6ht Orono!. elution.

The general election has now begun. Some returns have already come to hand. The bulk are unsettled. Our information, therefore, with respect to the preliminary proceedings will be confined to points of interest. Many changes have taken place • many candidates have retired ; and new ones have appeared. A few entries will present the chief of them before the reader.

THE METR.OTOLLS.

The persons who got up the requisition to Lord Stanley to come for- ward as a candidate for the city received from him a written reply,,in which he sated various reasons why he ought not to come forward, end • ing with a distinct statement that he declined their offer. Nevertheless, the committee seemed for a time inclined to go on with their prepara- tions with the view of electing Lord Stanley. The Liberal party at once set actively to work, a meeting was called for Saturday ; strong in- dignation was expressed at the persistence of the Tory committee in the face of Lord Stanley's refusal. On Saturday the committee became sud- denly alive to the folly of their proceeding, and formally withdrew Lord Stanley's name.

The Liberals held their meeting in the afternoon, and three of the late Members addressed those assembled. One part of Lord John Russell's speech treated of the European question. After describing the origin of the strife, and the shameful mode of Government of Austria in Italy, he said- " No wonder that in the many years which have elapsed from 1815 to 1859 this kind of oppression has brought the people of Italy into a, stale of irritation. Such conduct has driven even wise men mad—and we cannot wonder that the people of Italy, who are very excitable, should have been driven-almost mad by it. On the other hand, 1 cannot say that the conduct of Sardinia, which has complained of this oppression, has been perfectly right. She was hardly entitled, perhaps, to interfere with foreign states. All that she had properly a right to say was Let not Austrian troops in- terfere with the other states of Italy.' She said more than that; and I suppose, that if the great powers had met in conference, between the unwar- rantable assumption of Austria and the loud demands of Sardinia, they would have found some reasonable settlement. Unhappily that settlement has not been found, and the two powers which I have especially mentioned, will, I am afraid, soon be committed to hostilities. Those hostilities will perhaps extend beyond the powers with which they will commence. In all probability the Emperor of the French will assist Sardinia; possibly some states may assist Austria. All I can say is that war will be tidread calamity for Europe; but with regard to ourselves, gentlemen, I should say that our only course is to keep honestly, fairly, and strictly neutral." (Erweland long continued cheering.) Lord Derby said that our position must be orM of armed neutrality, and that we must see after a time on which side right might be. "Unfortunately, it appears that the Earl of Derby, who has spoken very frequently upon this subject in the House of Lords, and Mr. Disraeli, who has spoken frequenly upon it in the House of Commons, have taken a very partial view of the matter. They appear never to have con- sidered . under what oppression the Italians laboured, but they have at all tidies shown a very strong leaning towards Austria. So that if the Earl of Derby were to carry out his plan, I have no doubt that plan would prove to be to arm in the first instance, and being armed, to take part after a time with Austria against Italy. Well, now I am against that policy.", (Cheers.) Our taking part would not restore peace. In former times long wars have been kept up by one side or the other obtaining large sums from England ; " and it is my belief that if in this case we do not furnish any such means— if wo resolutely refuse to take either side—the hostilities will not last long, and the parties to them will find some means or other of making peace." (". Hear, hear"! and charts.) He was against interfering ; he was for minding our own affairs ; attending to the amendment of the representa- tion, and questions of internal improvement.

. At another meeting, showing that we are called upon to remain neu- tral, he said,

