Vrunintial.

Mr. Wilbraham Egerton was elected without opposition on Saturday, Member for North Cheshire, in the room of his father Mr. Tatton Eger- ton, who accepted the Chiltern Hundreds. In anticipation of the appointment of Mr. J. P. Willoughby to the Council of India, two candidates have entered the field for Leominster which he at present represents. The Tories have put forward Captain lianbury, the brother of Lord Bateman. The Liberals have selected Mr. Wilde Q.C., a nephew of the late Lord Truro. Both gentlemen have met gatherings of electors. The Conservatives talk of making an attempt to 'carry Stockport. Their select man is Mr. George Wilkinson, of Dodge Hill, who tells the electors that if there is a general election next year he will solicit their votes.

Tuesday was kept as a general holiday in Tynemouth. The opening of a new.Mechanics' Institution was the occasion for this general re- joicing. Moreover, Mr. Roebuck and Mr. Lindsay had conic down to juke speeches ; Lord Bury being kept away because he had suffered a domestic bereavement, and Mr. Justice Haliburton being absent because the gout had seized him. In the morning Mr. Roebuck delivered an inaugural address, in which he enforced the teaching that intellectual pleasures are superior to all others, and eloquently urged the working men to acquire knowledge as the essential preliminary to the acquisition of political power.

In the evening a soirde was held at the Albion Assembly Rooms. Here Mr. Lindsay was the first speaker. He gave an interesting ac- count of his visit to Cherbourg last week.

"My first impression on entering that great harbour was very different from what it was when I left it. On entering the harbour I saw a very different display compared with that I saw at Spithead. I refer to the number of ships. Considering that France had made very great exertions to make a grand naval display I was disappointed with the number of ships which I saw in the bay of Cherbourg. There was one line-of-battle ship— the Bretagne, and there were eight two-decked ships. The ships, as a whole, struck me as very inferior to our own. Through the courtesy of the Admiral of the French fleet—and it is only fair to acknowledge the courtesy of the Admiral—owing to his courtesy we were allowed to inspect thoroughly all the great naval dockyards and arsenals. He was good enough to place at our disposal an officer who accompanied us in our perambulations. It was when we entered that arsenal and those dockyards that I was impressed with the immense strength of the place." After describing the harbour and basins of Cherbourg, he continued—" Each of these has 30 feet of water at low tides. Along the quay walls of these basins 25 of the largest line-of-battle ships could be moored head and stern. Running in connexion 'with the dockyard is the railway to Paris and the whole of the interior of France. Down that line of railroad, the opening of which formed part of the sights to be seen at the great filte—down that railway could be whirled in a day the army of France ; 100,000 men could be marched from the in tenor to the railway station, and from the railway station right on board the ships of war, at any time of the tide, and these ships could sail at any time of the tide. Now, there is something very striking in all this, and I said to myself, What can all this mean ?' Docks, forts, and a railway which could bring 100,000 men down to Cherbourg, and at a moment's notice as it were carry them to the shores of England. But when I looked over the ships and compared them with our own ships, I said to myself, You may bring your soldiers down to your dockyards, but before you can get them to England you must command the Channel, and you must have a different class of ships from what you now have.' I thought it my duty to examine the ships. I accordingly went on board the Bretagne, andexamined her with Sir Charles Napier. She struck me as a very magnificent ship in- deed. I afterwards went on board our own Royal Albert, a ship not so large as the Bretagne, but of a similar class. My feeling after the inspection of both vessels was this : the Bretagne and the other vessels there may be very fine ships, but if both of them were manned by Frenchmen I would prefer to be on board the Royal Albert, for I believe :she would soon sink the others. ("Hear, hear !" and laughter.) When I looked at the sailors—those who got up to the trucks of the masts, (while the Frenchmen could get no higher than the yards,) and there waved the flag of England with one hand, stand- ing on one leg and swinging the other to and fro—I thought the Royal Albert would not be long in making short work of the Bretagne. When, further, I looked at what was perhaps one of the most magnificent sights I ever saw, between 300 and 400 beautiful yacht; the property of English noblemen, manned by 3000 or 4000 of the finest sailors in England—the magnificent ships belonging to that company who were good enough to give us a free passage to Cherbourg—when thought that they were not more than one-half of the ships owned by the same company—when I looked to the maritime habits of our people—when I looked at the fine class of fellows who commanded them, the stalwart forms of the noblemen and gentlemen of England at the helm, and recollected that those gentlemen could fight in the hour of need as well as their sailors—when I looked at the skill and knowledge of the people to which my esteemed friend referred this morning, I said to myself, • Well, well, we have nothing to fear front France, even though she have her mighty dockyards and stupendous arsenals opposed to us. And it struck MC, what object can France have had in view in con- structing such a mighty arsenal and such immense forts ? Why, depend upon it, she did not build them unless she had some idea of building ships to put into them. It is a very melancholy fact, and I for one regret, deeply regret, that a feeling of doubt on the part of one nation towards another should have arisen; but we cannot shut our eyes to the great fact we have seen, that there is one thing in which we are deficient. We have abund- ance of seamen—we are a 'maritime people—but in the hour of emergency we have had a difficulty in obtaining seamen to man our ships. But I am happy to tell you this evening—for I think it is the only difficulty we have now to contend with—that the Government arc now zealously devoting themselves to this question. They have appointed a Royal Commission, of which I have the honour to be a member, and I do hope, as the result of our labours, that a plan will be prepared which will remove the only thing.", which we have to fear—the manning of our ships in the hour of need (" Hear, hear .1" and cheers.) But Napoleon must have said to himself that he could not rival England unless he could make his people a maritime people, and induce the wealthy classes to cultivate yachting ; and have felt that another source of our power was the industry, skill, and knowledge of our people.

