Abe Probincts.

Canterbury has been saved the turmoil of a contested election. The candidates for the seat vacated by the death of Mr. Bradshaw were Mr. Henry Plumptre Gipps and Lord Albert Conyngham. Mr. Gipps, however, fbund that the Protestant Conservatives of Canterbury received him with " lukewarmness"; other circumstances militated against him; and he retired on Saturday. On Monday, Lord Albert was proposed and elected without opposition. In nominating the new Member, Mr. Brent said that Lord Albert had retired from Parliament on account of ill health; but that his health was now quite reestablished. Lord Albert's address in returning thanks showed that in the interval of retirement he has not fallen in arrear of those who have gone beyond old party distinctions—

During his late canvass a large number of those who had opposed him formerly declared that they would not do so now, and many also told him that they would assist directly in his return. Why did he state this? It was not to show the ex- tent of personal influence which he exercised; it was not from any private motives of petty vanity; but he quoted the fact as a grand sign of the times, and of the changes effected by that master mind Sir Robert Peel, who, throwing to the winds all class-legislation, had declared himself the friend of the people. (Cheers.) That great man had sprung from the manufacturing classes—from the people — from the classes whom he now saw around him. He sought to secure cheap bread and increased employment because he wished for the people's good; nor could Lord Albert do better that declare himself now, as he always had done, an advo- ate of free trade. (Cheers)

The Lewes election took place on Wednesday; and Mr. Perfect was re- Vistaed without opposition. The Country party had put forward Captain Lyons as a candidate; but he withdrew from the contest before the day of election, and the proceedings were of the mildest possible character: many ladies were present. Mr. Perfect avowed himself " a zealous supporter of the present Government"; whose past career he eulogized; and his views of advancement for the future seemed bounded by the measures to be brought forward by the Ministry during the present session.

Mr. Frewen has issued an address to the electors of East Sussex, say- ing it is not his intention to solicit their suffrages at the approaching general election. A requisition will be immediately sent to Mr. Lucas Shadwell of Hastings, inviting him to come forward in the place of Mr. Frewen. Mr. Shadwell is a thorough Conservative, and a strenuous sup- porter of Protestantism. He has lately received a very large fortune from en uncle; and by the terms of his will was compelled to take the name of Lucas Shadwell instead of Stunt, which was his paternal name.— Times.

A very numerous meeting assembled in the Guildhall of Bath, on Tues- day, to petition Parliament in favour of a poor-law for Ireland. The meeting was convened by the Mayor, on a requisition numerously signed by persons of all shades of politics; and the Mayor also presided. A re- solution in support of the Government measure having been carried, the Members for the borough, Lord Duncan and Mr. Roebuck, addressed the meeting. The former rested his argument for a stringent poor-law on the neglect of the Irish landlords to do their duty. They must support their

poor, and their lands would then be worth keeping; if not, let them hand them over to the English, who would introduce industry and skill in work- ing them. Mr. Roebuck justified himself, with great applause, for the course he had taken; which he had been told in the House was not in ac- cordance with the wishes of his constituents. He expressed a firm belief that the Government measure would pass. A vote of confidence in Mr; Roebuck and Lord Duncan was passed amidst loud cheering.

A great meeting to oppose the Government scheme of education was held at Leeds on Wednesday. It was convened, an requisition, by the Mayor; and was opened in the Court-house, but at once adjourned to the Cloth-hall yard, where an immense assemblage had collected. The hust- ings were equitably shared between the opponents and supporters of the measure; some Chartist leaders also obtaining admission.

The principal speaker against the scheme was Mr. Edward Baines junior. He commented on the unconstitutional manner in which Government had attempted to carry out its plan without the intervention of Parliament, or the discussion in each House on the several stages of a bill. While dis- cussing this point, he vaunted the House of Lords as a a great safeguard of our liberties." He cited authorities for condemning the Educational Com- mitten of the Privy Council—

Sir Robert Peel says a Committee itself is a departure from the general princi- ple of the constitution. Lord Stanley says this Committee is an irresponsible, an unfettered, and a despotic body. The Archbishop of Canterbury says that this Committee of Council is engaged in proceedings which usurp the functions of the House of Lords, and supersede one branch of the Legislature of the country.

