Itbe Vrobincts.

A meeting of the electors of North Lancashire was held at Preston on Monday. Mr. Wilson, the Chairman of the late Anti-Corn-law League,

expfained the state of the register; declaring that there was a moiety of 1,000 votes for a Liberal candidate. Measures were accordingly taken for bringing forward a Liberal, to oppose one of the two present Conservative Members, Mr. John Wilson Patten and Mr. John Talbot Clifton.

Mr. F. D. P. Astley, of Dukinfield, has been brought forward for North, Cheshire. He is supported by a section of the late Anti-Corn-law League party.

The retirement of Mr. S. Irton from West Cumberland has brought for. ward Mr. H. Lowther, son of the Honourable Colonel Lowther.

Mr. F. H. Dickinson has withdrawn his name from the list of candidate for West Somersetshire. In his address Mr. Dickinson states, that two

gentlemen having been solicited to come forward by a largo portion of his former supporters, he will not press his claims for reelection. If he did so, he would lay himself open to the imputation of being actuated by the mere wish to preserve his seat. Mr. Dickinson's reasons are set forth with much. good sense. Both the great parties, he observes, are now dissolved, and there is no longer that danger of hasty reform which was formerly apprehended. Many changes,

are called for by the circumstances of the times. A general disposition' exists among public men of all shades of opinion to conduct the affairs of the country with prudent foresight; and the Government ought to be supported. In the pre- sent temper of the times, the difficulties of Government are great, and there is a

disposition to blame them unfairly. The recent changes in the finances and he commerce ought to have a fair trial; and a fair trial will doubtless lead to many

further changes. Mr. Dickinson considers that he is not the less a faithful mem- ber of the Church of England because he refuses to adopt the sentiments that are usually written and spoken about Popery—sentiments which it is surprising

that men of sense and learning can avow; and because he is willing to extend to Roman Catholics and Protestant Dissenters the advantages of education, and the utmost practicable amount of civil and religions liberty. With this avowal of his sentiments he retires from the contest, repaid by years of pleasurable recollection for the annoyances undergone within the last two.

The election struggle has already commenced in Liverpool. On Friday, Lord John Manners presented himself to the borough. After going on 'Change, he addressed the electors from a window. That which was deemed the least satisfactory part of an excellent speech, was the passage where he avowed his fidelity to the leadership of Lord Stanley and Lord George Bentinck.

On Monday, Sir Thomas Birch entered the fiejel. He also went on 'Change, and afterwards addressed the electors. He contended for the

people's right to have good and sufficient intellectual knowledge. On the Navigation-laws he had not made up his mind; but in order to do so he would diligently read the blue book. The Bank Charter he considered ineffectual. He would be glad to repeal the Game-laws, if he could see his way clearly through that difficult subject.

Mr. Manners Sutton has "reconsidered" his withdrawal from Cambridge, and again comes forward.

The retirement of Sir George Cockburn from Parliament has left a va- cancy for Ripon, which Sir James Graham is ambitious of filling. In the address which he has put forth, Sir James hopes, that as his name has been long known in the neighbourhood, he will not be considered a stranger- " I am conscious that my judgment may have erred on many occasions; but has been my constant and honest endeavour to strengthen and to uphold the in- stitutions of our country by the application of timely remedies to their defects; and without regard to my personal interests, I have laboured to promote the happiness and welfare of all classes of my fellow subjects. I can only promise tO adhere to the independent conduct which I have hitherto pursued."

Mr. Matthias Attwood has intimated his intention of retiring from the representation of Whitehaven and from Parliament, on account of failing health. The Honourable Edward Petre has withdrawn his pretensions to be elected for Stafford. His place has been supplied by Mr. T. P. Healey, of London ; who has issued an address. Mr. Healey belongs to the medical profession, and is understood to be the proprietor and principal editor of the Ifedkal Times.

Dr. Epps has announced himself as a candidate for Northampton.

A candidate in the Conservative interest has at length appeared at Devonport, in the person of Mr. J. Sanders junior; who is stated to be the son of a merchant at Liverpool.

The retirement of Mr. Freahfield and Captain Plumridge from Penryn and Falmouth, will probably leave the borough in the hands of Mr. Mowatt and Mr. Howel Gwyn ; the former of Liberal, the latter of Conservative politics.

