PREPARATIONS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

ABLNODON. The Protectionists applied to Mr. James Morrell, of Oxford, the wealthy brewer, who not long since boasted in the hunting-field of the share he had taken in returning Lord Norreys for Oxfordshire as a Protec- tionist; but it is reported that after two days' negotiation they discovered Mr. Merrell to have more recently abandoned Protection. ASHBURTON. Colonel Matheson intends to retire. Mr. Moffatt, Member fer Dartmouth, has offered himself by public address. BANBURY. Mr. Tancred, the Liberal Member, is "fully prepared" to de- fend himself.

BEDFORD. Sir Harry Verney has been invited by the Liberals to with- draw his resignation; and he consented, and was to have met the electors on Monday. But " the Ultras " have got Mr. Chisholm Anstey down among

them.

Bravirci. Mr. Foster, of tho Chancery bar, is said to intend offering himself.

BEWDLEY AND STOURPORT. Sir Thomas Winnington, "whose family so long returned the Member for Bewdley, till the last two elections," will again come forward on Liberal principles. Sir Fitzroy Kelly is mentioned by the Conservatives.

BIRMINGHAM. Mr. Muntz and Mr. Scholefield hold fast ; but it is said that Mr. Scholefield is to be attacked by Mr. Chance, son of a local merchant, and a " very " Liberal- Conservative who will be supported by Protestants at Mr. Soholefield's vote on the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill.

BRADFORD. The Liberals have resolved at a public meeting to support their present Members, Colonel Thompson and Mr. Milligan. Mr. H. W. of Kirkleea Hall, near Bradford, a Free-trade Conservative, has offered himself by public address. BRIDGEWATER. The independence of Mr. Kinglake seems to have se- leered its reward: the Liberal Association have determined to support Mr. Kinglaice and Dird-Henley.

Itiusthre TIM Conservative electors have resolved at a public meeting to promote the return "of a gentleman who, while advocating a liberal com- mercial policy, will support Lord Derby's Government in maintaining sound Conservative principles."

CARDIGAN Borcouous. Mr. Pryse Loveden has issued his address. Mr. John Inglis Jones, the High Sheriff, is said to mean opposition. CARLISLE. Mr. Ferguson a manufacturer of Carlisle, is to be the Liberal' coadjutor of Sir Jasn Graham, if the Liberals can manage to take botli seats. CHATHAM. Viscount Enfield retiree, and Captain Peel is spoken of as his probable successor. COLCHESTER. Mr. Hardcastle canvassed his borough last week ; it is said,

with great success. •

CORNWALL, EAST. Mr. Robartes, the sitting Free-trader, is safe. Mr. Pole Carew, the other *mber, "is regarded by the present Protectionist party with suspicion" ; bulhe wilt again present himself, and " will probably be elected." Mr. 'Kendal of Pella "refuses to oppose Mr. Robert" unless Mr. Carew declare for Protection.' Mr. Carew is at present in Paris, in conse- quence of the death of his eldest brother.

Covthirrtv. The supporters of Mr. Ellice have been confabulating on the beat means of securing his return again. DERBY. It is understood that Mr. Bass, the present Whig Member, will not be opposed at the next election ; but his colleague,. Mr. Lawrence Hey- worth, will have to contest the borough; and a requisition to Mr. Strutt, Member for Arundel, is in progress. DEVONPORT. It is said that Mr. Tuffnell and Sir John Bonin!" will be -opposed by two Ministerial candidates ; " one the son of a distinguished Pro- tectionist Duke, and the other a distinguished and highly-connected Ad- miral."

Donerranian. The return of Mr. H. C. Sturt, Free-trader, is "considered certain." It is expected that he will be returned by the defeat of the Judge- Advocate, Mr. Banker; and that Mr. Ker Seymer and Mr. Floyer will retain their seats."

