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Sir Robert Peel has issued an address to the electors of Tamworth, of peculiar interest, and also of peculiar length: it reaches us in the form of a pamphlet, published by Mr. Bain of the Haymarket, under the title of a " Letter from Sir Robert Peel to the Electors of the Borough of Tam- worth." Sir Robert declares that if the electors wish that he should con- tinue to represent them, he places his services at their command. " I have received," he says, the offers of support from more than one place of

the first importance in respect to commercial enterprise and wealth, and to the number of the constituent body; but having represented i you for many years, and having received from you, under trying circumstances n public affairs, signal proofs of your esteem and confidence, I am unwilling by any act of mine to in- terrupt the connexion which has long subsisted between us.

" But I cannot seek your support on any other than public grounds; and as the position in which I stand is in some respects a peculiar one, I feel it neces- sary to transgress the limits of an ordinary address, in soliciting your attention to the course which I have pursued in the present Parliament; and in explaining, so far as is consistent with that freedom of discretion which is essential to the proper discharge of Parliamentary duties, the general principles to which, if reelected, I intend to conform. " When you last returned me to Parliament, I held the chief office in the Go- vernment of this great empire. I am now addressing you in a private capacity, r4oicing in the recovere of leisure and independence, without the intention or wish to resume either that authority which belongs or ought to belong to the possession of office, or that influence which is conferred by the lead and guidance of a great political party aspiring to power. "But I am not, on that account, the less anxious to vindicate, to your satis- faction the motives by which I have been influenced, the measures to which I have been a party, and the general course of policy of the Administration with which I was connected."

Sir Robert then goes into a retrospective survey of his Administration—.

its foreign policy, its Irish measures, its financial and commercial reforms; all described with lucid clearness and plainness. The section devoted to ecclesiastical affairs is especially interesting, as furnishing an index to Sir Robert's present views on such matters- " I feel, gentlemen, the deepest interest in all that concerns the welfare of the Established Church. I feel that interest from sincere conviction of the truth of its doctrines, and from the firm belief that the Established Church is capable of being made, and through the tempered zeal and active exertions of the highest spiritual authorities is in the progress of being made, the most powerful instru- ment that exists for administering the consolations of religion, for spreading the knowledge of Divine truth, and for supplying the imperfections of human laws, by the obligations and restraints of religious duty. "I have resisted, and shall continue to resist, every proposal for appropriating any portion of the revenues of the Church, in any part of the United Kingdom, to other than ecclesiastical purposes in direct connexion with the Church. "I have felt it, however, to be quite consistent with a warm attachment to the interests of the Church, to take a leading part in those measures which had for their object the abolition of ecclesiastical sinecures, the curtailment of excessive emoluments, and the application of such a portion of the revenues of cathedral and collegiate churches us was not required for the purposes of those institutions, to the partial remedy of great evils in the social and spiritual condition of this country."

Sir Robert speaks with an unflinching spirit of liberality respecting the ecclesiastical affairs of Ireland—

"In the course of the discussions which took place on the Maynooth Bill two

questions were put to me: the first, whether the increased grant to Maynooth was part of a systematic arrangements which contemplated ultimately the en- dowment of the Roman Catholic clergy in Ireland; the second, whether I would give a pledge, on the ground of conscientious objection, against the entertainment, at any future time, of a proposal for such endowment.

"lo the first question I returned an answer on the part of the Government collectively. DAIWA explicity, that the increased grant to Maynooth was pro- posed as a single and separate measure, not intended to facilitate in the slightest degree the endowment of the Roman Catholic clergy. I knew, indeed, that many members of the Government, not adverse to the grant to Maynooth, would offer the most decided opposition to any proposal for endowment. "In answering the second question I spoke then, as I am speaking now, for i

myself exclusively. I said, n substance, that I would not give the pledge re- quired from me; that I foresaw, indeed, very great practical difficulties in the way of endowment—great difficulties, as well from the declared objections to such a measure on the part of the Roman Catholic laity and Roman Catholic clergy in Ireland, as from the strong repugnance to it in the public mind of this country; that I had no plan for solving those difficulties; but that I would not fetter my discretion as a legislator by a positive pledge to refuse even the consideration of any such plan at all times and under all circumstances.

