel's triumph was not quite unalloyed.

The Reformers of Northampton celebrated "the signal triumphs achieved over the enemies of Liberty and Free Trade" at the recent Parliamentary and Municipal elections, by a public dinner on Wednes- day. Mr. Vernon Smith, M.P., presided; and the guests numbered. nearly two hundred. Mr. Raikes Currie was absent, in consequence of illness. Discussing the "triumphs" which they had met to cele-

brate, Mr. Smith made some amusing disclosures of things which every body knew: it is worth while to pay attention to his choice of phrases— Since he had last the pleasure of meeting them, the Whig Ministry, of which he had been an humble member, had been ejected from the councils of their Sovereign ; and he now wished them to consider what effect this circumstance would have on that project for the success of which they were all so anxious— he meant the progress of Reform. Those persons who had been urging on the late Government to more extensive measures, fancied that that Administration could never do enough; and he was therefore not sorry to see the matter brought to an actual experiment, whether these parties were right in their de- mands, or whether the Minister was justified in saying that he had not the means of carrying them into effect. It had been stated that the Government had evinced a great tenacity for office; and it was certainly true that it was desirous of remaining in power, in order to effect all the good it could : but at length, goaded by the reproaches of its friends and harassed by the tactics of its enemies, it decided on proposing to the country those measures which it ulti- mately propounded, and which resulted in its ejectment from office. It was sufficient to satisfy any reasonable man that the Government had not the power of going forward with those extensive measures of reform which the con- dition of the people of this country so imperatively required. Now it vu admitted that the Government could not have chosen any measures more popular than those in the manufacturing districts, and yet on these points they had signally failed. 'There are many matters in this choice sample of small oratory, which, were it worth while, might serve as a text for a homily on Whiggery. The most glaring peculiarity is the instinct with which the speaker se- lects his words so as to imply that he is talking not of realities but only Of appearances or pretences : thus he calls the "progress of Reform" a project; his abiding recommendation of the great Whig measures is, that they were "popular" in certain districts. His naivete is no less amus- ing when he declares that his colleagues "evinced a great tenacity of office "—of course for the good of the country—oh ! of course !—and when he asserts in the same breath that they could not carry measures which were necessary for the good of the country. And his effrontery is at its height, when he avows his satisfaction that be and his friends are tamed out, because it will spite the zealous Reformers who teased them l] But Mr. Smith still has hopes— He saw no cause for dejection, however, in their ejection from office. The slew Government that had succeeded had no stability of principle: and with all Li, respect for the ability and integrity of Sir Robert Peel, he felt bound to Mate the opinion which he entertained of him—that, of all the Ministers this weatry had ever seen, he was the most unmeaning. One of the first acts of Sir Robert Peel's Ministry was to ask for a vote of credit; and he got it without producing one single measure or plan as earnest of his future intentions ! The Right Honourable Baronet's political existence had been one of unceasing change.

And on that theme Mr. Smith rang some of the usual changes. There is nothing else worth quoting.

Colonel Thompson, who has been aptly termed the pioneer of the present Tree Trade movement, the normal schoolmaster of Free Trade advocates, is still labouring in the good cause with that indomitable energy by which he has always distinguished himself. After conclud- ing a series of excellent addresses in Manchester, he is making a tour of instruction to Huddersfield, Halifax, Barnsley, and Liverpool. From the latter place he proceeds, on invitation, to the conference of minis- ters about to be held in North Wales. His lecture in the Philosophical Nall, at Huddersfield, was attended by 1,500 persons.—Anti-Bread-tax Circular.

The journeymen paper-makers employed at the Carshalton paper- mills have issued an address to their fellow-workmen throughout the kingdom, exhorting them to come forward in support of free trade, and especially of Free Trade in corn ; and they energetically call upon such of the workmen in the trade as possess the franchise to use their privilege for the advantage of their suffering fellow-creatures.

The situation of the poor in Blackburn and neighbourhood is at pre- sent truly deplorable. Even when in full work, the condition of the baud-loom weaver is such as to excite commiseration ; but, at the pre- sent moment, when wages are unusually low, labour scarce or unattain- able, and the season the most inclement, their sufferings appear to have ,reached the last stage of human endurance. We are glad to learn, therefore, that steps are about to be taken with a view to afford them some temporary relief. A meeting of our most affluent fellow-towns- men is about to be held, to open a subscription to alleviate their suffer- ings.—Blackburn Gazette.