Mr. Roebuck followed, describing himself as going to Cherbourg, a seasick landsman, as seeing there an immense armament but no industry, great powertor-defenee but nonelor aggression. "When we got there I found my friend standing on deck, crossing his arms, with furrowed brow, and looking at those mighty forts. Ile went away and came back, and I thought his heart was in his mouth. I said, 'Why, Lindsay, what have you seen ? ' He says, 'I have seen something that has terribly astounded me.' I saw him next morning, after he had gone to the Royal Albert, and then he was himself agaiu—the man's heart was in its right place—he was no longer afraid. I, as a poor landsman, thought, 'What are these people to do ? There is a mighty force of forte; there are a sight of poor ships.' Even for a landsman I discovered that. I think my learned friend will signify the same ; they were poor ships. And then I saw, scattered over that mighty basin, the flag of England upon every mast, and I saw yftehtnien—three, five, or six, or seven thousand men. I went on shore, and what did I see there ? I saw men in pegtop trousers; they put me very much in mind of Cochin China fowls. (Loud laughter.) I saw priests and women—and very ugly women too. Well, then, I said to myself, is there a man among them who dare say his soul is his own ? A man next door said to me, Take care, and mind what you are about ; the French colonels will be after you. You are not in Eng- land now." No,' I said, 'I know that perfectly well, but still I will speak out what I think.' He said, You will do it at your own risk.' And I did it at my own risk. But I was not in England, and recollect there is a great difference between being able to say that your soul is your own and not daring to speak above your breath, and I will never believe until I see it, and I don't think I shall see it in this world, that a set of intelligent, free-spoken, free-hearted, strong-armed, and hard- fisted men will succumb to any terror from abroad. What is all this for ? If I go down to Liverpool I see dock after dock full of menhantmen, I see them coming in from all parts, floating into that basin in every breath of heaven, laden to the very brim with the world's produce. That is Eng- land. But at Cherbourg, I saw nothing of the sort. I saw a solitary 90-gun ship ready to be launched upon a Sunday, and that was France. That is the difference between England and France. Depend upon it, we who are here need not to be alarmed by anything that my friend has seen, while we have institutions like the present. And now I come to the moral of my tale. Depend upon it, that while you have stalwart arms—that while you have clear-thinking heads—you will need to fear no despot that the world affords—let him come from France, or Austria, or Naples. The free soil of England, washed by the free ocean that is around her, guarded by her sailors, is free against the world in arms. I am but a poor creature, yet I could turn out tomorrow. Depend upon it, every man, woman, and child among us know what we have in England—we have freedom here."