"The occasions are very rare on which it is consistent with the proper dis- charge of Parliamentary functions to enter into specific engagements of this na- ture.

"They might, perhaps, in this ease be entered into justifiably, by those who, after extended inquiry and mature deliberation, have come to the conclusion, that by allowing a decent stipend. to a Roman Catholic priest, instead of leaving him dependent for the means of subsistence on an impoverished flock, of which he is the spiritual, and, in truth, also the temporal guide, we should be confirming an influence already too great, and obstructing the diffusion of a purer faith: still more justifiably by those whose conscientious conviction it is that by such an act we are sanctioning and adopting error, and sinfully offending Almighty God, by consenting to the endowment of men who deny and reject Divine truth.

"But 1-cannot give my consent to either of these conclusions.

"I feel with regard to the first, that nothing can be less successful in weaken- ing the influence of the Roman Catholic religion in Ireland, than the coarse we have hitherto taken; that we have made no advance towards that object, either by penal laws or civil disabilities, or by a system of complete alienation from the ministers of that religion.

"With regard to the second, I cannot admit that the payment, with the sanc- tion of Parliament, of a given sum to the minister of a religions creed not being that of the State, is tantamount to the adoption or sanction by the State of the doctrines which that minister may teach, and is subversive of the principle of an Established Church. If it be so, we ought to rescind many acts of the Crown and of Parliament, which are open substantially to the same objection." The past having been disposed 04 what may be called Sir Robert's pre- sent declaration to the electors comes at the end of the pamphlet- " In respect to the future, it is my intention, if reelected, to conform on all matters connected with our financial and commercial concerns to the general principles on which I have acted while in power. "Acting with the caution and circumspection which tend to make reformation permanent by making it safe, and which are indispensably requisite in all cases wherein the public credit, or wherein extensive and complicated interests are con- denied, I shall feel disposed to support such measures as are calculated to remove any remaining restrictions on commerce; to abate duties that are levied for the purposes of protection, or that, by their amount, defeat the purposes of revenue; to apportion equitably the burden of taxation; and to better the condition of those who labour for their subsistence.

"Such measures are not only perfectly comfaitible with, but are mainly con- ducive to those great objects of constitutional policy, which it has been from the commencement of my public life, as it will be to its close, my unvarying purpose to uphold.

"It is my firm persuasion, that the course sanctioned by the present Parlia- ment with reference to our financial and commercial policy has tended to fortify the established institutions of this country, to inspire confidence in the equity and benevolence of the Legislature' to maintain the just authority of an hereditary nobility, and to discourage the desire for Democratic change in the constitution of the House of Conunons.

"It has aided the Government in conducting the administration of internal af- fairs, and in maintaining the public tranquillity, even during a period of suffering from depression in trade and a high price of food, much more through the mild influence of general contentment than through the appliance of force or the harsh coercion of the civil power. And if the sad times of a yet severer trial should return, that trial will not be borne with the less fortitude and patience when the privations that accompany it can be ascribed solely to causes over which legisla- tion has no control.

"I have thus, gentlemen explained to you the course which I have pursued, and that to which, if reelected, I intend to conform.

"In a few days, probably, the trust you have committed to me will be replaced in your hands. If you disapprove of that which I have done,—if you think the commercial policy erroneous, or the motives for adopting it insufficient or un- worthy,—I cannot solicit or expect the renewal of your confidence. Still less can I solicit or expect it if you think that that policy ought to be reversed—if you desire to reestablish the principle of Protection—to restore the duties that have been repealed on cotton, on wool, on meat, on flour, on the long list of imported articles which are either the materials for domestic manufactures or enter into general consumption as articles of food."

Mr. William Rashleigh will not stand again for East Cornwall; and Mr. J. T. A. Robartes, son of Lady Agar, is expected to succeed to the vacancy.

On the expected retirement of Mr. Rumbold from Yarmouth, Mr. Gold- smid has addressed the electors as the friend of civil and religions liberty. Mr. Goldsmid is son of Sir Lionel Goldsmid, the eminent Jewish merchant, and is the first of his race admitted to the English bar. • Sir John Fleetwood retires from the representation of Preston, and Mr. Pasco Grenfell is to come forward as his successor.

Mr. W. P. Roberts, the "Chartist Attorney-General," has addressed the electors of Blackburn, stating his willingness to represent them if they can get up such a requisition as will justify his appearance on the hustings.