"Lord Derby says our position must be one of armed neutrality.' Now, that is quite a different thing from being in a position of defence. It is one thing to be in a position in which you can defend yourself, and another thing to be in a position of armed neutrality,' by which you signify, though you do not directly declare, that you mean to take part with one side or the other. (Cheers, and a cry of " No !") The armed neu- trality.' adopted half a century ago by Russia and seine other Powers was an armed neutrality intended to be offensive to this country ; and so offen- sive to this country was it that she sent Lord Nelson, her best naval com- mander, to put an end to it. Now, it appears to inc that our position ought to be one of fair and honest neutrality ready to defend ourselves if we are attacked, but not intending to take part with- either of these two great Powers if they should go to war. (Prolonged cheers.) . . . . When a country is overrun with great armies, whichever party conquers the people are likely to suffer. Italy has felt that if she fought with the sword of another nation, whether conquering or conquered she was equally in servi- tude ; and is it to be believed that when the armies of France overspread the north of Italy—supposing the French to be successful and their vindi- cation of Italian independence to be complete—the Government of France would not say, ' We are entitled to some compensation—to some idemnity —for the efforts we have made ; and that idemnity must be afforded by the territorial aggrandizement of France ? ' Now, that might be a fair and na- tural thing fir Prance to say ; but is it an object for which Great Britain

should struggle ? I should say certainly not.' (Loud cheers.) For up- Wards of forty years Austria has exercised her power not merely by govern- ing those dominions which she has acquired by conquest or by treaty ac- cording to her own views of government—for I am not disputing that she may do that ; but she has extended her influence—the influence of a despo- tic Government and a benighted religion—as far as she could, to every part of Italy. Now, there are upwards of 20,000,000 of Italians, not included in Lombardy or Venice, or the dominions which appertain to Austria,- and would it be a fit course for this free country—a course that any Englishman could approve—that we should send our fleets and armies to assist in the oppression of those 20,000,000 of people ? ("No, no !" and cheers.) I say, therefore—and I am glad to see you agree with me in the senti- ment—that we are not bound by any consideration for the honour or for the interests of this country—and our dignity follows our honour and our interests—or by any eonsideraton whatever, to take part in the ap- proaching struggle. (Loud cheers.) In every point of view, therefore, I think we should attend to our own internal concerns, that we should promote the amendment of the Reform Act, and that in the approach- ing contest in Europe we should maintain, net an " armed neutrality," but a fair, open, honest, and peaceful neutrality. These views elicited the hearty commendations of the meeting and were shared in by the other candidates.

There has been an unexpected contest in Marylebone. The nomina- tion took place on Wednesday. At the eleventh hour a Mr. Haig, a lawyer, brought forward Lord Stanley's name, proposed him, obtained a seconder, and although Lord Stanley had never given his consent, in- deed, as was afterwards ascertained, knew nothing whatever of the pro- ceeding, Mr. Haig persisted in going to a polL The consequence was that the poll was kept open on Thursday. At its close the numbers wore, James, 5159; Hall, 4698; Stanley, 1088. This is the first contested election.

In Westminster, though menaced by an opposition from the friends of Mr. Wakley, Sir De Lacy Evans and Sir John Shelley ; and in Lambeth Mr. Wiliiams and Mr. Roupell were, on Thursday, returned without op- position.

ENGLISH. BOROUGHS AND COUNTIES.

BIRMINGHAM. While Lord John Russell was delivering his opinions upon foreign policy in the City of London, Mr. Bright was preaching

the same doctrine at an open air meeting in Birmingham. But he mingled with his views in favour of non-interference, strong denuncia- tions of secret diplomacy, and protested against England being dragged by some hocus pocus of diplomacy into war. He also looked upon the quarrel as one between two Governments and not as one between two nations, "about a country in which neither of them has any concern."

