7 APRIL 1838, Page 9

The Anti-Church party, at Northampton sustained last week a double

defeat : first, in the choice of a Vestry- Clerk, which was car- ried by a majority of 154 against them ; and secondly, in a Church-rate, which had a majority of 133 in its favour.—Standard.

The complete failure of the new Marriage Act may be gathered from some statistical information supplied by the editor of a Man- chester paper. It appears, that within the Manchester Superintendent Registrar's district, during the half-year ending 31st December 1837, there were married by bans, 1,739; by licence, 169; united by Regis- trar's certificate, 87. The proportion of marriages to "unions " is thus 1,908 to 87. From the report of the latter quarter of the half-year, it would seem as if matters were not improving; for there were married in the Church of England, 1,053; in the Catholic Chapels, 45; in the Scotch Kirk, 1; in the Register-office, 7; and in the Dissenting chapels, 7. So much for the expensive machinery of the new Marriage Act, and the "grievances of the Dissenters."—Standard.

The sales in the Leeds Cloth Halls seem to exhibit the same dull character which has marked them during the last fortnight. A mode- rate business, however, continues to be done to order by some of the larger manufacturers ; and although the demand for goods in the Halls is limited, there does not seem to be in consequence an accumulation of stock. Business continues gradually to improve in the warehouses. .-Leeds Mercury. That very important branch of Itanchester manufacture, calico printing, has this season risen to a point of excellence, as regards beauty of design and brilliancy of colouring, much beyond all former years. These facts particularly manifest themselves in the style and patterns of one or two houses, who have lately become sellers of their Own productions.—Manchester Times.

The Dorchester labourers arrived on Monday, in a post-chaise, at the Antelope Inn, Dorchester; whence, after taking refreshments and flanging horses' they proceeded to Tolpuddle. The labourers of the neighbourhood had hired a band, and made preparations for their triumphal entry on the following day ; which honour was consequently

lost to them. The men were dressed in handsome new suits of clothes, travelling-caps, and had a considerable quantity of luggage outside the

renege. They are going to stay a few days with their families, and then go to London; where a dinner is to be given to them on Easter Monday, at White Conduit House.