"With these views, I felt it my duty, at all

hazards to oppose the Budget; important parts of which were subversive of those principles on which all prudent financiers have hitherto acted, and an adherence to which I believe to be necessary to the stability of the state.

"The result of the rejection of those measures has been the abandon- ment of office by the late Government. Upon the propriety of the course which they have so adopted I offer no opinion ; but I protest against the as- sertion that the Government were displaced by a combination of parties effected for that purpose. "In the present emergency, however, it is necessary that every effort should be made to reestablish our financial system, which cannot but have been shaken by the announcement of the intentions of the late Chancellor of the Exchequer. At such a moment, I have felt that it is not my duty to stand aloof from the Queen's service ; and I have therefore joined the Ad- ministration of the Earl of Aberdeen,—a nobleman whose wisdom and rec- titude I have learnt to honour during the many years I have acted with him, and with whom are associated some of the most eminent of living statesmen, with whom I can cordially cooperate in furtherance of the public good.

"In the month of February 1851, her Majesty was pleased to recommend to her Perliament to take into its consideration the state of the laws con- cerning the representation of the people ; and it will be the duty of the pre- sent Government carefully and deliberately to consider what improvements it may be practicable to introduce into our representative system, with a 'view to the increased stability of our institutions, and a continued harmony between them and the advancing morality and intelligence of the people. "I still believe, as I always have done, that in the maintenance of public credit, in the promotion of the comfort of all classes of the community, in the dissemination of sound education, and in the advancement of well-con- sidered reforms in all departments of the state, lies the beat security for the permanent conservation of our institutions.

"In the conviction that the new Administration will honestly and de- liberately direct its efforts in furtherance of these great objects, I have ac- cepted office under the Crown.

"By the rule of the constitution this acceptance vacates the seat which I had the honour, as your representative, to hold in Parliament; and I offer myself again for your suffrages, trusting that by your verdict I shall be en- abled, at a moment of public difficulty, to render my humble but faithful ser- vice to the Crown.

"I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your obedient and faithful servant, " SIDNEY HERBERT."

" Belgrave Square, Dec. 27."

MR. CARDWELL TO THE ELECTORS OF OXFORD.

"Gentlemen—Sir William Page Wood has been appointed a Vice-Chancel- lor, and his place in Parliament is vacant. You cannot but receive with re- gret the intelligence which separates you from so faithful a servant ; but I think you will recognize in his appointment a determination on the part of the Queen's Ministers to place on the judicial bench those who are best qualified to discharge the solemn duties of that high trust.

"For more than twenty years I have enjoyed the personal friendship of many most respected citizens of Oxford, and I venture to believe that my political opinions are in unison with those of a majority of the electors. Those opinions have been recorded in former Parliaments, and, in the hope that I may obtain your approbation, I would wish to refer to the votes which I have given in favour of Free-trade, of civil and religious liberty, of Protest- ant education, and generally of all those measures which have tended to re- move oppressive taxes and to promote the public good. "The Reform Act was passed when I was a resident in Oxford ; and my earnest approbation of that change was always openly expressed. The act of 1846, which abolished the tax upon corn, was contested in Parliament when I was a member of the House of Commons, holding office under Sir Robert Peel. I appeal to your decision whether the bappy condition of this country, while every other country of Europe has been disturbed, may not, under Divine Providence, be attributed to the conjoint and beneficial opera- tion of those great measures; and whether the policy by which they are di- rected may not therefore be regarded as at once resolute and enlightened— at once Conservative and Liberal. The authors of the Reform Act are asso- ciated in the present Government with the surviving colleagues of Sir Robert Peel, and I have accepted office with the confident belief that the policy of the Cabinet will be animated by a spirit of progressive reform.

"The controversies which have occupied the last ten years are now finally set at rest. To place upon a sound foundation the public finance—to promote the extension of knowledge, to increase the comforts of the community, and i

to administer the affairs of the nation in accordance with the dictates of en- lightened public opinion—to secure the freedom and purity of elections to Parliament—in a word, to maintain the honoured institutions of the kingdom in continual harmony with the growing intelligence of the age—to these ob- jects, if you shall intrust me with your confidence, I engage, whether in or out of office, to devote myself with all the assiduity in my power. "I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

"EDWARD Cannwieet." "Whitehall Gardens, 28th December 1852."

SIR WILLIAM PAGE WOOD'S PAYOLA-ELL ADDRESS TO THE ELECTORS

OF OXFORD.

" Gentlemen—I have most unexpectedly been summoned from the country today, in consequence of the acceptance by Vice-Chancellor Turner of the office of Lord Justice of the High Court of Chancery; and have myself, after considerable deliberation, accepted the vacant Vice-Chancellorship.

