in no slight degree to the strong desire prevalent amongst a large number of electors to secure the return of a resident member, and also to the extreme division which had occurred amongst the radical reformers.

The fourth election for the borough took place July 26 and 27, 1837, when all grades of the radical reformers united in supporting John Fielden, Esq., and Major General Johnson. The Conservative candidates were John F. Lees, Esq., the late member, and Joseph Jones, jun., Esq., of Wallshaw house. The number of electors on the revised list for 1836 - 1837 was 1372. The poll continued open a few minutes beyond three hours, when the Conservative candidates retired from the contest. The numbers at the close of the poll were as follow: Johnson, 548, Fielden, 544, Jones 305, Lees 273; total majority for the radical candidates, 275. The total number of votes polled was 1670, and the number of electors who voted 857. John Fielden and William Augustus Johnson, Esqrs., were, therefore, elected the members on this occasion. Mr. Johnson, a retired major-general of the army, resident at Wytham on the Hill, in Lincolnshire, had been selected as a candidate for his known attachment to the principles of Mr. Cobbett. He is the lineal descendant of the Rev. Robert Johnson, Archdeacon of Leicester, a great benefactor to the county of Rutland, who married the only daughter of Dr. Lawrence Chadderton, of Chadderton, near Oldham.

At the last general election which occurred on the 30th of June, 1841, John Fielden and Wm. A. Johnson, Esqrs., were elected the members for Oldham without opposition, The returning officer for that year was James Whitehead, Esq., solicitor, and the number of electors on the revised list at that period was 1467.

During the entire progress of the reform bill in 1831 and 1832, and for several succeeding months,

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