Reading maintains its early reputation as a town whose population is evenly balanced between that of a town of trade and commerce and of private residents. In the days of one good John Kendrick, who left many charities, Reading was a town of weavers; but, owing to the absence of distressed weavers, or, indeed, weavers of any kind, most of the charity has been claimed by colleges. The residue of this charity was recently applied to the erection of a Grammar School. The chief industry at this time is that of biscuit-baking, and William Palmer, of the firm of Huntly and Palmer, is "the good Samaritan " of Reading. His brother, George Palmer, and the Right Hon. G. J. Shaw-Lefevre are the two M.P.'s (Liberal) for Reading. On the last occasion of an election, the seat was contested by Albert G. Sandeman, Governor of the Bank of England, and an eminent wine merchant. The polling was as follows:—Palmer, 2513; Lefevre, 2286; Sandeman, 2067. The Conservatives have recently established the Wellington Club, as a stronghold for another attempt to gain one of the two seats on the first occasion.
Source: The Illustrated London News, July 8, 1882, p.45