"My deliberation has been occasioned by the great regret which I feel in retiring from the honourable position in which you have three times placed me by returning me as your representative in Parliament. At a former period, when the cause of Reform and Progresa was in considerable peril, I declined to withdraw from the honourable post which I held as Solicitor-Ge- neral to the Administration of Lord John Russell. Few could then have hoped that within less than a twelvemonth of the accession to office of a party favourable to reaction, their course of policy would induce every sup-

porter of a Liberal and progressive course to coOperate in the formation of an effective Government.

"1 for one believe this result to be in a great measure awing to the noble and public-spirited conduct of Lord John Russell; and I doubt not that the band of able statesmen by whom he will be surrounded in the House of Commons, and the distinguished nobleman at the bead of her Majesty's Go- vernment, will acquire the confidence and support which can alone insure a firm and decisive advance in our commercial and political course. "I have the satisfaction of feeling that I am not deserting my position in time of danger ; and I trust that I have not accepted the office of a judge merely from motives of private ease or advantage. fain about to enter upon duties of at least as great public importance as those which I quit ; and may hope to contribute towards carrying into full effect those reforms in the Court of Chancery which I had the satisfaction, as Solicitor-General, of announcing to Parliament as the result of the labours of the Commission appointed by the then Government.

"My most painful task remains—to take leave of my warm and indulgent friends of the city of Oxford. Few can say, after a Parliamentary career of six years and three elections, that they are ignorant of the nature of an op- position. Your kindness, however, has not ended there : on every occasion when I have appeared among you, I have been so warmly welcomed as to be assured that, though I may have political opponents, I have not an enemy in Oxford.

"From my heart I wish to every inhabitant of your ancient and intelli- gent city the prosperity and happiness which I sincerely believe a progressive policy and enlightened. Government is likely to confer upon the nation at large.

remain, yours sincerely and gratefully, WILIIAM PAGE WOOD." "12, Great George Street, December 27."

1111. MATTHEW BAINES TO THE ELECTORS OF LEEDS.

"Gentlemen—The late Administration having failed in an attempt which appeared to me to be a very unjust one, especially so far as my own consti- tuents were concerned, to double the House-tax and to extend its area, have thought fit, upon the ground of that failure, to resign their offices. The con- sequence as, that the Earl of Aberdeen, acting in conjunction with the Mar- gins of Lansdowne, has been required by her Majesty to form a new Adminis- tration. This has been effected by combining in one Cabinet those distin- guished statesmen who, as the colleagues of Sir Robert Peel in his latest and best years, struggled with him for the establishment of the liberal policy which has immortalized his name, together with other statesmen, like Lord John Russell, whose whole lives have been passed in the advocacy and ex- tension of popular rights.

"Among the other arrangements, the vacant office of President of the Poor-law Board has been offered to me. Though my own wishes might have led me to shrink from duties which I know by experience to be of a most laborious and responsible character, I have not thought it right, under pre- sent circumstances, to withhold such services as it may be in my power to render to the public.

"My acceptance of this office creates a vacancy in the Parliamentary re- presentation of Leeds. I beg leave most respectfully to offer myself as a candidate for the honour of reelection. My past conduct is before you. My future will be guided by those principles which obtained for me your confi- dence six months ago, and to every one of which I shall continue steadfastly to adhere.

"I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient and faithful,;1',

servant, MATTHEW TaLiscrr BAINES. ' "Lancaster, Dec. 27."

Three elections are fixed for Saturday : at Hertford, Mr. Cowper will probably be unopposed ; at Scarborough, Lord Mulgrave has been can- vassing in order that he may not be taken by surprise ; and at Morpetk, Sir George Grey will quietly succeed Captain Howard, who retires to make room for him.

All the other elections will take place next week. . It is nearly certain that Sir Charles Wood's seat will be contested by Mr. Henry Edwards, sometime his Conservative colleague, but beaten at the July election by Mr. Crossley. It was thought, however, that unless the Chartists bring out a man, the Liberals are strong enough to win. Monday is fixed for the nomination. Another contest will take place at Southampton; Mr. Baillie Cochrane, the rejected of July, having somewhat lukewarmly an- nounced his intention of going to the poll first, and of petitioning for the seat of Sir Alexander Cockburn afterwards should he lose. Threats of nominating Mr. H. T. Hope, who was defeated in duly by Mr. Price, have been thrown out at Gloucester, in order to frustrate Admiral Berke- ley. Tuesday will decide. It is said that two candidates -will beset Sir James Graham at Carlisle, in the hope that he will fall between a Radical and a Tory onslaught. The Tory papers have also hoped that Mr. Long would avenge his late defeat en Mr. Sidney Herbert, and deprive him of his seat for South Wills. The country gentlemen are implored to be in- dignant, because the Herbert and Wyndham party hired all the horses on the country side, in July. The Radicals of Brighton have invoked Mr. J. S. Trelawney to be put in nomination on Tuesday next against Lord Alfred Hervey ; but it is not known whether he will respond. There is some talk, but little probability, of a successful opposition to Lord Palmerston, whose nomination stands for Monday : Roweliffe is not likely to oust his genial tormentor. Mr. Cardwell met the electors of Oxford on Wednesday, and made a capital impression ; but, declining to pledge Iiiinuelf in favour of the ballot, a resolution was agreed to assert- ing that no candidate properly, represented Oxford who would not sup- port vote by ballot. It is unlikely, however, that Mr. Cardwell will be defeated when it comes to the pinch of nomination on Tuesday. Mr. Baines will not be opposed at Leeds : the Liberals cordially concur in his Ministerial appointment, and the Conservatives do not think "there is any political principle sufficiently prominent to warrant their disturbing the peace of the borough." Mr. &rat will also be unopposed at Nottingham.