The Tory Member for Lancaster, Mr. Marton, retires. Mr. Gregson and Mr. Salisbury are both after the vacant seat.

Mr. Blackburne has put out his farewell address to the electors of War- rington. Mr. Allward, a Liberal, aims at succeeding him.

Mr. James Macgregor Chairman of the South-eastern Railway Com- pany, has consented to become a candidate for Liverpool, on the " Pro- testant " interest.

A section of the electors of Cheltenham have induced Sir Willoughby ,Yones to stand for the borough. He has studied as a barrister; avows him- self young and untried, but entertaining the strongest desire to promote the welfare and prosperity of the town. Sir Willoughby is viewed as a formid- able antagonist to Mr. Craven Berkeley; whose support of the Health of Towns Bill appears to have given offence. The retirement of Mr. Ackers from Ludlow has brought forward two new candidates—Mr. H. B. Clive, a Conservative; and Colonel Salway, a Liberal, who formerly represented the borough. The electors of Plymouth have been surprised by the announcement of Mr. Thomas Gill's retirement. Mr. Calmady, of Langdon Hall, will come forward on receiving a requisition signed by a sufficient number to justify a reasonable expectation of success, and also on condition that his commit- tee pay all expenses.

Mr. Crowder, Q.C., is a candidate for Plymouth. At Totnes a new candidate has appeared, in the person of Mr. Samuel Ricardo, brother to Mr. Ricardo the Member. At Barnstaple, the Honourable J. W. Fortescue has addressed the elec- tors, offering his services as a Free-trade representative of the borough. At Ashburton, Mr. Matheson has signified his intention of retiring from the representation; and his brother, Colonel Matheson, has come forward in his stead.

Mr. Thomas Sheppard retires from Frome, and Major Boyle has been canvassing the borough on the Liberal interest. The retiring Member for Worcester, Mr. Bailey, has issued his farewell address.

Mr. Austin having declined the invitation to become a candidate for Ipswich, Mr. Hugh Adair has announced his intention of going to the polL Mr. Lane Fox has retired from the representation; and Mr. J. Chevallier Cobbold has issued an address to the electors, as the second Conservative candidate.

Mr. Henry Dandas Campbell is the new Liberal candidate for Christ- church.

Viscount Eastnor has written from Nice declining to come forward again for Reigate, on the score of his health. The candidates are Mr. Thomas Somers Cocks and Captain Parrott.

At the Buckingham Assizes, on Monday, Bernard Fossey was indicted "for that he, being a Policeman on the London and North-western Railway, intrusted with the charge of certain points at Wolverton, so negligently and carelessly con- ducted himself in the charge of that duty on the 5th of June last, as to turn a train of passenger-carriages from the main rails on to a siding devoted to goods- trains, whereby a collision occurred between the train and certain coal-waggons On the siding; and such injuries were inflicted on one John Lambert Clifton, a passenger in the train that he died thereof." Six other and similar indictments and Coroners' inquisitions charged the prisoner with having caused the death of six other persons. The particulars of this case were folly stated at the time of the disaster; and the evidence now produced was the same as that given at the inquest The witnesses described the collision, caused by the prisoner turning the points at the siding. The lights on the train were correct; but the engine- driver admitted that he hadonce worked a goods-train with a white lamp, though a green one should be used with such a train; the white being for passenger- trains. The Inspector of Police belonging to that district of railway repeated the remarks made by the prisoner after the accident: he said his watch was slow, and had thus deceived him; also, that the lights had deceived him. No witnesses were called for the defence; but Mr. Prendergast addressed the July

for the prisoner. He denied that the man was neglecting his duty: he was at his post, and was sober: his general character was good. Fossey declared that the signal-lamps of the train had not been properly exhibited; and it had been ad- mitted that a goods-train had once come in with a white light. It was for the Jury to consider whether the man had been guilty of more than a mistake on this unhappy occasion. The Jury returned this verdict—" We find the prisoner guilty; but we blame the Company for not keeping two men at the points." The sentence was imprisonment for two years, with hard labour.

