6 FEBRUARY 1847, Page 7

frabintts.

The election of a new Member for Chester, in the room of Lord Reheat

Grosvenor, took place in that city on Saturday. There being no oppa- tition, Earl Grosvenor was quietly installed as his uncle's successor.

The vacancy in the representation for West Sussex caused by the re- tirement of Colonel Wyndham, was filled up on Tuesday, by the returner Mr. Prime without opposition. The election took place at Chichester. In answer to a very long string of questions, put by the Reverend Mr. filaldou and Mr. Powell the Town-Clerk, Mr. Prime stated that he thought the Malt-tax ought to be repealed, but he did not believe the finances of the country could bear it at present; that he was opposed to the repeal of the law of primogeniture; that he considered the Church and State should be inseparable, but that, although opposed to Dissent, he was in favour eif liberty of conscience for all. He also thought that it might be advisable to endow the Catholic priests, with the view of tranquillizing Ireland. In hie speech Mr. Prime declared that he was going to Parliament to divide with Lord Stanley; and expressed his suspicions of the Whigs, on account of their extravagance and recklessness in running into debt.

In consequence of the strictures and complaints arising from the recent conversions to the Romish Church at Leeds, Mr. Ward, the incumbent of St. Saviour's Church, and Mr. Case, the curate, have resigned their 'appoint- ments.

The mobbing of the Proctors at Cambridge' when out at nights apprehending loose women, has not been discontinued. Legal proceedings have been commenced against five of the rioters; who are to be tried at the next Assizes.

A sad loss of life has occurred in a coal-pit at Worsbrongh Dale, near Barnsley. By some means—probably from blasting operations—the coal in one part of the mine took fire. The men collected, and endeavoured to extinguish the flames, but did not succeed: continuing their exertions too long, the smoke and the vitiated air began to overpower them; a part managed to reach the pit's month, and gained the surface in a very exhausted state; but six perished. Attempt* were made by men from other mines to rescue the sufferers; but their efforts were frustrated by the state of the air, which prevented them from advancing any distance along the galleries until hours after the miners bad been suffocated.

Easton Lodge, the ancient and noble residence of Viscount Maynard, situated a few miles from Stortford, in Essex, was almost entirely burnt down early oa Sunday morning. The family were staying at the Lodge; between three and four o'clock, Lord Maynard was awakened by a crackling noise he arose, -and found a dressing-room on fire. He instantly alarmed the inmates of the house; and the servants endeavoured to extinguish the flames by buckets of water, awl by working an engine which was on the premises; bat these efforts did not cheek the fire. Engines from Malted and Dunmow soon arrived, and there was,pleritg

of manna] aid; bat the flames marched rapidly on from room to room. The ex- ertions of the people were now directed to saving the pictures, books, plate, and furniture: in this they were very successful; hardly any of the valuable paintings were lost, and the plate and much other property were rescued. One wing was saved from the fire, but the main body of the building and the other wing were reduced to ruins. Easton Lodge was an Elizabethan pile: it was principally constructed of timber, and hence the rapid destruction. It is said that there was no insurance on the building or contents.