The Stockport Advertiser, a Tory paper, contradicts a statement made by the Manchester Guardian on the authority of Mr. A. H. Wylie, a gentleman deputed by the Home Office to inquire into the distressed state of Stockport, "that in 1836 there were fifty manufacturers in that borough alone, thirty-six of which have since become bankrupt, or have given over manufacturing altogether " : the Advertiser says, "Daily observation assures us that more than thirty of those mills work- ing in 1835 are still in operation." The contradiction involves a grave admission.

The Gosport branch of the London and South-Western Railway was opened on Saturday, by the Directors and other gentlemen; and a grand dinner was given at Gosport in honour of the occasion. The whole line of railway from London to Gosport was opened to the public on Monday. A detachment of troops, part of the reinforcement destined for China, were conveyed by means of the railway to Ports- mouth.

• Great complaint having been made of the maleadministration of the Poor-law in the Seven Oaks Union, the. Poor-law Commissioners deputed Mr. Tufnell, the Assistant Commissioner, to institute a public ioquiry. It commenced on Thursday week, in the Board-room of the Workhouse; as many people as the room could hold, including reporters of the press, being admitted. The Anti-Poor-law Times has published extended reports of the proceedings, filling many columns day after day. It will suffice here to state some of the main facts which have been brought to light. The chief complaints are the crowded state of the Workhouse, the misconduct of the mistress, the diseased state of the children, and the cruel treatment of women in their confinement. In April last, there were 86 boys in 19 beds, 75 girls in 16 beds, 57 men in 31 beds, and 40 women in 20 beds. The number of children's beds has never exceeded 35, and pending the inquiry there have been 78 boys and 94 girls and infant children in the house ; some of the boys being allowed to sleep in the ward set apart for able-bodied men. In April, Mr. Adams, the medical officer, made a report, in which he say s- " There are 78 boys and 94 girls and infant children; the number presenting fair hair and eyes being 28 boys and 16 girls. The 78 boys had enlargement of the neck, 42 having likewise goitres. Of the 94 girls and infant children, 91 have enlarged glands at the back of the neck, and 63 goitres. The num- ber of scrofulous cases are 7. The medical officer suggests for the considera- tion of the Board of Guardians the propriety of making themselves acquainted, -as far as may be, as to whether the locality of the Workhouse is in any way -calculated to produce goitres, so very general among the children." He could not account for the prevalence of goitre, which he likewise met with in a day-school close by the Workhouse. The Commissioners, at the request of Mr. Tufnell, sent down a London surgeon, Mr. Phillips, to report upon the state of the house : he said that the house ought to be enlarged, and reasserted the prevalence of goitre; but he could suggest no specific remedy for that disease. Twenty boys, under medicine for a disease produced by dirt, were placed in a small room, thirteen by fourteen feet wide' with four beds. Mrs. Middleton, a nurse, dad that one night in March the matron entered the lying-in ward in a state of intoxication, and was very loud and violent, to the danger of the sick persons in the ward. Mrs. Middleton brought a complaint before thelBoard of Guardians : they investigated the charge, and pronounced it to be without foundation' and Mrs. Middleton re- signed in consequence ; but the matron was afterwards discharged, on grounds of general dissatisfaction. Mrs. Middleton and the medical officers complained of the filthy state of the lying-in ward, and of the want of sufficient accomodation ; two women having been placed in one bed immediately after their confinement ; and instances were mentioned in which the bedding was very black, no change of linen having been allowed for a fortnight. On the other hand, the medical officers stated that their recommendations were generally attended to ; and the Board have contracted for a building to be erected with all possible expedition for the accommodation of 100 more paupers. Mr. Kelson, a respectable practitioner of the place, quite unconnected with the Poor-law authorities, was called in to examine and report upon the state of the children. After enumerating the disorders among them, he observes- " It would appear from that report, that out of 153 children whom I exa- mined in the two school-rooms, 57 were ill; whereas I am confident, although I have made [stated 2] the complaints I believed them to have, there are not 10 out of the 153, if the season would enable you to give them a holyday, and go on to the Vine Cricketing-ground and play about, whose general health is not sufficiently good to enable them to go there and enjoy them- selves. If they were my own children, except during the cure of the itch, there are not more than ten whom I would not send out of doors if the day were fine; and of those ten three have chilblains. I don't think, in point of general health, you will find indiscriminately in any part of the county among 153 poor children so many in health."