HARWICH. Mr. Waddington, Member for Malden, has accepted an invi- tation to stand ; but he says in his address—" provided it be understood that I canvass the borough independent of any other candidate ; that freedom and purity of election be recognized as my motto." HEREFORDSHIRE. The Tunes says—" It is the general opinion that Messrs. Booker, King, and Hanbury, will be returned for the county by a large majority; and that Mr. Cornewall Lewis will avoid the coat of a useless contest by succeeding his father in the Radnorshire boroughs." HEREFORD Crrr. The Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association have resolved that unless Sir Robert Price pledge himself to support here- after the Radical party, another candidate be brought forward to oppose his reelection. The Conservatives have not announced a candidate, but it is probable if a split should arise among their opponents they will bring for- ward Mr. Evans of Sutton Court, and by a union with the moderate Whigs return that gentleman with Sir Robert Price. HUDDERSFIELD. There is a split in the Liberal camp about the nomina- tion of a candidate. The friends of Mr. Cheetham, the popular but unsuc- cessful candidate at the last election, proposed to the friends of Mr. W. It. C.

Stanfield, the sitting Member, that choice of a candidate should be left

to a public meeting of the Liberal electors. Mr. Stansfield's friends refused this ordeal for the coming election, but would accept it for a future election.

KENT, EAST. It is reported that Mr. Deedes, one of the sitting Members, will retire. " In that case," says the Kentish Mercury, " it is more than

probable there will be a severe contest between Sir Brook W. Bridges, the recently-elected Member, Sir E. C. Dering, the lately ejected candidate, and Sir Norton Knatchbull, who on the hustings vowed to oppose Sir Edward whenever and wherever he should appear as an avowed candidate." Krivr, WEST. The Conservatives have resolved in public meeting to sup- port Mr. Masters Smith and Sir Edmund Fihner. KIDDERMINSTER. The appearance of Mr. Robert Lowe on the ground brought down Mr. Best, the sitting Member, to protect himself; and both

candidates are busy canvassing. When Mr. Best succeeded the late Mr. Godson, the Tory Queen's counsel, he expressly declared himself a Protec- tionist : he now " merely expresses sympathy with the distresses of the agriculturists" ; but he Is a strong Law Reformer, and he denounces the Caffre war, as ",disgraceful to humanity."

K.NARESBOROUGII. The candidates in the field are Mr. Collins and Mr. Westhead, the present Conservative and Liberal Members ; and Mr. Row- land Winn, a " Protestant and Protectionist." Leacirrii. It is said the following candidates are likely to offer them- selves—Mr. Williams and Mr. D'Eyncourt, the sitting Members, Sir Charles Napier, and Mr. William Hawes. LANCASHIRE, SOUTH. It is said that Mr. Henry intends to retire. There is great gossip about the report. LEEDS. Mr. Beckett tells his constituents, in an address, that he shall stand again, and will think it his " duty to oppose the reversal of a policy which has been attended with so much public contentment, and produced so great an increase in the comforts and enjoyments of life among the great body of his fellow countrymen." Mr. Baines and Sir G. Goodman have met the electors at a public meeting, and got a warm reception. So it is thought Mr. Beckett must go. LEOMINSTER. Mr. Frederick Peel has taken leave in an address which contains this explanation-

" I frankly admit, that, deep as is the regret I feel at the prospective severance of our existing connexion, and sincere as is my respect for the disinterested purity which has always characterized your conduct towards me, I have found it impossible to resist the opportunity which is presented to me of reestablishing in my own person the ancient connexion of my own family with the town of Bury."

Lnecomisarnis, Nolan. An animated contest is expected for the-repre- sentation of the division of Lindsey, between Sir Montague Cholmeley, one of the present sitting Members, and Mr. Bankes Stanhope, of Revesby Hall. The issue will probably be the same as that last year tried in South Notting- hamshire—one between " a league of tenants against a league of the land- lords." Both gentlemen are Protectionists. LivEnrooL. Sir Thomas Birch's vote on the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill of- fended the large population of Irish Catholics, and a negotiation with Sir James Graham was opened ; but this failed, and the desire to cashier Sir Thomas Birch died away or diminished. Therefore, at a public meeting, it was resolved to stand by the sitting Members—Sir Thomas Birch and Mr. Cardwell. [Later accounts say, however, that the discontent with Sir Thomas still smoulders among the Catholics.] Mr. Forbes Mackenzie and Mr. Charles Turner seem to be the settled candidates on the Derby interest.

LTMINOTON. The sitting Members are to be opposed by Mr. Andrew Stewart and a Mr. George Hudson.

