MAY 24—Festivities at Hewell, continuing during several days, to celebrate the attainment of Mr. Robert Clive’s majority. Several dinners in the tennis court, dancing parties among the labourers, treats to the school children, &c. JULY 3—Mr. Pierpoint brought forward a motion, at the meeting of the Worcester Turnpike Trustees, for an amalgamation of the different districts, so as to enable the poorer roads to get out of debt. This was opposed by the gentlemen who lived in the more lightly taxed districts, and lost on a division by 18 to 10. AUGUST 11—The first Worcester regatta. AUGUST 30—A fearful collision occurred at the Defford station; first in a luggage train dashing against another that was being moved to a siding, and then in the down train dashing into the wreck of the luggage train, and becoming itself a mass of confusion. Three passengers lost their lives, and several others were injured; one engine was smashed, and several carriages were set on fire. The coroner’s jury laid a deodand of £1,500 upon the engine, because there appeared to have been much negligence on the part of the officials. NOVEMBER 7—A brick maker, named Humphrey Willis, having become intoxicated, wandered on to the railway at Stoke Prior, and was killed by the night mail train. DECEMBER 25—Abberley Hall, the residence of Mrs. Moilliett, destroyed by fire. LOCAL ACTS—The Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway Act. To enable the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway Company to make a branch at Stoke Prior, and for other purposes. To make and maintain a road from Stanford bridge to Ham bridge, Clifton-on-Teme. 1846. SIR ROBERT PEEL having, from the failure of the potato crop and the imminence of famine, become convinced that the Corn Laws could no longer be maintained, resigned office in December, 1845, and resumed it again for the purpose of carrying Free Trade measures when Lord John Russell had failed to form a Government. His measure for a gradual reduction of the duties on corn was ordered to go into committee, after twelve nights’ debate, by a majority of 337 to 240. After the settlement of the new commercial policy, the Government was defeated by a union of the Whigs and Protectionists, in a proposal to carry a bill for the repression of outrage in Ireland; and this was followed by Sir Robert Peel’s retirement from office, which had for some time been foreseen as unavoidable. Lord John Russell then became Premier. Consols averaged 95½; wheat, 54s. 8d. JANUARY 13—St. Matthias’ Church, Malvern Link, in the parish of Leigh, consecrated by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese. £130 were collected after a sermon by his lordship. The total cost was £1,700, and it will seat 350 persons.