Well, what are we to do ? Are we to have our minds distracted from the question of Parliamentary reform ? Are we to run away from this substan- tial chase to pursue the phantom of military glory ? ("No ! ") Are we to insist upon a Government attending to our own affairs rather than meddling with the ineatie and sanguinary contest which is about to commence in the south of Europe ? (" Its !" and cheers.) Now, on my opinion there must be no mistake. Don't suppose that because I found myself-opposed to a large amount of public opinion on the question of the Russian war—that because I was insulted and defamed—that because every wretched scribe who earned his bread by writing newspaper articles, and whose conscience was not the guide of his conduct—that because every man of that class thought I was a fit object of his jeers, and for his calumnies, and for his lies, for three years together—("shame!")—that because I suffered the loss, whatever that may be estimated at, of the representation of one of the first constituencies in the kingdom, I have ever regretted the position I then took. (Cheers.) No ; for if I had lost more than that—everything I have in the world, and everything I hope for in the world—never should I for one instant have re- gretted the course I took. (Great applause.) But now, when it is not a question of Russia and the Turk, but a question of Paris and Vienna, and Milan, and Turin, whatever be your opinion, whatever be the opinion of any class of my countrymen, let it be fairly understood that I am committed irrevocably, so far as I have any influence, to the entire abstention of Eng- land from any meddling whatsoever. (Loud and long-continued cheers.) I can remain in the House of Commons—I can do my duty with such energy and capacity as have been bestowed upon me ; or I can leave the House of Commons—I can return to my own domestic enjoyments, and to what were at one time my commercial and manufacturing pursuits; but there is one thing I cannot do, and that is to sit tamely by to see intriguing placeholders or intriguing placehunters gradually, bit by bit, by blunders here, by tricks there, by crime yonder, step, drift, slide, as it were, into the terrific abyss which yawns below us. I value the blood, I value the sweat, I value the comfort, the lives, the homes, the happiness of the people of this country. Never for one single moment, at the behest of power or at the call of popular frenzy and popular clamour, shall any man be able to charge me with being accessory to a policy which should sacrifice the hap- piness of the common people on the altar of sanguinary war. (Great cheer- ing, which lasted several minutes.) Referring to some electioneering proceedings—the fact that Mr. Stuart Wordy had asked Lord Fitzwilliam's permission before he canvassed his tenants—Mr. Bright said— "If it were in the Southern States of America or in the island of Cuba, nothing would be more reasonable than if you wanted anything of the negro cultivators of the estate, to ask the master, the owner, whether you might ask the negro cultivator to do anything you wished him to do. But when you are discussing a matter of politics in a free country that you should ask the landed proprietor to give you permission to canvass his tenants indicates a state of submission which I say is frightful and degrad- ing to our country. The fact is that so far as regards popular representa- tion the great mass of your county representation is a sort of dead car- cass tied on to the living body of your borough representation. You can- not stir a step without having to drag this on with you. When you get the ten-pound franchise for the counties, and the ballot to protect the vote, then in all probability you will find that there are liberal opinions among the county constituencies; and the counties will come up to the boroughs, and they will march side by side, and shoulder to shoulder, on behalf of any of those future conquests of the popular party which are ahead and in store for us." (Cheers )

The nomination took place on Thursday. Mr Muntz proposed, and Alderman Lowdon seconded Mr. Scholefield. Mr. Bright was proposed by Alderman Lloyd and seconded by Mr. Edmonds. The proposer of Mr. Acland was Mr. Van Wart, the seconder Mr. Samson Lloyd. Mr. Scholefield and Mr. Bright were allowed to speak, but the radicals of Birmingham would not permit a word to be heard either from the lips of Mr. Acland or from those of his proposer and seconder. Mr. Bright in his speech insinuated that Mr. Adderley had brought Mr. Aeland to Birmingham " by stealth." He set forth in strong general terms his views on the reform of Parliament, and delivered a magnificent denim- ciation ejf war. He admitted that " there is at times to the human eye and to Uhe human heart an apparent necessity for undertaking the re- sponsibirities and sufferings of war." But he seemed to think that all wars si 1759 at least have been un'ust, and that the money spent in them h been uselessly squandered. He was very emphatic on the sub- ject of is veneration for the Crown. " I h ve never been an official servant to the Crown of England. I am told, eed, that some fearful calamity would happen if I did ever hold any pOsition of responsibily. I have sought no such distinction. I seek it not BOW. It is no common honour, I grant, to serve the English Crown, worn as it is in the happy times in which we live, but it is a dignity not less great, not less worthy of aspiration, to have the confidence of the great body $f the people among whom I live. I venerate the monarchy of England, and wish that its wisdom and its virtues may render it perpetual. I am not a servant of the aristocracy, as you doubtless know, but I recog- nize' in that order a branch of the constitution created for the interests and subject, as all must be subject eventually, to the will of the nation. I am, if I am anything in political life—I strive to be at least—a servant of the people and of truth." (Cheers.) The show of hands was in favour of Mr. Scholetleld and Mr. Bright. A poll was demanded on behalf of Mr. Arland.

