February 11th, 1854. A very sharp contest took place this day for South
Staffordshire, betwixt Lord Paget and Lord Ingestre, which ended in
a majority of 1568 votes for Lord Paget, the Liberal Candidate. Lord
Ward, a Conservative by induction, who can command this constituency,
by some unexplained reason, threw the whole of his weight and influence
into the hands of the Liberals, hence the result of the election. We
had again another pitiable exhibition of territorial influence in
Dudley and elsewhere, ordering to "do as you are bid," leading the
liege vassals to do battle in a cause which it was too well-known that
all utterly abhorred.