Colonel Thompson met the electors of Bradford on Monday evening, in the Temperance Hall; and the meeting resolved to support his election.

In consequence of the doubt respecting Mr. Clive's eligibility, be being Judge of the Southwark County Court, Mr. Clifford of Lantilis and Mr. Jellinger Symons have appeared as candidates of the city of Hereford.

Sir Fitzroy Kelly has announced himself as a candidate for Lyme Regis Mr. Rudge having resigned his seat for Evesham, Sir Ralph Howard has offered his services. Sir Hugh Willoughby has issued an address, de- scribing himself as emphatically Protestant. The contest is expected to be between Lord Marcus Hill and Sir Ralph Howard. At Huntingdon there is to be an opposition on the part of Mr. Prender- pst, the barrister; who advocates the views of the Government.

The annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society commenced on Tuesday, at Northampton. The visiters arrived in very large numbers during the day, including a long array of agricultural nobles and Members of Parliament. The exhibition of live stock was numerous: it presented fewer specimens of extreme obesity than heretofore. The show of agricul- tural implements is much praised for an unusual display of mechanical skilL The business commenced with a lecture which the Reverend A. Huxtable delivered to a numerous auditory, in All Saints Parochial School- room, on the growth of turnips by means of artificial manures. The lec- ture was exceedingly interesting, on account both of the treatment of the subject by Mr. Huxtable, and of the observations elicited from a number of scientific farmers who contributed the result of their individual expe- riments.

On Wednesday, a public breakfast was given by Mr. Sharp, the Mayor of Northampton, to about two hundred distinguished guests; including Sir Harry Smith, whose health was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm. In the evening, Mr. Thompson discoursed on the relative advantages of thick and thin sowing of wheat.

Thursday was accounted the principal day, both for the show and the conviviality. The show of stock was not so numerous as it has been before; but the beasts were unprecedenteAlly fine in point of race, symmetry, -Ind condition. The yard was thrown open at six o'clock in the morning; and by one o'clock, eleven thousand persons bad paid 2s. 6d. each. After that hour the charge for admission was reduced to one shilling, and the crowd became so great as to render all critical examination of the stock impossible.

The grand dinner was held in a handsome pavilion specially erected in Manning's Close. The Earl of Egremont presided; the Earl of Yar- borough, President elect, acted as vice-president; and the guests, including many persons of title and distinguished patrons of agriculture, numbered 1,200. The speeches were numerous, but brief, and not very interesting. Sir Harry Smith made one remark which deserves attention: the breed of bunters has so diminished and degenerated, that if five hundred were wanted for the cavalry he believed they could not be collected.

The fourth Congress of the British Arcliceological Association com- menced at Warwick on Monday; and, notwithstanding the attractions else- where, was very well attended. Various interesting papers were read; and the Association improved the antiquarian occasion by a visit to Warwick Castle.

Typhus fever continues to increase at Leeds. In the course of last week twenty cases were removed from a place called Wellington Yard to the Fever Hospital. Wellington Yard is now quite cleared of its inhabit- ants, and the Board of Works have taken possession of it: they have re- solved that it shall not be occupied again for three months, during which period it is to be cleansed and purified.

