The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-02-25 00:00:00

PO X T'EFRACT ELECTION.

John Hardy, Esq. the Recorder of Leeds, was on Mon-
day last waited upon at his residence, at. Heath, by a de-
putation of gentlemen from the ancient borough of Ponte-
fract, for the purpose of inviting him to offer himself as a
candidate to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resig-
nation of my Lord Pollington, one of the present Members.
Immediately on their arrival at Pontefract, an address,
written by Mr. Hardy himself, whilst the gentlemen stayed
with hint, was dispersed through the town.
By his intimate acquaintance with the manufacturing
interests of this great county, in the centre of whicb he has
been born and bred, as by his talents, he is eminently cal-
culated to be a great parliamentary acquisition. There is
not, we will venture to assert, a professional gentleman of
parliamentary practice, in the whole West Riding of York-
shire, but will receive the intelligence .vith unfeigned
pleasure; for the ready and familiar access they will be
sure, at all times, to find with him, is of no trivial import-
ance.
Wednesday morning the town was much enlivened in
expectation of Mr. Hardy's entrance; the bells were ring-
ing, and several houses of entertainment opened for the
electors. Various chalk exclamations appeared on the
walls, and gave the place quite an eleotioneering appear-
ance. Mr. Hardy arrived in the town about half-past
eleven o'clock, at his agent's house, Mr. Miami's, in
Ropergate, where his committee were in readiness to re-
ceive him. Ile proceeded to Mr. Tute's -hotel, accom-
panied by the committee, and presented himself on a bal-
cony in front of the house, to address the concourse of
people assembled.
After requesting leave to keep on his hat, in consequence of
indisposition, he alluded to the retirement of Viscount Pollington,
and eulogized his Lordship in a handsome manner, •and expressed
his wish to offer himself as a candidate in his room. With respect
to his opinions on political subjects, he begged to say he should
give his decided support to the slave trade abolition, and in favour
of giving all negroes education, religious instruction, and freedom.
On the Catholic question he was not decided; he would weigh well
.the subject before he gave ft his assent. Our Ministers were divided
on that question, and could still manage the national affairs with
unity and success. With any concession, however, that he should al.
low to the Catholic*, he should couple ample security for the Protest-
ant establishment. He was a Protestant by birth, and should always
support those principles which he, after mature considera-
tion, considered to be most safe to the Government of our
country. To his loyalty to his King and Constitution, and of his
stanchn,ss during the radical disturbances, in standing forward
to protect his country from oppression, he could fearlessly refer.
Some ohjeetions might be advanced on acceount of Ids being of no
rank, yet it was not always those who sported title and a feather in
their caps that possessed the furniture of the understanding. He
could stand the test of inquiry. He had a large family of children,
and he hoped they never would be ashamed to hear the mention of
their father's name. He might he objected to on account of his
being a plareman, but he only Rod a situation under his King,
amounting to 161. and a fraction per annum. lie knew the loyalty
of the electors of that borough accorded with hi. own. If he should
be so fortunate IC. to be the object of their choice, he should most
truly represent them and acquit himself with honesty.
A hived-bill was afterwards distributed, in which AIL Hardy de.
dared his Intention net to commence a morass at present.

It gives us pleasure to state that Messrs. Bromage,
Snead, and Co. of the Monmouth and Brecon Bank, re-
sum et their payments on Tuesday last.
There is not the slightest truth in the statement made in
a morning paper yesterday, • that the banking thin of Wig-
re 7 and Co. at Brighton, had stopped payment.
I'he agriculturists in various parts of Kent are getting
up petitions to Parliament against any alteration in the ex-
isting Corn Laws.
Mr. Moses Lousada, of Finsbury-square, merchant, a
member of the Stack Exchange, died suddenly yesterday
morning, at a counting-house in the city. Mr. Lousada
had been fur some time unwell, but was transacting busi-
item as usual, up to the moment of his dissolution.
By a return just made to the. House of Commons of the
amount of all balances of public monies in the hands of
the Bank during 18425, it appears there has been a cond-
double reduction made latterly. The balance of Jan 1,
was in favour of the public 9,239,0`241. whereas that
of December 15 (being the last balance given), is only
4,447,4371.

WM. Hodgkins, who a few days ago carried off a sum
of money belonging to a benefit club at Huntingdon, was
seen" last Monday at Northampton, by a gentleman who
gavc Immediate informatics to the Mayor. who had him
apprehended. When in custody be was allowed to go to
a water-closet, where he so effectually cut his throat, that
in five minutes he was a corpse.
SonNAstisettsm.—About three o'clock on Friday morn-
ing a man, who milks in a cellar in Briggate, arose while
asleep, and after hastily putting on the principal part of
his apparel, proceeded down the street until he met with
some of the patrol, of whom he inquired if the fire was out
(imagining that there had been a cry of fire) ; but upon
being given to understand that there had not been one,
Ire suddenly awakened, discovered the illusion, and re-
turned home.—Leeds Inalligencer.