Mainsroxis. Mr. George Dodd and Mr. Fector Lawrie are protecting their Beats by an active canvass. But the Liberals say Mr. Whatman's canvass has made his return a matter of certainty.

Moetatonmertraz BOROUGHS. The rival candidates, Mr. Lindsay the Liberal and Mr. C. Bailey the Conservative, continue to hold occasional meetings and give expositions of their politicatprinciples.

MONMOUTHSHIRE. A strong contest is anticipated. Mr. 0. S. Morgan and Captain Somerset are the present Members : the latter is now on his voyage to the Cape, with his regiment, in the Megoira ; Mr. Darby, an ex- tensive iron-merchant, one of the Ebbw Vale firm, is named as the opponent of the absent Captain. NEWARK. Mr. John Stuart, the nominee of the late Duke of Newcastle, retires; and though the present Duke is very unlikely to use any influence to affect the election, it is not doubted that a Free-trader will be returned.

NEWCASTLE-ON-ICH& There are three candidates, including Mr. Wat- son, Queen's counsel, former Member for Kinsale. The Conservatives say they will have a candidate.

NORTHUMBERLAND. Lord Ossulston and Lord Lovaine are said to be both in the field, quietly. Sir George Grey has issued his address, and commenced his defensive canvass.

Norrimmasi Bonoroa. It is said that four gentlemen applied to by the Liberal party have successively declined the honour of a contest with Mr. Walter the sitting Member. It is now thought that Mr. Walter and Mr. Thomas Gisborne will have "a walk over."

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, NORTH. Mr. Houldsworth, one of the sitting Mem- bers, a Protectionist, is to retire. The Liberals, after a public meeting, have resolved not to put up a party Liberal, but to ask the Duke of Newcastle to recommend a Conservative F'ree-trader (understood to be his younger bro-

ther,) "to whom they will give their hearty and united support." Norrrnomoseninz, Sorra. At present it is understood that Mr. Bar. row and Mr. Hildyard will be returned without opposition.

PEMBROKE BOROUGHS. Sir John Owen holds on. Mr. J. H. Phillipps of Williamston has put himself in nomination for this seat, in opposition to Mr. Evans, Queen's counsel, and has issued an address favourable to a Free. trade policy. PLYMOUTH. Mr. Bickham Fecott has presented himself, and produced a letter with a character from Mr. Charles Villiers. He is cordially for Free. trade ; and would give the franchise to " every person likely to give an in- telligent and independent vote" ' • but he had not decided about the ballot. He was opposed to the Maynoothgrant, and to all such grants; being for a voluntary system of education. Mr. Braine, a London merchant, Chairman of the Eastern Steam Navigation Company and Director of the Plymouth Great Western Docks, a moderate Whig, is a candidate against Mr. Escott. He had not much popular sympathy till placards announced that " through his instrumentality" the deficient subscription-list of the capital for the docks had been filled up. The news spread instantly ; the bells were rung; and " Mr. Braine's name was on every tongue."

PORTSMOUTH. The friends of Sir Francis Baring are said to be quite con- fident of his safety. READING. Mr. Darby Griffith and Captain Dickson are candidates. REIGATE. Mr. Hillebrant Meredith Parrett, of Effingham House, Lea- therhead, who offered himself in 1847, announces that he will come forward again, as a Free-trader.

Roca:num Mr. Sharman Crawford has definitively announced his inten- tion of retiring. Mr. Midi is likely to become Mr. Crawford's successor, "as the return of a Tory is quite hopeless." SALISBURY. Mr. C. B. Wall, in an address to his constituents telling them he will stand again, says he is for "further and progressive reform." Mr. W. J. Chaplin stands by his seat. SrusrriELD. The friends of Mr. Parker and Mr. Roebuck have met and begun subscriptions towards a fund for their expenses.

STAFFORD. Mr. Sergeant Allen, of the Oxford Circuit, comes forward; pledging himself against the restoring of any tax on food, and to labour for the removal of the Income-tax, Assessed-taxes, and Excise, and for the im- position of taxes "on those who ought justly to bear them."

STROUD. The Wilts Standard says that Mr. Stanton will retire in favour of Lord Moreton, eldest son of the Earl of Dude, a Liberal and a Dissenter.

