The Press.
London, England, 1854-12-02 00:00:00

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There are now no less than nine seats in the
House of Commons vacant; seven of them by the
deaths of their former occupants. Abingdon was
vacated by Lord Norrey's succession to the peerage;
Marylebone, by Lord Dudley Stuart's death ; Bedford,
by the decease of Mr. H. Stuart; Coventry by that
of Mr. Geach; East Uloucestershire, by Sir Michael
Hicks Beach's death; Fermanagh, by that of Sir
Arthur Brooke ; Antrim, by Colonel Pakenham's
death at Inkermann ; Ayr, by that of Colonel Hunter
Blair, also killed at Inkermann ; and Limerick, by the
decease of Mr. Wyndham Goold.
ABltiopori.—Major Reed having concluded his
canvass, addressed the electors at a meeting on Tues-
day, and was warmly received.

ANTIUM.-It is said that the Hon. Hr. Crichton,
brother to Lord Erne, will offer himself to the
electors of Antrim for the vacancy caused by the
death in the Crimea of Lieut.• Colonel Pakenham.

AYRSHIRE.—Mr. Boyle, the advocate, once before a
candidate for the borough, will probably come for-
ward on the Conservative side. Among the Liberals,
the names of Mr. Oswald, of the Solicitor-General,
James Crawford, and Lord James Stewart are men-
tioned. The latter is considered the most likely, if
Mr. Oswald can be prevailed on to withdraw. ,41
BEDFORD.—Captain William Stuart, the Conserva-
tive candidate for Bedford, has completed his can-
vass. Mr. Trelawny, who, at the general election in
1852, unsuccessfully contested Brighton, has been
announced as a candidate, and professes his intention
of going to the poll.
COVENTRY.—The nomination takes place this (Sa-
turday) morning. Sir Joseph Paxton is the only
candidate.
EAST GLOUCESTERSHIRE.—AItIIOUgh DO candidate
has yet declared himself for the seat, preliminary pri-
vate meetings of freeholders have been held, and it is
understood that Mr. R. S. Holford, of Westonbirt,
will be put in nomination in the Conservative interest.
Mr. Holford is a wealthy man, and a considerable
landowner in Gloucestershire. There was a talk of
Mr. H. T. Hope, late M.P. for Gloucester city, being
brought forward in the same interest. It is hardly
expected that there will be a contest, the Conserva-
tive candidate (Sir M. H. Beach) at the last election,
eleven months ago, having been iu a majority of
more than 1,000 over his Liberal candidate, Mr.
Holland.
FERMANAOII.—There are three candidates reported
for the seat vacant by the death of Sir Arthur Brooke.
The favourite is the brother of the Earl of Ennis-
killen. Lord Henry Loftus stands next in favour
with the electors.
LIMERICK.—Stephen de Vere, of Curragh Chase,
and Colonel Dickson, of Croom Castle, are already
in the field for the vacancy in the representation of
Limerick by the death of Mr. Windham Goold. Mr.
de Courcey O'Grady has also signified his intention
of seeking for the seat. A local paper states that
Mr. John Cashel Hoey, one of the editor's of the
Nation, will be put forward as a candidate by the
Lucas and Duffy party.
MARYLEBONE.—At a meeting of Liberal electors
held on Wednesday evening, Colonel Romilly, MY.
Crawford, Sir Charles Napier, Mr. Ricardo, and Mr.
Prescott, were named as candidates. Sir Charles
Napier has intimated his willingness to stand. No
final decision as to the Liberal candidate has yet
been made. Sir H. Seymour in answer to the re-
quisition presented to him, has declined, from private
considerations, coming forward as a candidate.

PATRIOTIC FUND.
The adjourned meeting of the inhabitants of
Westminster came off on Thursday in St. Martin's
Hall. Though somewhat better attended than on
the previous attempt, the hall presented by no means
a crowded appearance, and none of the promised
Cabinet Ministers were present. For the Premier the
excuse was offered that a Cabinet Council re-
quired his attendance at the time. None of the
other Ministers sent, any apology for eir aece.
The Duke of Buccleugh wrote to explaithn the cbsounrse
which forestalled his presence, and sent a contribu •
tion of 2501. to the fund. The meeting was after-
wards addressed by the Bishop of London and Sir
J V. Shelley, and resolutions adopted for the fur
therance of the object in view.
The Warwickshire Hunt Club committee have re-
solved to forego the annual ball this year and con-
tribute the estimated cost to the Patriotic Fund.
The hunt ball usually costa 2601. The example 14
recommended to the members of other hunt clubs.
The committee of the "Central Association" have
passed a resolution rescinding the much-" debated"
rule No. 14, which provided "That no woman mar-
ried before her husband enlisted, unless afterwards
placed on the strength of the regiment, be
and recog-
nised as a married woman in tbe regiment, can
allowed relief?'