BRIGHTON. At the eleventh hour Sir Allan M'Nab, of Canadian renown, appeared as a Conservative candidate. BRISTOL. On Thursday, Mr. Henry Berkeley was nominated by Mr. Visger, and seconded by Mr. J. Coates ; Mr. Langton was proposed by Mr. Castle, and seconded by Mr. Cox ; Mr. Slade was proposed by Mr. f. W. Miles, and seconded by Mr. King. A hired mob prevented any speaking from being heard. The Liberals won the show of hands; the Tory demand- ed a poll. . BURY. Mr. Philips has retired, leaving Mr. F. Peel unopposed. Ceram. Captain Marshall, Tory, is to contest the borough with Mr. Robert Lowe.

' CAMBRIDGE (University). Early in the week Mr. A. J. Beresford Hope withdrew from the contest for the representation of the University of Cam- bridge. In an address to the members of the Senate he makes the following statement- " After a careful canvass of the electors, and acting with the advice of my committees, I proposed to my opponent, Mr.- Selwyn, that we should submit our proinise-books to the arbitration of Mr. Walpole, in order to spare the University the inconvenience of a prolonged contest. Mr. Selwyn consenting, the reference took place, and Mr. Walpole has advised me not to proceed to the poll, although the numbers and the &erecter of the pro- mises which I have received are such as to make me glad that I entered upon this contest rather than secured any other less distinguished seat. I therefore bow to this recommendation, and I retire into privacy."

CAMBRIDGE. The election' began on Thursday. The proposer of Mr. .Kenneth Macaulay was. Mr. Fawcett, the seconder Alderman Wentworth ; Alderman Brown prbposed, and Mr. D. Adams seconded, Mr. Steuart ; Dr. Leapingwell propos4 and Mr. Foster seconded, Mi. I. Mowitt ; Alderman Harris proposed, and Alderman Elkin seconded, the Honourable Edward Twistleton. The two latter candidates are the Liberals, and they won the show of bands. A poll was demanded by the other side. CARNARVONSICHLE. Mr. Brocklehuret of Manchester has set up the Liberal flag against the Tory Colonel Pennant. CHIPPENHAM. Colonel Boldero, Tory,- has retired, leaving Mr. Lysley, Liberal, unopposed. • DOVER. Mr. Osborne has been making a most determined fight for his seat. Sir William Russell has hurried home through France from India. Admiral Leeke uses all his means.

DUDLEY. Here Mr. Sheridan and Lord Monck were proposed on Thurs- day. The nomination was a scene of riot, and Lord Monck was not heard. His friends demanded a poll. HORSHAM. At a meeting of electors Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald made this statement.

• "Lord John Russell gave the House some idea of what would form the staple of his bill, upon which Lord Palmerston sent out for a whip' (Sir W. Hayter), and said to him I have listened to what Lord John has had to say, and if ever he should bring in a measure based upon the arguments he has been using, I will oppose it with all the means in my power.' . And , this Sir W. Hayter mentioned to me at the time, and I am stating this fact, gentlemen, with the consciousness that I have a reporter sitting below me, who will, 1 dare say, make it public enough."

. Whereupon the Globe inserted the following denial. " Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald has made a statement to the electors of Hors- ham to the effect that Sir W. Hayter informed hini that on the night on which Lord John Russell indicated the features of the Reform Bill he was desirous of seeing carried, Lord Palmerston had told him he Would oppose such a measure. Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald, to say the least of it, must be labouring under some strange misapprehension in this respect. We have every reason to believe that no such conversation did occur or could have occurred.