Mr. Ralph Osborne visited his constituents at Dover at the end of last week and delivered unto them a speech giving his version of the session. It was full of that smartness for which the speeches of Mr. Osborne were remarkable before he buried his talent in the Admiralty. As it was re- trospective, the substance was not new ; but one or two passages may amuse our readers.

" We all know that the last election was taken upon a false issue. We were all then very enthusiastic. There was a • Palmerston ' cry, which I think amounted to this on the part of many Members who joined in it. Every one for himself, and Palmerston for us all.' (Laughter.) I think that was the sentiment expressed, and I am afraid too literally carried out. I was sorry to observe, on taking my seat in the House of Commons, and watching the progress of legislation, that the great body of the men ad- mitted into Parliment on that cry were of no decided opinions. They were latitudinarian in their political faith, indifferent to party ties and possess- big only that strong feeling common to all sinners—a great hOrror of disso- lution. (Laughter.) That was the sort of Parliament collected under this cry. Now, I am no flatterer of Lord Palmerston. I was never his parasite in office, still less will I he his detractor in misfortune. It may be that I think it probable his popularity was something exaggerated ; still, at the same time, I cannot but feel that his fall from power was in some measure

undeserved Small consideration has been shown for his virtues, and great enmity attracted by his merits ; and I should have been ashamed of myself, having served Lord Palmerston, (although it was not iny intention to have remained in his Government, even if it had prolonged its existence for reasons which it is unnecessary that I should disclose to you,) if I hesitated to pay my humble tribute of admiration or withheld an attempt at the defence of a man now nomore the Minister of this country." Then came the Conservative Ministry.. Conservative of what ? " What is the meaning of their appellation ? They are a Ministry of change without progress—of concession without grace. They give us measures of change, but which, as I shall presently prove to you, are not of real progress. The concessions they make do not spring from any good feeling, nor are they made from principle, and thus they are utterly without grace. Calling themselves conservative, they go about culling different opinions from different men under false pretences. ("Hear !" and laughter.) The Conservative party of today is a great imposture." After describing, with much sarcasm and ridicule, the course of the Government upon the India Bill, the Jew Bills, the Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill, an act which rendered the abolition of property qualification nugatory, by making it impossible for any one but a rich Mall to avail himself of the abolition sham, he came to the promise bf a Conservative Reform Bill. "What that Reform Bill will be would puzzle a conjuror ; but I would tell you, if I were inclined to prophesy, that I do not believe the present Government will meet Parliament as now constituted; I believe there is a great difference of opinion in that Government ; I be- lieve you will see in it an advancing section, consisting of Mr. Disraeli, Lord Stanley, and Sir Jelin Pakington. These members of the Cabinet are inclined to go forward, while Lord Chelmsford, Lord Salisbury, and Mr. Henley, are inclined to go back. A struggle may take place, and before the month of February we may see a disruption of the present Government, be- cause I cannot fancy that any Reform Bill proposed by Lord Chelmsford and Lord ..alisbury will satisfy the country. There has also already been a serious difference between father and son in the same Cabinet, by Lord Stanley bringing forward his clause of the India Bill authorizing competi- tive examination. I regard the latter noble lord with profound respect, and view his connexion with a Conservative Government as a matter of purely filial relation; indeed, I look for a future when Lord Stanley shall be at the head of a Liberal Administration. He is now out of his place, and he feels it. Lord Stanley is no Conservative. Mr. Disraeli will do what he is pressed to do, and I think that he is inclined to march on. He has got into

very bad company, but if you will give him an opportunity 0 he, with Sir John Pdkington and Lord Stanley, will bp desirous of grafting:It."

