The Express.
London, England, 1866-09-24 00:00:00

BOLTON.

On Friday, a crowded meeting was held in the
Temperance-hall, Bolton, convened by the Reform League,
for the purpose of supporting the objects of that society.
Mr. Thos. Thomaaeon occupted the chair, and on the plat-
form were Mr. Alderman Rd. Harwood, ex-mayor ; Alder-
man Robt. Heywood, J. R. Wollenden ; Councillors
Marshall, Pilling, Howarth, Carney ; Rev. C. Edwards,
&a. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings,
explained the objects of the meeting, and mid he
happened to be the chairman of the Bolton branch of
the -National Reform Union, the platform of which is a
rating suffrage. It might be mid he was inconsistent in his
present position, but it was not so, for, although the
National Reform Union did not forego their platform, it
was open for all who chose to render all the assistance they
could to the league. Some might think it unreasonable his
occupying the chair on this occasion, but he hadnot taken up
his politics in haate ; be had °outride ied the subject, and when
he first came out a politician advocated universe! suffrage.
Referring to very high authority, he found we should do
unto others as we would they should do unto us—(cheers)
and therefore he felt quite unable to wish to enjoy powers
and privileges not conferred upon his fellow men. (Cheers.)
In going, therefore, for manhood suffzit it was not in-
consistent if at the same time he was • • to assist any
other body willing to go for any part of it, ing MIAOu►
to obtain as much as he could.—Mr. James Kirkman, Mr.
Ernest Jones, Mr. Alderman Heywood, and Mr. Crumble-
bulme afterwards addressed the meeting, and the resolu-
tions, which were to the same effect as had been passed at
former meetings, were unanimously adopted.

THE REFORM MOVEMENT ATN EWPORT.—A crowded
and enthusiastic public meeting was held on Wed-
nesday evening in the Auemby-rooms, Newport, Salop,
to take into consideration the present position and
prospects of the reform question. Hundreds could
not obtain admission.

BRZCON Etacriox.—The Speaker of the House
of Commons having given notice of his intention to issue
the writ for the election of a member in his room of the
Earl of Brecknock, now Marquis Camden, it is expected
that the nomination will take place about Saturday next.
There is at present every prospect of a severe contest, both
the candidates—Lord Churchill on the liberal side, and Mr.
Howitt Gwynn in the conservative interest, expressing
their confidence in the result of the poll. The two other
liberal candidates named—Dr. Price and Mr. Thomas—
have retired.

REPRESENTATION OF EAST NORPOLIE.—The libe-
rals of East Norfolk are endeavouring to retrieve their po-
sition. In 1857 they wrested both seats from the con-
serratives, and on the death of Sir E. N. Buxton, in the
summer of 1858, they still succeeded in maintaining their
ground. At the dissolution of 1869 the representation of
the division was oompromised, but when Colonel Coke,
the whig member, presented himself for re-election, in
1869, it was found that he had become so unpopular that
he had little chance of being again returned, and he was
displaced by Mr. C. Read, a tenant farmer, who was sup-
ported by a number of the liberal electors. Mr. Read has,
sines his election. almost invariably voted with the conser-
vatives, and his liberal supporters will probably not again
record their votes for him. the liberal leaders have re-
solved at any rate to endeavour to retrieve the severe dis-
asters which they sustained in July, 1865, and they have
held several meetings for the purpose of securing increased
attention to the registration. No positive announcement
has yet been made on the subject, but it is understood that
Viscount Bury, son of the Earl of Albemarle, will be
brought forward as a liberal candidate. Lord Bury was
first returned for Norwich in 1857, and sat for that city
until the summer of 1859, when he was unseated on peti-
tion. He was subsequently returned for the Wick BnrBhs,
from the representation of which constituency he retired
in 1865. He contested Dover unsuccessfully last year, and
has since not obtained a seat in parliament. His lordship
held a court appointment under the Palmerston ministry.
THE ELECTION Cosimmelone.—The commis-
sioners still continue to meet daily. On Saturday the
Lancaster commissioners examined several witnesses as
to the amount of money they had received in return for
their votes. In • few cases it was found that some of
them had not received the actual amount ticketed against
their names and disbursed by their cashiers, the difference
having disappeared in some mysterious way in the transit
of the :looney from one room to another, but in far more
cases it was discovered that not only had the voter re-
ceived all be had bargained for, but that he had been paid
on both sides. One great form of bribery was the
appointment of the lowest class of freemen, many of them
unable to read and write, upon committee& For their
services as committeemen they received 5a a day for some
weeks before the election, and moat of them served on
both sides. One of these committee-men described his
work as being to " run about like a dog in a fair." Samuel
Pickard, described as an " independent gentleman and a
member of the Society of Friends," deposed to voting for
Fenwick and Schneider, and to having received 51. se. for
his personal expenses in travelling from Cockermouth, in
Cllllll/elialld, to Lancaster. He afterwards returned 21.
A meeting of their society was held, and a hint was made
of turning out a member who had been guilty of—well, the
witness was not quite sure that bribery was the word used.
—At Totnes Mr. Chaster, who was &hounder examination
on Friday, stated that about • month before .the election
Mr. Pender gave bum 1501. to pay for a fate at the castle.
It wag • treat given to school children and to their parents.
About • week before the election Mr. Ponder gave witness
2,0001., and knew what it was wanted for as well as wit-
nese himself. Mr. Yabbicombe stated that for the
last 14 years he had not entered in his waste hook at the
National Beak the notes that were changed for gold by
electioneering agents. About 14 years ago he changed
a large number of notes for people coming from both sides.
The notes were put by for a time, in order that they
might be marked, but before they were marked Mr.
Phillips came and asked witness if he had been marking
any of the notes he had had from the Seven Stars. Wit-
ness said he bad not, but be should do so, pursuing the
usual course. Mr. Phillips begged him not to adopt so
invidious a crows., as it would only tend to bring parties
into needless collision. Witness, anxious to please all
parties, said, " Very well, I will not mark the notes," and
ever since then he had omitted to mark notes presented
by political agents at election times. He had no doubt
that the notes so presented were wanted for purposes of
corruption.
WORKING MEN'S CLUBS AND Itesmums.—An
address on the advantages of these useful societies was
delivered on Friday last in the Old Manor-house, Ash-
ridge, Berkliampsterad, by the Rev. H. Solly, at the re-
quest of Earl Brownlow. The chair was occupied by his
lordship, and a crowded room showed the interest taken
in the subject. The ancient building in which the meet-
ing was held has been very comfortably fitted up by Lord
Brownlow as a Working Men's Club and Institute, and it
appears to be bight?' valued by the small agricultural po-
, pulation of the neighbourhood. Two or three other insti-
tutes have also been established on the Ashridge estate.
The Rev. Dr. Jenks, rector of Ambridge, Mr. C. S. Dickens,
Lady Elisabeth Dickens, and the Rev. Charlton Lane (do-
Emetic chaplain) were present, and the proceedings clamed
by a vote of thanks to Mr. Sony, moved by Mr. Lane and
supported by the chairman. Lectures of an entertaining
and instructive character are delivered throughout the
winter, and are exceedingly well attended, both by the
members of the club and their wives and daughters. Mr.
golly risooramended the introduction of penny readinp,
elocution and minting classes! • weekly "free and easy,"
occasional "chaff magma,"la., which will probably
done. The club is the headquarters Id the
‘figuataers.