Star.
London, England, 1831-05-02 00:00:00

GENERAL ELECTION.

WORCESTER, SATURDAY Evzx IDIGi.The anti-re-'
former (Fitzroy), has made his retreat, seeing that the free-
men of this city were determined to return their old members.
It is generally believed that Capt. Spencer will be returned
for the county with Mr. Foley.
YARMOUTH, SATUDDAY,MAY I.—On the close of the
poll on Friday evening, majority in favour of reform, '219.
Saturday evening five o'clock, close of the poll, majority for
Ilreform, 251. Messrs. Colville and Bliss left Yarmouth this
morning at five o'clock.
SHAFTESBURY, SATURDAY NIGUT.---The Shaftesbury
election commenced on Saturday the 30th. The candidates'
are Col. Maherley and Mr. Penrhyn, as the nominees of
the Earl Grosvenor ; and Messrs. Knowles and)). Trent on
the independent interest. These four gentlemen all profess
to be reformers, but the electors think it inconsistent for
reformers to be borough nominees, and consequently Messrs.
Knowles and Trent are the popular candidates. On the
show of hands, the majority in favour of these latter gentle-
men was overwhelming ; and, at the close of the day's poll,
the numbers were for Mr. Knowles 26, Mr. Trent 25, Col.
Maberley 10, Mr. Penrhyn 9, being a majority of 16 for
Mr. Knowles, and 15 for Mr. Trent. These symptoms are
considered as a prelude to certain victory to the real re-
formers, (of which the independent interest is exclusively
composed,) are consequently in high spirits. The feelings
against the Earl Grosvenor's interest has greatly increased
since the last general election, owing to his having served
forty of his tenants with ejectments and notices to quit, for
not having then voted as his agents ordered them.
NORTHUMBERLAND.—(Private Letter.)—Without ex-
aggeration, there is really an enthusiastic feeling in favour
of the grand question of reform, in all parts of this exten-
sive county. It is true, Mr. Bell says he will persevere in
a contest : his best friends admit, however, that he has not
the smallest chance of success in opposing the popular can-
didates, Mr. Beaumont and Lord Howick. At Hexham, at
° Shields, at Alnwick— every where the cry is," Support the
reform candidates; and no doubt they will be supported as
they deserve. Mr. Beaumont (accompanied by Mrs. B.)
arrived here the day before yesterday, and Lord Howick is
expected in a day or two. His Lordship's address to the
freeholders of Northumberland has appeared, and gives uni-
versal satisfaction to the friends of reform.

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, APR. 30.—(Private Letter.)
—This Morning Sir M. W. Ridley, Bart. and John Hodg-
son, Esq. were returned members for Newcastle by the
burgesses. Having both raised their voices in the senate in
favour of reform, they were loudly cheered in the Guildhall,
when theyseverally adverted to that fact in their speeches to
the assembled burgesses. Dr. Headlam was the proposer
of Sir M. W. Ridley, Bart. and in the address which he
delivered, he gave a very able and eloquent sketch of the
present state of the country, calling upon all who wished
well to that country. and revered the King and the Consti-
tution, to support that constitution by providing " a pure
representation of the people ;" which could only be done by
sending to Parliament those honest members who, by their
previous votes, had shown a determination to uphold the
rights and privileges of the people. And in this respect the
hon. baronet on his left band (Sir M. W. Ridley) had a
strong claim upon them, for the truly independent and pa-
triotic manner he had on all occasions spoken his sentiments
in the Commons House of Parliament. (Great applause.)
Mr. Alderman Sorsbie briefly seconded the motion. After
which Sir M. W. Ridley rose, and in a speech which em-
braced a variety of details explained his conduct in Perlis-
!lament during the late short but important session, the
whole of which wee most favourably received. The Mayor
of Newcastle (Archibald Reed, Esq. proposed J. Hodgson,
Esq. as a fit and proper person to represent the burgesses in
Parliament. The Mayor paid a high and well-merited com-
pliment to Mr. H. for the great attention he had devoted to
the interests of his constituents, and to the country at large,
by supporting those important measures which had been
submitted to Parliament during the late session. The Mayor's
address was very loudly applauded. Mr. H. Lamb
seconded the nomination, observing that Mr. Hodgson, by
his conduct in Parliament, had already great claims upon
them. He (Mr. Hodgson) was in the prime of life, strongly
imbued with business habits, and of great and persevering
iudub iry ; so that, with his liberal principles and enlight-
ened mind, be (Mr. H. Lamb) might congratulate his
brot'aer burgesses on the acquisition of such a man as their
representative in these eventful times. (Great applause.)
On Mr. Hodgson's rising the cheering was very loud. The
honourable gentleman proceeded to give a very detailed
statement of his conduct in the house during the late session.
His address (and it is saying but little) was listened to with
extreme attention, and freqnently during its delivery, he was
greeted with the loudest applause. After the Sheriff had
signed the return, according to form, the meeting (which
was extremely numerous) broke up; and the two members
were chaired round the town, conformably to ancient custom.
The pleasing events of the day are to be celebrated by the
members dining with their friends in the evening. It was
intended that it should be a joint dinner, both the members
dining at one house ; but, owing to some mistake on the
part of Sir M. W. Ridley's committee, the old custom was
departed from, and the honourable baronet and his friends

commemorate the Newcastle election at the Turk's Head Inn,
while Mr. Hodgson and bis friends do the same thing at the
Crown and Thistle Inn.

Gen. Gascoyue, Lord Lowther, and other anti-reformers,
were burnt in effigy at Carlisle on Friday night. The reform
candidates had made a triumphant entry into the city.
PILESTON.—After the members and their nominators had
addressed the meeting, Mr. Hunt asked for a show of hands
on this question, whether the electors were satisfied with the
whole of his conduct. In the body of the ball, there was
only one hand held up in the negative.
PEN a Ywn—Mr. Freshfield, the late member, and Mr.
Stewart, who was an unsuccessful candidate at the last elec-
tion, are canvassing this borough. Sir C. Lemon having
withdrawn, Mr. Weeding's friends are canvassing for him,
that gentleman not being in the county.
There are five candidates for Wigan :—J. Hodson Kears-
ley, Esq. one of the late members, who voted against the
reform bill ; the Hon. Mr. Wilbraham, also an anti-reformer;
Ralph Thickness (the banker) James Hardcastle, and Rich-
ard Potter, Esqrs. who are all in favour of reform. The
election is fixed for Wednesday next.
AsneuaToN.—Ashburton contested by Col. TOITeDB, a
reformer, against Sir L. Palk, and we are proud to under-
stand that Lord Clinton has broken that coalition that in
former times has crushed the independence of the people.
OAKHAMPTON.—At Oak hampton, we are sorry to say
the Savile interest has determined on sending two Tories.
The electors have been accustomed to receive illl each for
their votes, and the majority of the voters are not above a
bribe

SHOREHAM.—This election will take place to-morrow
(Tuesday), when Sir C. M. Burrell. Bart. and Henry
Howard, Esq. are expected to be again returned without the
least opposition.
SUISEX.—Our County Election will take place on Friday
next, at Chichester, and as both the present candidates, Lord
J. G. Lennox, and H. B. Curteis, Esq. are reformers, they
will, we hope, be returned without opposition. Out of the
twenty-eight members. to be returned for this county, it is
pretty certain that TWIIIITY reformers will be elected !