The Unionist Party has suffered two serious losses this week in the de.the of Viscount Ridley and the Earl of Hardwicke, Lord Hardwicke, who was in active business as a stockbroker before he received a Ministerial appointment, was Under Secretary for War and was re~ garded asa very promising Minister. Lord Ridley, of course, ceased to hold office when Lord Salisbury reconstructed his Cabinet, but.as Sir Matthew White Ridley he was regarded as a capable Homo Secretary. He held that office at the time wien the Beek petitions came before the Department, but as they never reached ands he cannot be hell la any way responsible for the blunder which was committe'. His death creates @ vaconey at Stalybridge, which was represented by his son and heir, and there is likely to be a lively by-election there.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.