TEWKESBURY. The sitting Members, Mr. Martin and Mr. Humphrey Brown, hold on. Mr. Cox, the Conservative barrister, will give Mr. Brown a sharp run ; "both are very sanguine of success."

WARWICKSHIRE, Noirrit. The Protectionist Members will be opposed, it is said, "with every probability of securing one of the seats for a Free- trader." It is even said to be "doubtful whether Mr. Spooner will again offer himself."

WESTBURY. Mr. Massey Lopez, eldest son of Sir Ralph, comes forward as a supporter of the Derby Ministry. Mr. James Wilson holds on. WINDSOR. Major-General Reid and Mr. Vansittart canvass separately, though both Conservatives; and it is said that they will have the Castle interest. Captain Bulkeley, a Director of the Great Western Railway, has come forward as an Ultra-Tory. In any event, the Liberals say that the return of their candidate, Mr. Grenfell, Member for Sandwich, is sure.

SCOTLAND.

Ant Bunons. The Glasgow Constitutional regrets to learn "that Sir James Campbell, of Stracathro, has thought proper to decline the invitation to allow himself to be put in nomination." FORFARSHIRE. A requisition to Mr. Fox Maule has this backing from the Caledonian Mercury—" The ex-President of the Board of Control is de- servedly popular in his native county. He has acquired in Parliament the character of a good working Minister; and of those who formed part of the i late Ministry whom the country would object to see reinstated in office, he certainly is not one." Mr. Maule has accepted, and addressed the electors.

INvERNESs BURGHS.. Mr. R. H. Kennedy still prosecutes his canvass, and has visited Nairn and Forres. He has not yet definitively announced his intention to risk a contest, and the Newcastle people seem still to expect him there.—Invernees Courier.

KINCARDINESHIRE. It is believed that there will be no contest ; but should General Arbuthnott retire from Parliament, Sir James Carnegie will immediately offer himself as his successor, as a Free-trader. PERTHSHIRE. There is no doubt that Mr. Home Drummond will retire; but it is at present a question whether he will be succeeded by Mr. Grant of Kilgraston or Mr. Stirling of Keir—the latter is thought the more likely. Rosa-saran. A Protectionist opposition to Sir James Matheson has for some time been talked of in the county of Ross; and it is now rumoured that Mr. Ross of Cromarty, a young gentleman who has lately succeeded to his estate, has already entered into the field and commenced a canvass. We have no expectation that Mr. Ross will come to the poll—Inverness Courier. Srriairro BURGHS. The contest between Sir James Anderson of Glasgow and Mr. Miller the engineer, the two candidates now in the field, "will un- doubtedly be severe." Both are Free-traders, but Sir James is a Liberal of the Manchester school, and Mr. Miller a Whig ; "Sir James is a determined Voluntary, and Mr. Miller an equally determined Churchman ; and on this lad point the contest will chiefly hinge." WIGTOWN. There is a rumour that Captain Dalrymple will be opposed in the county. Captain Hay, R.N., or Mr. Stewart younger of Glasserton, has been spoken of as likely to come forward.

IRELAND.

Down Courrrr. The Downpatrick .Recorder states that Lord Castlereagh has refused to offer himself again for the representation of the county of Down.

DnouirEDA. Mr. Brodigan a Liberal barrister, has announced himself.

GALWAY Corners.. The Roman Catholic clergy have been gathering the electors together, and forming a committee to correspond with the Defence Association in Dublin.

LIMERICK Crrr. There are now said to be six candidates. Mr. F. W. Russell is the last announced.

MONAGHAN COUNTY. Sir George Forster is expected to address the elect- ors in a few days as a supporter of Lord Derby's Government. Roscommon COUNTY. It is reported that Mr. Greville, the son-in-law of the Marquis of Westmeath, is the Protectionist candidate; and Mr. Sheriff Swift, of London, the Roman Catholic, Free-trade, and Tenant-right candi- date.

Wicatow. Sir Ralph Howard has formally taken leave of his consti- tuents. Lord Milton will be reelected, but there is likely to be a sharp con- test for the second seat between Mr. Fitz william Hume, of Humewood, James Grattan, and probably another candidate. YOUGHAL. The Cork Examiner says that Sir Ralph Howard, the present Member for Wicklow, will be a candidate for Youghal.