March 13th, 1854. Died, Mr. Justice Talfourd, at Stafford Assizes. He dropped down dead from his judge’s seat whilst addressing his charge to the grand jury. He was a humane judge, and an eminent and popular writer.

Easter, 1854. A very close and vindictive contest took place in this Parish for the election of the Board of Guardians, without either rhyme or reason. The new Liberals of the previous year’s election had secured many useful and sensible reforms in Poor Law Distribution; had introduced and carried the Small Tenements’ Act, which had given mortal offence to the Tory party, and their former dogmatical and illiterate chairman. Under such revengeful feelings, not a stone was left unturned to seek out “cause of offence,” shortcomings, etc., of the Liberal Guardians. The Tory party managed to obtain the proxy votes of the non-resident voters of the small freeholders, lately brought into the list of voters by the imposition of the Small Tenements’ Act, and thereby secured the election by over-reaching and unfair tactics.

The result of this unfair and unjust Election was a reversion of last year’s parochial decision, the Liberal Guardians were thrown out, and the old “let us rest and be thankful” Tories were elected to do further mischief.

ELECTION OF GUARDIANS.

To the Independent and Enlightened Ratepayers of the Parish of Dudley.

Fellow Ratepayers,

It is very likely that in the course of a few days you will again have the opportunity of Electing your part of the Board of Guardians for this Union for the coming year. As far as I can understand, an effort is to be made, and which has been in contemplation for some months past (by means of owners’ proxies, obtained in some instances I believe by not over-scrupulous means, and which in many others would never have been given to be employed in such a manner) to unseat the majority of those parties who received your support at the last election. Let us then examine for a few moments what these gentlemen have done during the past year of their Stewardship to forfeit the confidence we then reposed in them. First, they advocated and brought about the publicity of the proceedings of the Board, which had previously, notwithstanding the praiseworthy exertions of two or three of its members to the contrary, partaken somewhat of the character of a secret conclave. Secondly, the usual weekly checks for this Parish only for out-door relief has gradually diminished during the year, on an average, I should imagine from the now regularly published newspaper reports, of not less than £8 or £10 per week—next—I believe that the in-door expenses of our Workhouses are actually less at this time than when provisions were only half their present price, and less by a considerable amount per head per week than they were five or six years ago, and that the poor, both in and out, not the less cared or provided for. Fourthly, I observe that several of the gentlemen against whom this opposition is principally to be directed are amongst the most intelligent, active, business-like men of the whole Board, that they are gentlemen using their best exertions to promote the success and prosperity of the Town, anxious for its improvement, and desirous of its progress; witness their endeavours for the establishment of the Model Lodging Houses—the promotion of the scheme for the erection of a Public Hall—the alteration of the Post Office and improvement of postal accommodation—their support of the School of Design and Mechanics’ Institution, and extension of general Education—the erection of a proper Workhouse in place of our present disgraceful building, by which I doubt not our expenses will be lessened, and the comforts of its aged and infirm poor inmates at the same time increased, and by their generally evidenced desire to improve the condition of our poorer brethren, both socially and morally—thus preventing crime, obviating disease, and diminishing pauperism. Having during the past year made a continued advance in the right direction, should you be again called upon I trust that you will encourage their endeavours, and show that you appreciate their attention to your interests, by not only supporting the seven gentlemen[33] I now allude to, but also any others with whom their names may be connected in any list proposed for your sanction, by placing their names triumphantly at the head of the poll.

I am, Fellow-Ratepayers,

Yours faithfully,

A QUIET OBSERVER OF FACTS.