A letter from Birmingham in the Morning Chronicle mentions a
divi- sion in the Liberal ranks, which may possibly endanger Mr. Sturge's election. 'The Whigs cause this division. While Colonel Thompson has been successful in persuading his Radical friends to support Mr. Sturge, the Whigs have resolved to bring forward Mr. Bolton King. The Citron ides correspondent presumes that if Mr. Bolton King' is a candidate Colonel Thompson will also offer himself. This would be quite fair; and the Colonel, under these circumstances, could not be accused of dividing the Liberal party. . The Tory candidate is not yet announced. Besides Mr. Spooner and Colonel Chatterton, a son of' Sir Eardley Wilmot, and Mn Horsley Palmer, are talked of. The Times correspondent says that Mr. Hume is in Birmingham, " waiting to see how the cat jumps."
From the following statement in the Birmingham Journal of this morning, it would seem that these electioneering movements are some- what premature ; and that Mr. Attwood's resignation may liot take place hum e ately- " Some three or four weeks ago, private letters were received from Mr. Att- wood, who is sojourning at St. Ili :Hers, Jersey, stating that the state of his kealth, and a slowing esnviction that it was in vain for him to attempt to com- bat the opp.sition ta 1!id phIIS of economic reform, which the House of Com- mons had 6,/ tor .tentl.y inanifcstcd, had strongly counselled a resignation, on his part, uf the trust that the constituency of Birmingham had reposed in loin for the last seven years. These letters, we understand, stated, at the same time, that Mr. Attwond intended to lay before the constituency, at the earliest opportunity, his reasons for resigning his trust. No address, such as Mr. Attwoud is understood to have contemplated, nor any information except idiot we have just noticed, has yet reached Birmingham. Rumours there have Leen, as was to be expected, and not a few ; but of positive infor- mation touching Mr. Attwood's resignation, or intention to resign, we re- peat, not a tittle has yet been received in Birmingham, beyond what the private letters alluded to communicated. On these rumours, however, a party in the borough have not been slow to act. On Monday, a committee was formed for the purpose ttf securing the apprehended vacancy for Mr. Joseph .Sturge; and sevtral meetings ot electors and others have taken place since, with a similar view. Other candidates have been earned, some of them, we rather suspect, with but a slight knowledge of their position or wishes—Mr. Dome, Mr. Ewart, Mr. Gibson, Mr. Bolton King, and two or three more. Colonel Thompson, who holds himself ready for any vacancy, has come down to examine, in person, the ground. We are not aware that the Tories have any one in whose fiivour they would he disposed to stir. Mr. Spooner, who is very generally respected by all classes, would certainly be their best card ; but we rather suspect he is not much disposed for the toil of a contest. If Mr. Att- wood do resign, previous to a general election, the probability at present is, that Mr. Sturge will walk the course. What competitors is general election may bring fitment, it is of course impossible to say. We have very little doubt that it will bring enow on both sides of the question. Much depends on your if. It is said that some of Mr. Attwood's friends have advised him to retain his seat, at all events till a general election ; which, it seems now understood, will not be delayed beyond April. or May at the liarthest."
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