The Returning Officer, said, any gentleman whose name might occur in the discussion should certainly be heard in explanation.

Sir John Campbell was glad to hear that declaration from the worthy Returning Officer, as he could then have no difficulty in naming the gentlemen to whom he alluded, and calling upon him to explain the circumstance he (Sir J. Campbell) was about to detail.

The Returning Officer said if Sir J. Campbell was about to bring forward any matters of accusation against private individuals, he would rather that he refrained from so doing. He did not think the present the time for discussions of that matter.

Sir John Campbell said he purposely and advisedly put the question to the Returning Officer, as he was unwilling to mention the name of any gentleman, as connected with certain transactions, unless the party accused had an opportunity of defending himself. He should certainly, under such circumstances, not mention the names of those who had been guilty of the most disgraceful intimidation; but if the ballot should be introduced, he could with safety predict that it would mainly be owing to the exertions of the Tories. (Cheers.) Supposing it should be introduced at the next election, they would doubtless then congratulate the people of Dudley upon the ballot as they now did upon the elective franchise. The learned gentleman said he knew of many acts of intimidation, but he was happy to say that in several instances they had proved unavailing. He then went on to state, that since the last time he had presented himself before the electors of Dudley he had accepted office under the Crown. Enjoying the confidence of His Majesty’s Ministers, and the favour of his Sovereign, he had been appointed his Majesty’s Solicitor-General. He thanked God, however, that he believed he lived in times when no collision was likely to occur between the duties of the King’s Solicitor-General and the electors of Dudley. (Cheers.) The British constitution, when in healthy operation, worked harmoniously together, the privileges of the Crown and the rights of the people being equally for the protection of both. Could any charge be brought against him for accepting office under Lord Grey? Did the people of Yorkshire censure Lord Brougham, after his election for that county, for accepting the Lord Chancellorship? No; when in office he laboured only still more efficiently to carry into effect the measures he had advocated and promoted when out. He (Sir John) assured the electors of Dudley that he would not hold office one moment longer when he found by so doing he was compromising the liberties, interests, and happiness of the people. (Cheers.) The moment he found he could not hold it consistent with his principles he would resign. (Cheers.) The learned gentleman next proceeded to reply to Sir Horace St. Paul on the Russian-Dutch Loan, and to defend, in eloquent terms, the Government on that question, of which he gave a succinct history. The fact was, when Lord Grey with his ministry came into power, they found a treaty in existence, made by their predecessors the Tories, and which they found they could not fail to fulfil without a complete breach of national faith. Almost the whole of the Tories admitted that according to the spirit they were bound to pay the guarantee to Russia, and it was only by a quibble such as had been brought against his friend Mr. Braidley, that they attempted, for the purpose of embarrassing the ministry, to set it aside. As to the Greek Loan, that, too, was a job of the Tories; but he confessed, unlike most Tory jobs, he approved of it, for it was nothing more than a guarantee, if necessary, to enable the Greeks to withstand the Tories of Turkey and the Conservatives of Constantinople. Every nation of Europe that possessed one spark of liberty was anxious that the Greeks should be emancipated from the slavery of Turkish tyranny. Sir John next entered into the Belgian question, and defended the policy of the British Government at great length. He described the present state of affairs in Holland and Belgium as the result of Conservative influence in this country. With regard to the colours which the hon. baronet remarked were so conspicuous in the distant vista before him, he (Sir John Campbell) was not surprised at his consternation. The banners of the Solicitor-General were to be seen at almost every house in the long street opposite the Market-hall. He had no doubt, though he was the last man to inflict pain, that the hon. baronet was literally appalled at the fearful exhibition which then presented itself before his astonished eyes. (Cheers.) If they could walk through the streets of Dudley, they would find 200 similar flags; flags all bearing the emblem of British loyalty—the crown; all denoting respect and admiration to King William IV. (Three cheers for the King.) The learned gentleman, after a long and eloquent speech, called upon the electors of Dudley to come speedily to the poll. He assured his opponent he should not make any vexatious opposition, nor demand the administration of any unnecessary oaths. Sir John Campbell concluded a speech of about an hour and half in length amidst the most vehement cheering.

After a few observations from Mr. Hawkes, a late opponent of Sir J. Campbell for Stafford, the Returning Officer put the question as to the nomination of the two candidates, when it was decided by a large majority for Sir John Campbell. The friends of Sir Horace St. Paul immediately demanded a poll, which was fixed to commence at 8 o’clock on Tuesday morning.

The meeting then broke up, and the supporters of the Solicitor-General walked in procession through the town.

(From the Times, December 12th, 1832.)

1832. At the time the late Mr. Thomas Hawkes won his first political spurs, as M.P. for old Dudley; he was the head of the glass trade in this town, and we could then boast of having five large glass houses in full operation in our midst, employing at the time upwards of 1,000 hands. Since that time the glass trade has nearly departed from Dudley, and we have now only one glass works amongst us—viz., that highly respectable firm of Messrs. John Renaud and Son, at the foot of Tower Street, once the celebrated firm of Messrs. Guest, Wood, and Guest. The glass trade seems to have migrated to Wordsley and Brettell Lane, for that is now a large centre of glass manufactory.

The establishment of a Mechanics’ Institute in Dudley during the last fifty years has undergone many phases of decline and prosperity, for at this early period a feeble effort for securing and maintaining a Mechanics’ Institute was made by holding a Reading and Lecture Room, with a touch of political debate, in New Street; and the late Rev. John Palmer, A.B., Unitarian Minister, took great interest in its promotion, and his subjoined lecture, delivered to the Institute on Monday, October 14th, 1833, testified his energetic efforts in its promotion.

LECTURE ON THE ADVANTAGES
OF
UNITING SCIENTIFIC WITH PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE,
IN
ARTS AND MANUFACTURES.