An action for breach of promise of marriage was tried at Winchester on Satur- day. The plaintiff, Miss Jane Harvey, is the daughter of a farmer in the North of Ireland; the defendant, Mr. Thomas Johnstone, is surgeon on board her Majesty's ship Spartan: both are Irish. The intimacy between the parties commenced as far back as 1838, when the lady was about of age. The defendant courted her until 1841; his fancy then strayed to some newer lover; but in the following year he repented, sought a reconciliation with his first love, and was again ad- mitted as the plaintiff's suitor. The alleged impediment to the marriage was the repugnance of the defendant's friends. In 1844, Miss Harvey's father having be- come reduced in circumstances, she decided upon going with a sister to Toronto, where they had a brother settled. They sailed in June, and on their arrival went into business as milliners. In May 1845, Mr. Johnstone, who had all along cor- responded with the lady; wrote to her that he had obtained the consent of his friends; beseeching her at the same time to return to his arms. Two days after- wards, he wrote to say that his friends had withdrawn their consent, but that be would marry her in spite of them. And on the 31st of May he repeated his en- treaty that she would come to him: "You shall not be disappointed," he said; "no delay." He assured her that Lily (her sister) should be provided for, and concluded his letter with the following prudent hint—" Anything that you have that you think will pay carriage and be useful to us, bring with you, such as feather-beds." Moved by these entreaties, Miss Harvey left Toronto, and reached Ireland on the 9th of September. In the mean time, the defendant bad written to the plaintiff desiring her not to return, as his friends had again with- drawn their consent to the merrier, and as she had stated in all her letters that she would not be united to him without their consent This letter, however, was not dated until July 28th, the day on which the plaintiff left Toronto; and was not delivered to her until after she had arrived in Ireland. On the 10th Septem- ber, the plaintiff's brother wrote to the defendant infarming him that his sisters bad arrived from Toronto, and requesting that he would drink tea with them on the following evening. The defendant returned for answer, that he could not ac- cept the invitation, as Mrs. Harvey (the wife of the plaintiff's brother) had not spoken to him for some time past. From that time, Mr. Johnstone never saw the plaintiff; made no reply to the letters sent to him; went to Se:Aland; and subsequently to Portsmouth, where he joined the ship to which he had been ap- pointed. The defendant's counsel adduced no facts in defence; merely endea-

vouring to disparage the case on the other side. The Jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff—damages 400i.

At York Assizes, on Monday and Tuesday, Patrick Reid was tried for murdering Mr. Wraith, at Mirfield. There were three indictments, charging the prisoner with the three murders, committed in May last; but the first only was tried. The circum- stances of this horrible case have been stated as they have come to light; and the evidence at the trial did not carry the matter farther than at the preliminary inquiries. But Michael MCabe, who had been arrested as an accomplice of Reid, appeared as a witness. He stated, that on the day of the murders he called at Mr. Wraith's with pots for sale; be knocked, and after a time the door was par- tially opened by Reid; he saw blood, and beard "an exhausted sigh "; Reid told him that no pots were wanted; and the witness went away. If this man's testi- mony could have been believed, the prisoner's guilt was evident but ItCabe had uttered so many contradictions, and told so many varying stories, that his evi- dence was discredited. The Jury consulted for three hours; and then asked the Judge if Reid were acquitted on the present indictment, could he be tried for the two other murders if additional evidence should be obtained? They did not think the proof sufficient at present. Mr. Justice Wightman said he could not answer the question ; it was one with which the Jury had nothing to do. Soon after, a verdict of acquittal was returned.

On Wednesday, an application was made to postpone Reid's trial for the murder of Mrs. Wraith and the servant; it being probable that additional evi- dence could be obtained if time were allowed. The Judge did not decide at the moment.

George Bradley and James Bradley, brothers, were tried for the murder of John Riley, at Sheffield. Mr. Riley was a tobacconist; returning home late at night, intoxicated, he was maletreated and robbed; and he died a few days after. Property belonging to the deceased was traced to the prisoners; but there was no evidence to prove that they were Mr. Riley's assailants. They were acquitted of the murder- but next day they were tried for the robbery, convicted, and sentenced to be transported for fifteen years.

At Lincoln Assizes, on Tuesday, Mary Ann Milner, a woman of twenty-seven. was successively tried for the murder of her mother-in-law and her sister-in-law. The double crime was committed by putting arsenic in the food of the victims, In the first case, the evidence was not quite conclusive; but in the second the Jury found her guilty, and sentence of death was pronounced. There was an- other indictment against the convict, for a third murder of a relative.

At Worcester Assizes, last week, Hercules Lovell Blewitt was tried for the murder of his wife, at Dudley. He had quarrelled with her, beaten her, thrown her into a coal-cellar, and poured scalding water upon her dom a kettle; which last proved fatal. The prisoner was found guilty of " manslaughter " only, and was sentenced to be transported for twenty years.

At Carmarthen Assizes, on Friday week, Maly Hughes, the woman who banged her three children at Llanbyther, was arraigned for the murders. She made no answer when called upon to plead; and after medical evidence of her insanity had been given, a verdict of acquittal was registered. on the ground that her derangement prevented her pleading. Of course she will be placed in a lu- natic asylum.

