NARRATIVE OF POLITICS.

THE Right Honourable Henry Labouchere has been
appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, in the
room of the late Sir William Molesworth.

Sir Charles Napier has been returned for Southwark
in the room of the late Sir William Molesworth. There
was no opposition; Mr. Scovell, who had stood for the
borough, having withdrawn from the contest.

Mr. Gladstone delivered a lecture on the Colonies
at Chester on the 12th instant. The bulk of his audience
were the members of the Mechanics' Institution,
but many distinguished persons of the neighbourhood
were also present. He discussed the origin and history
of our colonies, enumerated their advantages to the
mother-country and the world, and maintained the
principle that they ought to be free, and that their
affairs should be administered by themselves. In
conclusion he said, "Defend your colonies against foreign
aggression; regulate their foreign relations: these
things belong to the colonial connexion with this
country. Of the duration of that colonial connexion
let them be the judges. If you leave them that freedom
of judgment, it is hard to say when the day will come
when they will wish to separate from this great
nation."

A Court of Common Council was held on the 29th
ult. to consider a motion respecting the Reform of the
Corporation of London. Mr. Fry moved the following
resolution—"That it be desirable to co-operate with
her Majesty's government in passing through parliament
a bill for the reform of the Corporation, founded
upon the resolutions agreed to by this court on the
24th of February 1854; that the Remembrancer be
directed to prepare the draft of a bill in conformity
with the above resolution to be submitted for the
approval of this court; and that a conference be held
thereon with her Majesty's government." This motion
raised considerable opposition. It was thought that it
would be a waste of time to send a bill to parliament
founded on those resolutions. Mr. Cox moved an
amendment which he subsequently withdrew, to the
effect that the resolutions should be reconsidered seriatim.
Ultimately, Mr. Fry's motion was defeated by
the adoption of two amendments. Mr. Bezley moved
"That no further discussion take place until the court
have the government bill before them." Carried by
38 to 30. Mr. Jones moved that a committee should
be appointed to confer with the government on a bill
for a reform of the constitution. Carried by 32 to
28. The following were appointed as a committee—
Alderman Finnis, Alderman Cubitt, Alderman Eagleton,
Mr. W. Jones, Mr. Abraham, Mr. T. H. Fry, Mr.
T. H. Hall, Mr. W. L. Taylor, Mr. T. Parker, Deputy
Hale, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Wood, Mr. Ross, Mr. Cox, and
Mr. Gresham.

The Political Refugees in Jersey have published a
protest against the banishment of the directors of the
newspaper L'Homme, filled with denunciations of the
Emperor Napoleon, and concluding with the words—
"Now expel us if you choose;" the British Government
ordered the whole of the thirty-four, including Victor
Hugo and his son, to quit the island within a week.

A meeting was held at St. Martin's Hall on the 12th
inst., to Protest Against the Expulsion of the Refugees
from Jersey. The following resolution was moved by
Mr. Washington Wilks, seconded by Mr. Ernest
Jones, and adopted without dissent.—"That this
meeting utters its indignant protest against the recent
expulsion of refugees from Jersey; and affirms that
foreigners landing in the dominion of the British Crown
become at once entitled to the natural and legal right of
Englishmen—a public examination and trial by jury
before exposure to any penal consequences. That this
meeting pledges itself and calls upon the country to
resist by all lawful means the apprehended attempt to
carry through parliament an act invalidating or restricting
the right of sanctuary."

Mr. W. J. Fox met his constituents at Oldham on the
24th inst.; nearly 2,000 persons were present. The
principal topic of his address was the War. He scouted
the opinions of the peace party, and concluded a
powerful speech with the following vigorous peroration:
"I rejoice that in this hive of industry, in this
borough which a hundred years ago was only a few
miserable hovels, but which has now a busy population
of 80,000 people—I rejoice that in this place where all
are at work, from the little factory girl to the great
capitalist—I rejoice that here, where you have men who
can win European honours for inventions and the
application of skill, and where you have also the multitudes
who by their daily toil earn their daily sustenance—I
rejoice that here, in Oldham, in the very heart and
centre of these great interests and of these influential
opinions which might lead in a different direction, you
declare yourself spontaneously, decidedly, and
unreservedly in favour of such a peace as war alone can win,
and successful war, against the great enemy and robber
of Europe. I say that such an admirable demonstration
from you will tell, it will tell throughout the country,
from John o'Groat's to the Land's End, that the great
manufacturing districts are not the focus of discontent
and indecision, or of the craven spirits begging for
peace at any rate, but that they are the abodes of men,
high-minded men, who are solicitous for the honour of
their country and for the deliverance of Europe. Where,
then, I would say, are the privations of war? This
country has shown itself, and brilliantly shown itself,
great in all the virtues of peace; it has known how to
increase its prosperity and make that prosperity the
means of blessings to other lands. It has won its way
to the foremost rank among the nations in literature, in
the arts and sciences; it has put itself forward, and
with justice, in its moral claims upon the world; it has
been generous in its reception of the fugitive; it has
been faithful to its allies, and it will not shrink back
on account of sufferings from the great and benevolent
object, I may call it, the great and glorious object which
it has in hand; but as there is a God that judges in the
earth, I trust we can rely upon His Providence to give
victory to the right, and peace, independence, and
freedom to the nations." Mr. Fox's address was loudly
cheered, and a vote of thanks to him was passed by
acclamation.

NARRATIVE OF LAW AND CRIME.

A DREADFUL Murder has been committed near Shotley-
bridge in the County of Durham. Mr. Robert Stirling,
a young surgeon, having completed his studies in
Edinburgh, was spending a short time with Mr. Watson,