Etc Countrn. The election for Wycombe was on Tuesday ;
when Mr. George Robert Smith was returned without opposition. Mr. Hardy, late Member for Bradford, who had been invited by the Tories to become their candidate, declined a contest ; chiefly, as appears from a handbill circulated in the place, because he had ascertained " on personal in- atairy, that there was a general inclination in the borough to fill the vacant seat in a manlier complimentary to (Lord Carrington) the noble owner of the neighbouring abbey." Mr. Smith declared himself a aupporter of the Corn-laws and of free trade, of religious and moral Mistruction of the people, especially in Ireland, where the people " were at present suffering under the despotism of the priests and the despotism of the demagogues : " he went into Parliament the friend of the present Government, but would not pledge himself to an uncom- Fonlising support of their measures. In reply to questions from a
Mr. Hughes, Mr. Smith refused to pledge himself to vote for the abo- lition of military flogging ; he was ready to relieve the Dissenter from Church-rates ; and would support the principle of the Poor-law, though he knew that the details worked oppressively in some instances.
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