As soon as the session opened, a petition was presented against Mr. Bailey’s return, and a scrutiny of votes took place before a committee of the House of Commons, which was ballotted for March 31st, and consisted of seven Tories and four Whigs; Mr. J. E. Denison (Nottinghamshire) being chairman. After a sitting of eleven days, fifty-five votes were struck off by the petitioners, and forty by Mr. Bailey, still leaving that gentleman in a majority of one; and the petitioners then gave up the struggle, in consequence of several adverse decisions on the part of the committee. The following is a summary of the votes struck off on each side: BY THE PETITIONERS. BY MR. BAILEY. Pauper votes 33 Pauper votes 8 Personation 2 Change of qualification 17 Employed and paid 11 Employed and paid. 9 Change of qualification 8 Not registered 3 Wager 1 Dead before election 1 Wagers 2 55 40 Objections not admitted. 16 Objections not admitted. 4 The petitioners alleged three cases of bribery on Mr. Bailey’s part, but failed in the proof; and the votes of a number of Mr. Bailey’s professional agents, objected to by the petitioners, were retained, in consequence of the memorable evidence of one of their number—that their services were all gratuitously rendered. The conduct of the petition was intrusted to Mr. John Hill, and by him managed most admirably. The expenses were all covered by the subscriptions, which had been previously raised, and that almost entirely among the citizens themselves. Mr. Bailey’s expenses are said to have been £16,000. The expenses of the election itself were but trifling. Of course the greatest excitement prevailed in the city during the progress of the petition, and Mr. Bailey’s party had great rejoicings on the issue. In September, 1836, a dinner was given by the Worcester Conservative operatives to Mr. Bailey, at the Theatre. 427 persons sat down to table, and there were many spectators. The chief speakers were Mr. Bailey, Mr. Spooner, Mr. Pakington, and Mr. John Dent. There were great congratulations on the “reaction” which had taken place in the city, as elsewhere, in favour of Toryism. Immediately afterwards (October 24) the operative Reformers got up a great dinner in the Town Hall, to refute the cry about “reaction.” Eight hundred persons sat down to dinner in the outer hall, 500 in the assembly room, and others at different inns. Mr. Arrowsmith was in the chair; supported on his right by the Mayor, and on the left by Colonel Davies. The whole party met in the outer hall after dinner (this being brilliantly lighted up for the occasion), and a number of appropriate toasts were given.