He addressed himself, severally, to the various Nonconforming bodies, he averred that they could not conscientiously take advantage of the measure, and that—apparently with some partial exceptions among the Methodists and Unitarians—all were opposed to it. He declared that it would do OM thing for the poor—it would deteriorate their condition, by depriving them of their independence and self-reliance. In conclusion, he moved,

" That, in the opinion of this meeting, the education of the entire population is of paramount importance to the welfare and happiness of our country: the meet- ing therefore rejoices in the increasing number of all classes of the community who are now under the means of instruction; but at the same time, regarding public liberty as of inestimable value, it protests in the meet energetic manner against the present measure of Government, as unconstitutional in its form, par- tial and unjust in its operation, and calculated enormously to increase the influence of the Government, and to destroy the manly independence of the nation." Mr. flamer Stansfeld led the antagonist party, the supporters of the Government plan, in a speech remarkable for its temperate earnestness and bold out-speaking- " England will never rest satisfied until her sons take rank amongst the best and not the worst educated in the world; and, being convinced that they cannot be placed in that position by the Voluntary principle alone—(Noise and disappro- tion)-1 am here as a supporter of Government aid, if impartially administered to all, without constraint on the religious conviction of any. " Where is the use of discussing the merits of a scheme with those who are for no scheme at all? It is mere waste of time; it is putting you on a false scent, leading you to run after the hare when nobler game is in view. We admit that the scheme is in some respects objectionable; but who is to blame for that? Not the Government, who were deterred from bringing out a more comprehensive scheme and submitting it to the usual formalities of Parliament; but those who by the endless difficulties they raised were the cause of deterring them—that re- ligious party who are now sounding the alarm, and are so fickle-minded on the subject as to protest against what in 1839 they petitioned for, Government aid. The real question is, Can the whole body of the people be properly educated upon the Voluntary principle? I say no. And if another seven years war of toil and trouble be necessary to obtain it, I for one will enlist in the eause—will join the ranks.

"Suppose a law were paused enacting that each sect should provide for the education of its own body, is any argument needed to convince any person that that would not affect the conscience? They might object to being compelled, but that would not affect the conscience. Now, the working of the scheme is practically the same. ("No, no!") Each sect contributes to the taxes in about the proportion of its numbers and wealth, and would be contributing in about the same proportion for educational purposes. "We are not called upon to pay respect to conscientious objections unless they are well founded. (Cheers and disapprobation.) In former days martyrs were burnt at the stake by those who had conscientious objections to them; and if you interfere one iota with the religious liberty of any man, directly or indirectly, you are acting on the selfiiame principle—the difference is only in degree. " Fellow townsmen, the question for your consideration and determination is this. A measure is proposed byiher ;Majesty's Government for promoting the education of the people; it is not everything you could wish, but still it is a step

in a right direction. If do not support the Government, they may yield to the opposition raised against it, and withdraw it ; though I am happy to say, that from what I learned in town a day or two ago, there is not much danger of this, as hardly a Member of the House of Commons is opposed to it. If you do support her Majesty's Ministry, the measure vrillibe carried; and our opposing friends, finding themselves shackled with a measure so little to their taste, will listen tot reason, and join us in our endeavours to obtain a better."

Mr. Stansfeld moved an amendment,

" That this meeting, deeply sensible of the defective state of education in this country, both as regardsquantity and more especially quality, views with satis- faction the attention that has been paid by Government to this most important subject, and is prepared to second its efforts as long as they continue to be con- sistent with liberty both civil and religions. That, without pledging itself to all the details, this meeting is of opinion that the plan of education propounded by the Government tends to stimulate without superseding voluntary exertions; and that it offers equal advantages to all, without interfering with the religious opinions of any." The measure was strenuously supported br the Reverend Dr. Hook, the Vicar of Leeds; who declared that it was much more needed by the Non- conformists in Leeds than by the Church party- " All that I ask of you is, are you content with the quality of education which you can now give your children. (" Yes!" and "No!") If you are contented with the education which you can give to your children, 1 can only say, I will go on doing my part to improve the education given to the Church children. If you are contented with the quality of the education given to your people, then I have nothing more to say to you. My only feeling is this, that I should like to see every working man able to give as good an education to his child as I can to mine. I may be wrong in entertaining such a wish, but you can regard no harm in it. Now what does Government do? It says, or supposes, that there ought to be an improvement, both in quantity and quality, with respect to the education of the people. The means proposed are the assisting of voluntary efforts. No person is compelled to receive an inspector; no person is compelled to receive the Govern- ment aid; bat the Government is willing to assist." Government has declared its willingness to improve details that are open to objection. " We lately had an oh- jection to one point: it was stated to the Government, and it was redressed. The only point; of interference which seems to have been noticed has been this—that

in the Church schools the clergyman is to assist the inspector when he examines the schools; in Dissenting schools the managers are to do the same. In Church schools the committee is always joined with the clergyman, and in Dissenting schools the minister may be joined with the manager. But there are some Dissent- ing schools to which the minister is not attached; therefore they seem to have been omitted: but if there is a grievance there, it is a thing which can be very easily remedied."

