We, the undersigned, request the Independent Electors of the
Borough of Dudley to meet at the Old Town Hall, to-morrow, at
One o'clock, to consider what steps can be best taken to secure
the Independence of the Borough, and to enable the Electors to
exercise their free and unbiassed judgment in the choice of
their Representative.
Isaac Badger
W. Robinson
W. Haden
J. Renaud
Thomas Badger
J. G. Walker
J. Beddard
J. Owen
J. Walker
Thomas Steedman
W. Wilkinson
G. Smith
Joshua Wilkinson
Gilbert Shaw
Thomas Shaw
Joseph Owen
James Darby.
_March 23rd, 1857._
The Political ball had now been set rolling by both parties in this
unnatural contest, but men in Dudley had learnt the old adage--"that
misfortune makes men acquainted with strange bedfellows," therefore
they had accepted their dubious lot at all hazards, and it soon became
evident that Mr. Sheridan was the idol of the Non-Electors, whose
potent influence was brought to bear with great persistence upon the
thousand Electors. Mr. Sheridan was found to be free and pleasant and
spoke well on the platform; he was admirably schooled in political
knowledge, and he knew how to please the wives as well as the voters.
Meetings by both Candidates were held almost hourly, for there was no
time to lose, and the screw that was put on at head-quarters was both
unmanly and ungenerous, causing a large number of former Conservative
voters to declare their intention to support Mr. Sheridan, the
Independent Candidate. However, before the Nomination day arrived,
(March 28th) Mr. Sandars had found out that his cards had been seen
by his opponents and that he was playing a losing game, calculated to
damage his aspirations at some more acceptable Borough, he therefore
issued the following address, which promoted H. B. Sheridan, Esq., to
the distinguished position of being elected the Independent Member for
the Nominee Borough of Dudley.