At Dorchester Assizes, on Monday, James Hayward, ten years old, was tried for stabbing another boy. The evidence exhibited a shocking picture of youthful depravity. The two children were drinking at a public-house in Blandford; they quarrelled, and proceeded to blows with sticks; at last the prisoner took a clasp-knife from his pocket, opened it, and stabbed his companion under the arm. The wounded boy was in danger for some time. The Jury found the accused guilty of a common assault The Judge said he really did not know what to do with the boy, and he deferred the sentence.

Great exertions are made by the people of Chelmsford and its vicinity to obtain: a commutation of the sentence of death passed on the lad Willsmore for the mur- der of John Terry. The ground on which applications are made to the Home Secretary in this case is, that the convict knocked down the old man that he might rob him—not with an intention to commit murder. The Jury recommended the culprit to mercy. He has been respited during the Royal pleasure.

Margaret Lennox an old woman of North Shields, has been committed for trial on a charge of murdering her husband by poison. The prisoner had latterly be- come a drunkard, and thus frequent quarrels arose; she bought some arsenic, which she seems to have put into apudding made for her husband; a considerable quantity of the mineral was found in the man's body.

The immediate loss of life by the explosion at Messrs. Hall's gun-cotton manu- factory, near Faversham, amounted to twenty-one persons—apparently men, wo- men, and youths. Nine bodies were taken from the ruins in a state to be identi- fied; eleven persons were missing, mangled limbs and other remains telling their fate; and the list is completed by a man who died from inhaling the acid fumes while labouring to extricate sufferers from the wreck. Besides these fatalities, sixteen persons were more or less hurt; two of them to a degree that renders their recovery unlikely.

The works covered an area of twenty acres; there were four buildings, two of which had been used since December last for the making of gun-cotton. The structures were forty feet square, the walls eighteen feet thick; and the several factories were divided from each other by mounds of earth about forty feet high, and of nearly the same extent of base; these mounds being intended to pre- vent an explosion in one building from extending to another,—a precaution which lamentably failed on this occasion. No fire was allowed within the building where the cotton was dried.

About eleven o'clock in the morning, one of the factories was blown up by an explosion of tremendous violence; and in a few seconds the other workshop was also destroyed, the ruins of the first having dashed in the roof and set fire to the dangerous contents. Every one in the first factory perished; some were rescued alive from the other, though it is feared that several were burnt to death in the ruins. Buildings, trees, and corn, for a wide circle around, were more or less damaged.

The inquest was began yesterday week. After the Jury had viewed the scene of the disaster, Mr. William Hall, one of the partners' was examined. He stated that he superintended the works, in conjunction with Mr. Henry Topping, a prac- tical chemist, who had perished by the explosion. On Wednesday morning, the 14th, be was in the gun-cotton factory from six to eight o'clock; he showed the boys how to fill the tubes with the cotton, as they were not doing it quite to his satisfaction: the directions he gave were such as he thought necessary to insure perfect safety. About eleven o'clock, he was returning to the works, when as he

I

was be ween fifty and eighty paces distant from the factories, they exploded. As soon he dared venture to the spot, he hastened to the ruins. One factory was utterl destroyed; the other was a mass of ruins, from which cries of distress were heard. People were set to work, and they extricated some of the sufferers; then the fire put a stop to the operations; but as soon as it could be got under by engines, the search was renewed. The temperature which be allowed in the two buildings was 1100 and 120° respectively: bethought that perfectly safe; he bad exposed cotton to 350° without its exploding. He spent a great portion of his time every day in the factory along with the workpeople. He could not form any opi- nion of the cause of the explosion. Mr. Day, one of the superintendents of the factory, stated that he had left the premises a few minutes before the disaster: the temperature was then below the maximum fixed by Mr. Hall; and it could hardly have been raised even ten degrees during the time he was absent. Mr. Alfred White, a manufacturing chemist 1 Islington, deposed that two months since he examined the works at the desire of Messrs. Hall, and he thought every precaution had been taken to obviate danger. Mr. Topping was a careful and in- telligent person, in every way competent to take charge of such works. He knew that Mr. Topping thought 180° would be perfectly safe; but he did not think he would have raised the temperature without Mr. Ilall's sanction. The Jury wished to examine some of the workpeople; and as surgeons stated that none of the suf- ferers were likely to be recovered sufficiently to appear at the inquest for a fort- night, the inquiry was adjourned till the 9th of August.