The amendment was put, and negatived by a large majority—two to one, says a report in the Morning Chronicle. Another amendment was then moved by Mr. Brook and Mr. Mackintosh, two Chartists—to the effect that if any system of national education were adopted, it should be secular, not religious. This also was negatived; and the original motion was affirmed.

More speeches were delivered, and other resolutions were carried,—con- demning all state interference in education; authorizing petitions to Par- liament against any grant of money for such purpose; and appointing a deputation, headed by the Mayor and Mr. Edward Baines, to proceed to London and make representations to Ministers and Members of Parlia- ment. The meeting broke up with three cheers for Mr. Edward Baines.

Meetings with similar results have been held at Wakefield, Hunslett, Sherborne, and other places.

The Chelmsford Grand Jury have found a true bill against Sergeant Parsons and Policemen Kimpton and Hickton, for " conspiring together for the purpose of committing wilful and corrupt perjury" in the Dagenham case: the three other Policemen who gave false evidence have been admitted witnesses for the Crown. The trial will not take place until the Summer Assizes.

At York Assizes, on Monday, Mr. Frederick Whitehead, a woollen-manufac- turer of Saddleworth, brought an action for compensation against the Great North of England Railway for fatal injury sustained by his wife from the negligence of the company. On the 4th of last October, plaintiff and his wife were passengers by mail-train from Darlington to York; the train was thirty-five mmutes behind time in starting, and to make up for this the speed was excessive; at a curve near Croft station, the train went off the rails, and a frightful crash ensued. Mrs. Whitehead was dreadfully mangled: she lingered for several weeks, and then died. The plaintiff's expenses arising from this mischance were estimated at 525/. The counsel for the company denied that there was any negligence; the occurrence was entirely accidental. The Jury found for the plaintiff, and gave the full damages claimed, 5251.

At the Nottingham Asians, on Monday, Elizabeth Smith and Sarah Taylor were tried for the manslaughter of George Taylor: Smith was Taylor's house- keeper, the other was his stepmother. The charge was, that the women had ad- ministered arsenic to Taylor; but the evidence was very inconclusive,—resting in a great measure on Smith's admission that she had given Taylor (who was ad dieted to drink) physic to keep him at home, and to prevent him from maletreat- ing his father; but she declared that she had no intention to hurt him. The ver- dict was acquittal.

At Derby Assizes, on Thursday, Thornas.Cross, the gardener that killed his wife and attempted to destroy a female neighbour who entered his house to see what had occurred, was tried for the murder. Evidence was given of his having exhibited madness on several occasions; and the verdict was acquittal on the ground of insanity.

Sarah Chesham, who was tried at Chelmsford Assizes for poisoning one of her children, and acquitted, as we mentioned last week, was subsequently arraigned on charges of poisoning another of her children and the child of Lydia Taylor. In both these cases also the verdict was " Not guilty."

Welch and Matthews, two young Irishmen, were executed at Morpeth on Wed- nesday morning, for murders of which they were recently convicted. In both cases the Jury had recommended the criminal to mercy, and memorials bad been forwarded to Government for commutation of the sentences; yet in neither in- stance could there be any doubt of the murderous intent. The Spinning-house riots have not yet ceased at Cambridge. Last week there was a rather serious "row "; the Proctors were pelted, and the windows and lamp of an inn were broken by the missiles.

An inquest has been held at Grantham on Mrs. Parkinson, the wife of a hair- dresser who died after an operation had been performed while the patient was under idle influence of ether. She had suffered from a tumour on her leg, and had inhalsd ether to undergo the requisite operation. But the expedient failed: it seemed that she was conscious of pain; and after the operation she remained in a powerless condition until she died, two or three days subsequently. Two sur- geons made a post mortem examination of the body: they considered that the woman had been killed-by the ether, not by the tumour or its removal. The Jury returned this verdict—" That the deceased, Ann Parkinson, died from the effects of the vapour of ether, inhaled by her for the prirp of alleviating pain during the removal of a tumour from her left thigh, and not from the effect of the operation, or from any other cause." Mr. Robbs, the gentleman who had per- formed the operation, then stated that he concurred in this view—the ether had killed the patient.

-A workman at Lowestoff having had his hand smashed while pile-driving, it was necessary to amputate the member; to facilitate this, the vapour of ether was applied; but, instead of a sedative effect on the patient, it produced the most violent excitement. The operation was ultimately performed with the patient in a state of consciousness.

Blake, one of the workmen who suffered from the accident at Osborne House last week, has since died.