KIDDERMINSTER. Mr. Huddleston was at the last moment opposed by a Liberal, Mr. Bristow. • . • . . . MA-NOHESTER. Captain Denman and Mr. Aspinal Turner have in some sort coalesced because their opponents Mr. Bazley and Mr. Heywood,

showed signs of reciprocating favours. • • MIDIEURST. Mr.-Hardy. has retired, leaving the local magnate, Mr. Mitford, who stands up for the independence of Midhurst alone in his glory. NORTHAMPTON. Four candidates appeared on the hustings on Thursday —Mr. Vernon Smith, Mr. Charles Gilpin, Liberals. Mr. Mackenzie, Tory, and Mr. Hart, Chartist. The Liberals won the show of hands, and the Tory and Chartist demanded a poll Nonmesfrrosrsurns. In the North 'the Liberals are striving hard to return Mr. Vernon. In the South Lord Henley has retired. Norrrieenfiew. • Mr. Paget, Liberal, Mr. Ernest Jones, Chartist, Mr. Mellor, Liberal, and Mr. Bromley, Tory, were nominated on Thursday. Mr. Paget and Mr. Mellor obtained the show of hands. The Tory and Chartist demanded a poll. Poyreeneer. On Thursday, Mr. Monekton Milnes and Mr. Childers, Liberals, obtained the show of hands. Mr. Overend, Tory, called for a poll.

Poirrsmonru. The contest here began on Thursday. The Libeial can- didates were Sir Francis Baring and Admiral Keppel; the Tories,- Sir T. Elphinstone and the Honourable T. Bruce. Here the Tories carried the show of hands.

RoenneLE. Sir A. Hannay has resigned. Mr. John Brighthas address- ed a letter to Mr. Cobden's committee; congratulating them upon the result,

• and thanking them for their exertions. "

SANDWICH. In the midst of very great uproar, Mr. Huggessen, Lord , Clarence Paget, Sir James Ferguson, and Mr. Lewis, were nominated on Thursday. Lord Clarence and Sir James were chosen by the mob ; but a

poll was demanded. • • • SOUTHAMPTON. Mr. Digby Seymour has come forward here. He aims at the seat held by Mr. Weguelin.

SWANSEA. Mr. Dillwyn, the late member, has addressed the electors at a public meeting, and in the course of his speech he entered at great loneh into the subject of the franchise, and mooted rather a novel sy stem. He said he would give manhood or individual franchise. Ho would give every man one vote m respect of that qualification ; he would give a second vote in respect of freehold property ; and a third in respect of personal—such as money in the savings bank, &c. He would give one vote in respect of each of these qualifications, but no person was to have more than three votes under any circumstances.

Trvererow. A Captain Humbly, Tory, has gone down to oppose Lord Palmerston and Captain Denman ! Lord Palmerston was at Tiverton on Wednesday. WALLINGFORD. Mr. Edward Augustus Freeman has issued an address to the electors of this borough, soliciting their suffrages as a Liberal, in oppo- sition to Mr. Mathis, Q.C., the late Member.

IRELAND.

The information from Ireland is even more fluctuating than that re- ceived daily from the English provinces. Gentlemen, who withdrew, have again come forward; several who rushed to canvass have resigned. In places where it was anticipated there would be a severe contest, all suddenly subsides into amity. There will be a contest for Dublin, where Mr. Brady carries the Liberal banner. The Northern Whig intimates that Belfast will not return two Tories without showing light. Some rioting has begun in the boroughs.

SCOTLAND.

Mr. Moncrieff and Mr. Black have addressed the electors of Edinburgh and it does not seem likely that they will be opposed. Mr. Stuart Wortley, now fairly committed to a contest in Yorkshire, has resigned Buteshire, and taken a farewell of his late constituents. Mr. David Mute, the Lord Advocate, has issued an address to the electors of Bute and Arran. There is likely to be opposition, the more independent elec- tors being offended at the treatment they have received. There will be a great contest in Berwickshire, where the Tories are pressing their ter- ritorial influence, and where "Frails, good and safe men" are looked for.

MEMBERS RETURNED.