Gravesend spontaneously made itself gay in honour of the Queen, who embarked there on Tuesday for Germany. It appears that a letter .had been sent to Sir Charles Phipps asking whether her Majesty would per- mit any public demonstration. After some delay Sir Charlea sent a letter containing some packets of clover-seed, but nothing more. What this meant the civic intellect of Gravesend could not toll; so the people did their best to express their loyalty in ribbons, flags, flowers, and ever- greens. When the Queen came the corporation did not omit to present

an address. The young ladies who strewed the bridal pathway of the Princess Frederick William with flowers, had prepared for her an elegant souvenir of that event. This memento, consisting of a beautifully-exe- cuted true lover's knot, in water-colours with the names of the fifty-

eight young ladies referred to was enclosed in a Russia leather case, having upon it a suitable inscription. It was most graciously accepted by her Majesty, who repeatedly opened the case and examined the de- sign, ultimately locking the case and putting the key into her pocket.

The Reverend Alfred Poole has reappeared as a subject of public comment and episcopal remark. He preached at the church of St. John, Harlow, on the 4th July, and treated of the confessional. Mr. James Thornton, a parishioner, driven from his parish church by the Puseyite practices of the incumbent, informed the Bishop of Rochester of the fact. In the course of a conversation, he says, Mr. Miller, the incumbent, " was good enough to inform me that none of my family should be admitted to confession without my consent, as that he always asked young persons coming to confession if they had obtained the consent of their parents, thus not only advocating the confessional, but also admit- ting that it is carried on in Harlow." The Bishop replied, by stating that he had directed Mr. Poole not to officiate again in his diocess without permission.

"I much object to many things which take place at Harlow, but there are difficulties in the way of episcopal interference, from a want of legal power to enforce obedience to my directions. I hope that every husband and father will strenuously resist the attempt on the part of some of the clergy to introduce the practice of confession, thereby obtaining an undue influence over their families, in addition to the moral evil it is calculated to produce."

At the Wells Assizes, John Baker Bucknell was convicted and sentenced to die for two atrocious crimes—the murder of his grandfather and grand- mother. He appears to have borrowed some blasting powder, and to have made a bullet at a blacksmith's forge out of a piece of iron. He waylaid the old man in the cellar of his house, shot him, and fired the straw on which he fell. Then going up stairs he killed the woman with a "hay knife." After doing this he went outside, secreted some property, hid the knife, and pretended that he had tried to make the old folks hear but could not. Persons came, the house was forced, and the bodies discovered. Then the knife, and concealed property mingled with articles belonging to the mur- derer were discovered, and he was sent to gaol.

At the same Assizes, Elizabeth Williams, the woman who drowned her two children at Clevedon' was acquitted on the ground of insanity. Evi- dence was given that all her family had been deranged. During the trial her husband was outside the court in a state of the greatest distress, He had not scolded his wife ; he had merely told her she had acted wrong in paying some taxes without taking a receipt, but her feelings were so sensi- tive that she could not bear the idea of doing anything of which he dis- approved.

James Garron and Lewis Corey, the monks who were last week twice ex- amined before the Liverpool magistrates on a charge of begging, were again brought up on Tuesday, and on their promising not to offend again, they were discharged.

An "accident" happened on the railway at Ramsgate on Monday. A train coming from the ticket platform to the station was allowed to run in without breaks. The consequences were immediate. The train struck the stationary buffers, and in an instant the passengers were flung about in the carriages and very much injured. No fewer than twenty received hurts of some kind, happily none fatal. The blame seems to lie with the assistant breaksman.