Yesterday, Mr. Tufnell abruptly closed the examination. He ob- served, that the inquiry had been as full as possible, but he pronounced no judgment on the evidence.

The tremendous gales of Sunday and Monday nights were severely felt in the Channel. At the beginning of the week, more than two hundred vessels were waiting at Plymouth, Falmouth, and the Downs, for a favourable wind. Ramsgate harbour has been crowded with ves- sels of all nations. The Nelson steam-tug towed a schooner off the sands near Margate on Monday afternoon, and reached St. Katharine's Docks with her on Wednesday at noon. Several vessels are reported to have gone ashore on the sands on that part of the coast.

Early on Tuesday morning, the dyrellinghouse of Mrs. Mary Starr, an aged widow residing at Mundesley, was entered through a back win- dow by robbers ; who, after regaling themselves with spirits, &e. in the keeping-room, proceeded up stairs, and found the old lady in bed. They demanded her money and valuables ; but not receiving them so promptly as they wished, they beat her over the head and face in a very inhuman manner with the wooden bar of a door three feet long and two inches square, leaving her covered with wounds and blood. Having obtained at length a 5/. note and three sovereigns, with some plate and a watch, they departed, threatening a very intelligent girl, about eleven years old, who slept in the same room in a separate bed, with death if she made any alarm ; which she dared not do until about seven o'clock, or daylight. As there was a candle burning in the room the girl was enabled to see the robbers and fully to describe one

of them. The constable, Mr. John Hastings, and Richard Everard, an assistant, being despatched to North Walsh= on this information, with the aid of the Police instantly apprehended the men, in bed in a house of ill-fame, and upon them found the watch and part of the money. On bringing them back to this parish, their shoes were taken off and found to correspond with the foot-marks caused by their approach to the house, in every minute particular. They are committed for reexamination until the recovery of Mrs. Starr, who suffers severely from the injuries received.—Norwich Mercury.

Bernard Cavanagh, the fasting-man, endeavoured to carry on his imposture in prison at Reading; but he broke down. For a week he deceived even the surgeon of the prison, Mr. Bailey; the gruel which was daily placed in his cell seeming to suffer no diminution. Mr. Bulley found out the secret, however-

" On the eighth day of Cavanagh's confinement, I had good reason to be- lieve that he had taken a portion of the gruel which had been left in his cell; and on more careful examination, I found that the allowances for the three or four days previous, which had been preserved, were much thinner in consistence than wile° served to him, proving to my entire satisfaction that he bad taken a portion of it daily, and had substituted for it some water which had been given him to drink, * * so giving to the vessel which contained it the ap- pearance of not having been disturbed."

The sufferings which the rogue voluntarily incurred are amusing-

" On the ninth day, notwithstanding the deception he had been detected in practising, Cavanagh was observed to have become very weak, and to falter in his gait as he walked from the cell to the chapel. His pulse, which during the first days of his confinement had maintained its force, and had continued at about seventy-six, was found to have fallen to sixty, and to have become ex- ceedingly languid and weak. He looked hay,ganl and worn, and asked anxiously when the medical gentleman would be satisfied with his powers of abstaining. As he complained of cold, he was taken down-stairs for a short time to warm himself.

"On the tenth day, the appearance of his having taken the food which had been left in the cell was obvious ; his pulse was at eighty, and scarcely percep- tible at the Wrists; his hands cold and clammy, and he tottered very much as. he walked across the room. In the evening he was taken down, as usual, to the fire; and in endeavouring to return to his cell, he fell down, apparently thoroughly worn out and exhausted by the privations to which he had sub- mitted himself. Being unable to rise, he was taken back to his cell, and sup- plied with a quantity of gruel and port-wine, and some bread; of which he heartily partook."