At Chelmsford Assizes, on Tuesday, Emma Elizabeth Home was tried for at- tempting to poison her husband. The prisoner is a very pretty young woman; her husband is an infirm old man, with a grown-up family by a former wife. Hume was suffering from a liver-complaint; the woman made up some Loge pills, and strongly urged her husband to take them; but as suspicious circunt- stances had occurred before, Hume would not swallow the pills; they were after- wards handed to the Police, and it was found that they contained enough sugar of lead to have killed the old man. The prisoner, who had no counsel, merely denied the charge. She was found guilty.; and the sentence was transportation for life. The woman heard this with indifference; but as the Judge concluded, she made a spring towards her husband; and when the officers seized her, she muttered imprecations against the prosecutor, scowling savagely at him.

On Wednesday, Thomas Kimpton, formerly a Policeman, was tried for perjury at the inquest on Clarke at Dagenham. The evidence of the man's guilt was very clear; and his counsel could make no way against it. He was found guilt An objection was then taken to the form of the indictment; the words" in year of our Lord" not being attached to "1846." The Judge took time to consider.

Isaac llickton, another ex-Policeman, was then indicted for a similar offenee. He admitted that he had told some lies; but he had been induced to do so by the solicitations of Sergeant Parsons, to screen that officer from censure for neglecting his duty. The verdict was "Guilty," but with a recommendation to mercy.

On Thursday, judgment was passed on the men; Mr. Baron Parke stating that the legal objection which had been raised could be discussed, if thought advisable, by means of a writ of error: the sentence in each case was a fine of a shilling, imprisonment for a week, and transportation for seven years.

On Wednesday, James Wellesmore, an innocent-looking lad of seventeen, was tried for the murder of John Terry. The crime was committed near Rochford: Terry, an old man, was knocked down by a blow on the head from a hoe, and the accused then rifled his pockets; the man died some days after. The lad made no defence. The Jury found him guilty, but recommended him to mercy on account of his youth. The Judge passed sentence of death. During the whole proceed- ings, the prisoner was the least affected of any person in the court; and when the skull of his victim was produced, that a fracture in it might be compared with the hoe that Wellesmore had used, lie looked on, with a good deal of curiosity, but with perfect composure.

David Meiklereid, master of the Leith steamer Royal Victoria, surrendered to take his trial for the manslaughter of two men who were drowned in the Thames when the schooner Rose was run down by the steam-boat. An application was made to postpone the case till next Assizes, no arrangements having been made for bringing together the witnesses for the prosecution. This was resisted suc- cessfully, on the score of its injustice to the prisoner; and the trialegile.n.

to As there was no evidence offer, of course the prisoner was acquitted. Ir. Baron Parke took occasion to condemn the slovenly manner in which the Essex prosecutions are conducted on the part of the county.

At Winchester Assizes, on Thursday, Charles Wolfe, a youth of seventeen, was tried for attempting to murder Elizabeth Ayling, a nursery-maid in the house where the prisoner was footman. The accused seems to have been jealous of at- tentions which he thought another footman was paying to the girl; he knocked her down, and cut her throat, but not mortally. The defence was, that Wolfe had been so excited that he was not master of his actions. He was found guilty, and sentence of death was recorded.

There has been great excitement at Chesterfield, by the arrest of another men —Mr. Robert Statham, a respectable master butcher—charged with having been concerned in the murder of George Collis. The evidence brought forward impli- cates Statham at least to the extent of aiding and abetting in the crime; and he has been committed for trial as an accessory before the fact. Statham exhibited great interest for the fate of Platte, providing funds for his defence.

A frightful explosion of gun-cotton occurred on Wednesday, near Faversham- Messrs.-Hall have recently erected buildings about half a mile from the town for the manufacture of the cotton; forty or fifty people were employed in it. About eleven o'clock on Wednesday morning, a tremendous explosion alarmed the neigh- bourhood; people hurried to the spot, and some of the buildings were found to be on fire. When the first accounts were despatched, ten dead bodies had already been taken from the ruins; and several persons were missing. Fragments of bodies had been found.

Four more deaths have been added to the nine already reported from the ex- plosion at Kirkleas Hall Colliery. In several cases inquests have been held, and verdicts of "Accidental death" returned; but one Jury, which met last Friday, resolved to have the evidence of a professional man as to the state of the mine, and the ventilating measures adopted, before they came tea decision: accordingly, a Mr. Peace was directed to view the mine; and the inquest was adjourned.