The fourth Reformed Parliament assembled Aug. 19th, 1841, and was dissolved July 23rd, 1847. Another election took place on July 29th, 1847. A very great effort was made at this election, by a large body of voters, to break down the compromise which had been entered into in 1841; and though not successful, it proved the difficulty of maintaining such an arrangement in a large constituency. Mr. Parry, a Barrister of the Home Circuit, was nominated by the extreme Liberal party. The result of the poll was as follows:—
The Election of July 29th, 1847.
| Samuel Morton Peto (L.) | 2448 |
| Marquis of Douro (C.) | 1727 |
| John Humfreys Parry (L.) | 1572 |
The fifth Reformed Parliament assembled on Sept. 21st, 1847, and its dissolution took place in consequence of the accession to office of Lord Derby’s ministry, on July 1st, 1852. A severe contest took place between the Liberals and Conservatives, on July 8th, 1852, with the following result.
The Election of July 8th, 1852.
| Samuel Morton Peto (L.) | 2190 |
| Edward Warner (L.) | 2145 |
| Marquis of Douro (C.) | 1592 |
| Col. Lothian S. Dickson (C.) | 1465 |
The sixth Reformed Parliament assembled on Nov. 4th, 1852, and an election took place here in Dec., 1854. The vacancy in the representation which caused this election, arose in consequence of Mr. Peto having, in conjunction with his partners, undertaken to construct a railway from Balaclava to Sebastopol, to assist the British army in bringing the siege of that place to a successful conclusion. Though no contract had been entered into by Mr. Peto with the government, he had to resign his seat. Sir S. Bignold became a candidate in the Conservative interest, and Anthony Hamond, Esq., for the Liberals. The contest ended as follows:—
| Sir S. Bignold (C.) | 1901 |
| Anthony Hamond (L.) | 1635 |
The sixth Reformed Parliament was dissolved on March 21st, 1857, in consequence of a resolution having been proposed by Mr. Cobden, in condemnation of the proceedings of the ministry with regard to the Chinese war. A division took place at an early hour, on March 4th—For Mr. Cobden’s motion, 263; against, 247; majority against the government, 16. This caused an election here on March 28th, 1857.