The steam-ship Euxine, belonging to the Peninsular and Oriental Com- pany, sailed from Southampton on Monday, fbr Malta and Marseilles. She IS to take up her station between those ports in conjunction with the Sultan, under the new arrangement between the Company and the Admi- ralty. In future there will be a double trunk-line of steam communica- tion from Southampton with India and China, and a semi-monthly mail. A packet will run between Singapore and Sydney - thus establishing six communications each way yearly between England and Australia. The new service will be opened on the 20th January, by the departure of the Indus. The first homeward mail will be due at Southampton on the 6th April 18,63.

There has lately 'been a great increase In the demand for iron, and a consequent rise accompanied by great fluctuations in prices. It is stated, however, that the increased price IS not entirely owing to a good healthy demand, but to the operations of speculator in London and Liverpool. In Glasgow, speculation in iron has been very lineited : which, it is said, "shows that those who should know the iron-trade pretty aocuretely have no confidence in the rise in price."

Damages amounting to 1501. have been awarded by a jury in the Glouces- ter Sheriffs' Court against Mr. Wilkins, a butcher of Tukmoor, for his breach of promise to marry Miss Nichols. He seduced the young woman while courting her; and when a child had been born, deserted her, though he bad specifically promised marriage one month after that event.

John Edwin Pidcock, ayoung man at Ashbome in Derbyshire, has died by the hand of his brother-in-law, Henry Spencer, and a man named George Eaton. There was some family squabble ; on Christmas-eve Pelee& and Spencer's mother met and quarrelled ; Spencer and Eaton then forced their way into a public-house kept by Pideeeles brother, and John was stabbed in the belly with a pocket-knife belonging to Spencer. Both Spencer and Eaton appear to have participated in the crime. A Coroner's Jury has re- turned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against them.

Rand, a labouring man, was murdered in the New Foreat while returning home from Hythe, on Christmas-eve. The object seems to have been plun- der—the poor labourer was butchered for the sake of five shillings. Suspi- cion alighted on Dumper, a poacher : there was much blood. on his smock- frock.

An inquest has been held at Harrow, on John Bartholomew, the guard who was killed there in a railway accident last week. The evi- dence extended to a considerable length, but the matter was very simple : the disaster arose from an imperfect welding of the tire. No blame attached to the railway company, or to Messrs. Sharpe and Co., who supplied the engine; there was no stint of price, and the iron was of first- rate quality. If any persons were to be censured it would be the workmen who did the actual welding—men paid by the day and not by the piece : it would seem that one or more of them were wanting in care in performing and testing the work. The Jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death, resulting from the fracture of a defective weld in the tire of one of the wheels on the express-engine," They also recommended greater care for the future in testing wheels, and that Messrs. Sharpe should provide for the de- ceased's family. Mr. Coroner Wakley observed that he had never held an inquest on a first-class passenger; he ascribed the exemption of this class to the way in which the carriages are padded : the second and third class carriages should also be padded, no matter with how coarse a material. Captain Huish promised to report the suggestion to the directors.

A pointsman has caused a serious disaster at the junction of the Yatton and Cleveland branch with the Bristol and Exeter Railway. As the train approached on the branch line, he neglected to [turn some points which would have sent it on to the main line, and in consequence the engine ran against an engine-house. The shed was shattered to pieces, and the loco- motive was buried under a heap of bricks and mortar. The driver was much hurt, and several of the passengers received cuts or bruises.

A correspondent of the Times reports two "accidents" to the up-mail from Derby on Christmas-eve. At a short distance from Derby, the train ran into some empty coal-waggons, which appear to have moved from a aiding in consequence of not having been properly secured : there was a great crash, and the engine left the rails. The passengers had to wait three hours at Derby. At Broughton, the train ran into a goods-train which was waiting there. Many persons were hurt still more than by the first collision. The passengers for London were three hours behind time.

Near Penkridge station., on Christmas-eve, one train overtook another, dashed into it, and smashed two carriages. A number of passengers were hurt, but none fatally.

In consequence of the late wet weather, a train got off the rails near Ken- ilworth: the driver's legs were both broken, and it is feared that he will not recover.