from Radical or Tory clubs. Political influence is bad enough in municipal contests but political dictatorship is abominable. It now amounts to this; for if a Liberal votes for a man whom he thinks is fit for office, but who has not the honour of being a H.I.P.S. nominee, that Liberal is denounced forthwith a renegade and exposed to the taunts and insults of hirelings whose only knowledge of public duty is associated with the purse or the pot. I hear that the dominant club mercifully intends that a few Conservatives should find a place in the Council some day. This intention is urged as a proof of moderation and cited as an illustration of the way in which the said club is cruellly slandered! Merciful H.I.P.S.! Blessed moderation! - a new version of 'stooping to conquer!' - bending because they can't stand upright. The best thing they can do is to let municipal elections alone, and fight together. Now the dominant faction is only disgusting the better portion of the party, to carry unworthy schemes in unworthy ways. Let the ruling minds of local faction beware. They are not everybody. Nor will slander, personal detraction and private plotting either raise their character or give them permanent success.
— I am, Sir,
Yours Truly,
A Thorough Radical
Mechanics' Institution
At a quarterly meeting of the Hastings Mechanics' Institution on the 7th of May, the accounts showed a favourable balance of £9.15s., and that although 130 new members had joined, 150 had left, thus leaving the number on the books 354.
The Lectures delivered on behalf of the Institution were "Insects in relation to Man" by W. R. Selway, of London, Jan. 21st; "Nitrogen Gas" by Mr. J. Banks, Feb. 19th; "Pneumatics" by J. E. Butter, March 3rd; "Sound" by J. G. Langham, of Uckfield, March 10th; "Fifty years ago" by Rev. G. Stewart, March 31st; "Carriages" by James Rock, jun., April 13th; "Non-Metalic(sic) Substances" by J. Banks, April 27th; "Great Men" by Rev. Geo. Stewart; Nov 3rd; "The Telescope" by J. Banks, Nov. 10th; "Fossil Botany" by J. Stidolph of St. Leonards, Nov 24th; "Shakespeare's Julius Caesar" by W. Ransom, Dec. 8th; and (a reading) "The Play of King John" by M. Beaumont. Dec. 22nd.
The Soireé - The annual - or it might be said, the triennial gathering of the friends of the Institution took place in the Assembly room of the Swan hotel on the 27th of October, the number of persons present being less than half what had been expected and provided for. G. Scrivens, Esq. presided and was supported on the platform by Messrs. F. Roc, J. Banks, W. Ransom. M. Vider, T. H. Cole and Rev. J. Stent, all of whom addressed the meeting, during the intervals not devoted to-
