Esq., of Water side, Todmorden, an opulent cotton manufacturer, and William Cobbett, Esq., of London, the celebrated political writer, as their candidates. The latter delivered his first public address as a candidate for this borough, on Curzon ground, September 12, 1832, and the former delivered his first introductory speech in the same character, on the same site, September 15, 1832. The Whig party prepared a requisition in the early part of October to Benjamin Heywood Bright, Esq., of Bristol, a cousin of the present Sir Benjamin Heywood, Bart., of Manchester. Mr. B. H. Bright first appeared before the inhabitants of Oldham, as a candidate, October 11, 1832. On the 21st of October, 1832, the first court for the revision of the lists of electors for the borough, was held at the Angel Inn, before R. C. Hildyard, P. Heywood, and B. Atkinson, Esqrs., revising barristers. The number of electors qualified to vote, amounted after revision to 1131, namely: in Oldham 765, Crompton 147, Royton 110, and Chadderton 109. A fourth candidate of Conservative principles, appeared in the latter part of the following month, in the person of William Burge, Esq., ex-member for Eye, and colonial agent of the West India planters. Mr. Burge first addressed a select meeting of his supporters at the Swan Inn, November 26, 1832. The first borough writ for an election arrived on the 6th of December, and was immediately proclaimed in the Market place by the returning officer. Two days previous to the commencement of the election, a fifth candidate was introduced, George Stephen, Esq., of London, a nephew of the eminent Wilberforce, and solicitor of the Anti-Slavery Society, now the present Sir George Stephen. This gentleman was brought forward for the sole purpose of opposing Mr. Burge, in consequence of the connexion of the latter with with colonial slavery.

The first parliamentary election for this borough took place on Wednesday, the 12th December, 1832,

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