Sbe Vrobinces.

Walsall election ended on Tuesday, by the return of Mr. Gladstone, the Conservative candidate. The numbers at the close of the poll were, according to the statement of Mr. Gladstone's Committee--for Air. Gladstone, 365 ; for Mr. Smith, 327 ; giving the former a majority of 38. The official return by the Mayor reduces the majority to 27. The struggle was kept up during the day with the greatest spirit, and the closeness of the contest gave increased animation to the scene. The parties were so much excited that it was expected there would have been a disturbance. According to the Tory accounts, the violence was all on the side of the Anti-Corn-law men. A party of them attacked_ the New Inn, where many of Mr. Gladstone's friends were assembled, at midnight before the day of polling. A conflict ensued, in which some severe blows were dealt, but the assailants were repulsed. Oa Tuesday morning the mob attacked Mr. James, who was a desertef from the Liberal side, on his way to give his vote for Mr. Gladstone ; but he was rescued without having sustained much injury. The Con- servatives were the first to muster their strength os Tuesday ; and at half-past nine o'clock they had polled 139 against 37. The success of Gladstone having greatly excited the Smithites, it was thought ne- cessary to send for a detachment of military, which speedily arrived from Wednesbury ; but no outrage occurred during the day to require their interference. The Liberals taunt Mr. Gladstone's Magisterial. friends with bringing in the troops, without necessity, to serve the cause of their candidate. It is stated, however, that this step was taken.- with the consent of Magistrates of both parties ; Mr. Ce,tterell, who pre. posed Mr. Smith, being the gentleman whose name was signed to 'le- - order. The correspondent of the Morning Post c-17zi, the following description of the occurrences of the n-..-„;og.__ ° " When dusk aporoa‘±z.:,, sue mob-supporters of Mr. Smith attacked every- req":Z::20;e person who made his appearance in the streets. The game or snow-balls commenced the row, and to this succeeded in good earnest showers of stones. Several gentlemen were most seriously injured on their way to the New Inn ; and had it not been for the ready protection afforded them in that hotel, there is little doubt some lives would have been sacrificed by the fury of the populace. One unfortunate elector, an elderly gentleman, was knocked down opposite the gateway ; and for a considerable time it was feared that the injuries he bad received upon the back of the head would have proved fatal. The mob, after assailing individuals in the street, proceeded to attack the New Inn ; and in a short time every window in the front of the house was destroyed. At this crisis a letter was written to the Mayor ; and about seven o'clock his Worship, apparently very reluctant to act, arrived at the New Inn, and in company with Mr. James, a Borough Magistrate, consulted with the military authorities as to the best course to be adopted. Fortunately, at this period. Acland and other members of the Anti-Corn-law League were announced to speak from the balcony of the Dragon Inn ; and the mob assembled in Park Street, Stafford Street, and other of the chief avenues of the town, drew off to hear the harangues of these chapfallen orators. The streets being that; com- paratively cleared, the inmates of the New Inn and the George were able to escape in safety and retire to their own homes. During the remainder of the evening, the town, although at intervals displaying disquiet and uneasiness, was, considering the recent excitement of an election, orderly and peaceable."

On Wednesday morning the town resumed its usual tranquil ap- pearance.

The Tory accounts allege that their opponents polled nine dead men ; three of whom, at the time of their deaths, were good Conservatives- Mr. Smith's friends say their opponents bribed largely. Expresses were sent off to the Carlton Club every hour.

The numbers polled at the last election for Walsall were—for Mr. Finch, the Radical candidate, 316 ; for Mr. Foster, the Conservative candidate, 296.

The election for Canterbury has also terminated in favour of the Conservatives, and by a much larger majority than they obtained at Walsall. The polling commenced at eight o'clock, and proceeded very- evenly till eleven, though Mr. Smythe kept at the head of tke poll: at that hour he had only a majority of 12. The twelve o'clock re- turn, however, gave him a majority of 84 ; which went on in- creasing to the close : the numbers then announced were—for Mr. Smythe, 782 ; for Mr. Wilson, 619 ; majority for Mr. Smythe, 163. A. little before the closing of the poll-books, Mr. Twisden Hodges was nominated at one of the district polling- booths ; and he polled 17 votes.. The object of this manoeuvre is stated to be to secure the return of a Liberal Member in the event of a petition being presented against the return of Mr. Smythe. The proceedings were conducted with good, temper, and, with the exception of a few pugilistic skirmishes, and an attack on the house of a Conservative voter, whose windows were broken, nothing occurred to cause any apprehension of riot. At the declaration by the Sheriff on Wednesday, the number of Mr. Smythe's majority was stated to be not more than 144; the gross numbers being— for Mr. Smythe, 772 ; Mr. Wilson, 628; and Mr. Hodges, 17. Mr.. Smythe addressed the electors, but Mr. Wilson did not appear.