[The following is a list of the Members already returned to serve in the new Parlia- ment so far as reports have reached us. Any classification except of the rudest kind is at present impossible, and we therefore refrain, as in 1857, from attempt,. ing any classification at all.] Ashton-un.-Lyne. Mr. Gibson. Bolton Captain Gray,

Mr. Crook.

Cambridge Univer. . Mr. Walpole.

Mr. Selwyn.

Canterbury Mr. Johnstone.

Sir W. Sommerville.

Cardiff Colonel Stuart. Carmarthen Mr. Morris.

Chippenham Mr. Lysley.

Mr. Long.

Dorchester Mr. Sturt.

Mr. Sheridan.

Durham Mr. Atherton.

Mr. Mowbray.

Exeter Mr. Divett.

Mr. Gard.

Gateshead Mr. Hutt.

Grcintham Mr. Tollemache.

Mr. Welly.

Guildford Mr. Bovill.

Mr. Onslow.

Halifax Sir C. Wood.

Mr. &mislaid.

Haverfordwest Mr. Philips. Hereford Mr. Clifford.

Mr. Clive.

Hertford Hon. W. Cowper.

Sir F. Minto.

Eforrhain Mr. S. Fitzgerald.

Huntingdon Gen. Peel.

Mr. Baring.

liThqbe Baron M. Rothschild. Era al Mr. G. C. Glynn. Lambeth Mr. Williams.

Mr. Roupell.

Leominster Mr. Hardy.

Mr. llanbury.

Lichfield Lord A. Paget.

Captain Anson.

Liverpool Mr. Horsfall.

Mr. Evart.

London Lord John Russell. Sir James Duke. Baron Rothschild. Mr. Crawford.

Ludlow Mr. Botfleld.

Col. Herbert.

Lynn Lord Stanley.

Mr. Gurney.

Macclesfield Mr. 13rocklehurst.

Mr. Egerton.

Halton Mr. Fitmvilliani.

Mr. Brown.

Mary, ebone Sir B. Hall.

Mr. E. James.

Morpeth Sir G. Grey. Newcastle Mr. Jackson.

Mr. Murray.

Oxford Mr. Langston.

Mr. Cardwell.

Oxford University .Mr. Gladstone.

Sir W. Ileathcote.

Pembroke Sir J. Owen.

Petersfield Sir W. Jolliffe. Belford Lord Galway,

Mr. Foljambe.

Richmond Mr. Rich.

Mr. Wyvill.

-Rochdale Mr. Cobden.

She Mr. 'Mackinnon.

e field

Mr. Roebuck. Mr. Hadfield.

Shoreham Sir C. Burrell.

Mr. Cave.

Shrewsbury Mr. Towline.

Mr. Blaney.

Stamford Lord R. Cecil.

Sir 8. Northeote.

Stroud Mr. Scrape.

Mr. Horsman.

Swansea Mr. Dillwyn.

Tewkesbury Mr. Lygon.

Mr. Martin.

Thetford Lord Euston.

Mr. Baring.

Thirst Sir W. Galway.

Tirerlon Lord Palmerston.

Captain Denman.

Tynemouth Mr. Taylor. ' Tower Hamlets. . . Mr. Butler.

Mr. Ayrton.

Wareham Mr. Drax.

fl'arrington Mr. Greenall. Warwick Mr. Repton.

Mr. Greaves.

Westbury Sir M . Lopes. Westminster Sir De L. Evans.

Sir J. Shelley.

Whitby Mr. Stephenson, Whitehaven Mr. Lyall. Wolverhampton . Mr. Villiers.

Sir R. Bcthell.

Worcester Mr. Ricardo.

Mr. Laslett.

Scotism.

Aberdeen Colonel Sykes. Dundee Sir J. Ogilvy.

Edinburgh Mr. Black.

Mr. Moncrieff.

Glasgow Mr. Dalglieh.

Mr. Buchanan.

Greenock Mr. Dunlop. Perth lion. A. Hinnaird.

Stirling Mr. Caird.