The Globe ascribes the defeat of the Liberal candidate at Canterbury to the influence of the clergy, who mark those who vote for the Liberals, and dispense ;hcir f4'inur.s. accordingly among the tradesmen. Direct-

bribery is also alleged as another catite ; the severity of the winter and the scarcity of employment having exposed the poorer voters to tempta- tions they could not withstand. Two voters are mentioned who asked 25/. each from the Liberal candidate, saying they were offered that and more by the other side.

The Ministerial journals furnish very meagre details of the proceedings at these elections. We presume they felt too dispirited at the result to recount the particulars.

The Reigate borough election commenced and ended on Wednesday, by the return of Lord Eastnor, without opposition. Mr. D'Arcy, Who threatened to go to the poll to attempt to rescue the borough from family influence, withdrew. Dr. Bedford, a Radical, who expressed his intention of giving the Reigate electors an opportunity of asserting their independence, was proposed, but could not find a seconder. Lord Eastnor was then declared elected. His Lordship was unable to attend, owing to illness ; but his friends formed a procession from his residence to the Town-hall. Dr. Bedford made a speech, in which he complained of being deceived by his " friends."

Both the candidates for East Surrey maintain a confident tone. The nomination takes place on Monday next, and the polling on Wednesday and Thursday.

The election for Monmouthshire takes place on Tuesday next. Mr Hanbury Tracy, a Miuisterialist, is the only candidate in the field. A requisition has been got up by the Tories to Mr. Octavius Morgan, of Tredegar ; but with what success is not stated.

The only candidate in the field for St. Alban's is Mr. B. Cabbell, a Conservative. Mr. Spencer Lyttelton, the original candidate. for Walsall, and Lord Listowell, a Lord of the Bedchamber, are spoken of as Li- beral candidates. The nomination takes place on Monday next.

It is rumoured that Mr. Hawkes is about to accept the Chiltern Hundreds ; and that the son of a wealthy banker will offer himself a candidate for this borough, by way of warming-pan, till the scion of a noble house iu the neighbourhood is of sufficient age to occupy a seat in the House of Commons.— Worcester Chronicle.

The half-yearly meetings of the Liverpool and Manchester and Grand Junction Railway Companies were held last week. Upon the former, a dividend of 51. and a bonus of 2/. per share have been declared ; upon the latter, a dividend of 6/. 10s. per share. A feature very gratifying to the holders of railway stock appears in the reports of these two Com- panies—which is, that the Liverpool and Manchester Company have re- duced their expenditure, on the half-year, by the large amount of about 15,000/., and the Grand Junction Company about 9,000/. ; and this reduction has taken place chiefly in the locomotive department.

On Saturday evening last, a watchman on the railway between C.ne11::::ham and Gloucester detected two men putting a large clinker, weighing upwards of one hundredweight, on the line. Fortunately the —4h nearly sixty passengers, had just passed about two minutes

tram, v._ -- she consequences might have been dreadful.

before its usual time, ." fear the watchman will not be

Owing to the darkness of the nigm, .

able to identify the villains.—Cheltenham Examiner.

Part of a temporary:bridge at a viaduct for the Manchester and Bir- mingham Railway, which is constructing at Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, gave way on Saturday morning. Several persons who were upon it fell into the river ; and three of them were killed.

The men employed in the collieries in Lancashire have turned out for an advance of wages, to the great inconvenience of the manufac- turers in that district ; many of whom, it is said, have been obliged to stop their works for want of coal. In some places the demands of the pitmen, which amount to an advance of 7s. a week, .in addition to an equal advance which they obtained a short time since on a "strike," have been acceded to. Lord Francis Egerton's agent gave notice to the men who hold cottages on his property at a nominal rent, to quit in- stanter or return to their work. This threat induced many of them to return on Thursday.

On Sunday, Mr. Vincent was discharged from Oakham Gaol, by an order from the Home Office ; and was informed at the same time, that the indictments by the Wiltshire Magistrates were entirely set aside.— Globe.

A party of five gentlemen were shooting on the estate of H. S. Wad- dington, Esq., at Cavenham, on Saturday, when, at the conclusion of the day, the gun of one of them went off whilst he was in the act of un- cocking it, and the whole of the charge was lodged in the knee of the Reverend H. Cholmeley. He never recovered from the shock which he had sustained, and expired early on Sunday morning. The de- ceased was Rector of Troston, between fifty and sixty years of age, and unmarried.—Busa Post.

Last week, as six young men were going down a coal-pit in the neighbourhood of Llangollen, to their work, the chain broke, precipi- tating them to the bottom. The shaft being about eighty yards deep, they were all killed on the spot.— Chester Chronicle.