was destroyed by fire in 1909. Hick held the Bolton seat until 24 March 1880 when as a result of ill-health, he chose not to stand for re-election. Hick was a liberal Conservative in favour of education based on religion, a supporter of the general principles of the Education Act 1870 and an adherent to the view that religious and secular education should not be separated. As a Conservative he was a member of the Carlton, Conservative and St Stephen's Clubs. He was actively involved in debates about the welfare of people working in factories with steam boilers and in May 1870 chaired a Select Committee to investigate steam boiler explosions; following the report in August 1870, Hick introduced a Bill "...to provide a more efficient remedy to persons injured and property damaged by the explosion of steam boilers through negligence". In April 1871 he seconded a motion by Colonel Barttelot (1820–1893), Conservative MP for Sussex Western 1860–1885, for a Select Committee "...to inquire into the merits of the Martini-Henry Rifle...whether it is the most suitable rifle as compared with others now manufactured to arm our troops with." and debated Supply – Army Estimates, June 1873 drawing attention to the improvement of heavy ordnance. As a parliamentarian he was frequently consulted by Government on subjects relating to armaments and the construction of boilers for war-vessels. Hick also served on a Select Committee appointed June 1874 to investigate the testing of chain cable and anchors for the Navy, and debated Railway accidents – the adoption of continuous brakes, June 1879. As a director of LNWR, Hick defended the railway's position, stating he "regarded all automatic machinery with distrust". About July 1870, Hick was trustee to the estate of former Bolton mayor and MP Stephen Blair with Thomas Lever Rushton, William Hargreaves and others, empowered to build and furnish a 'free hospital for sick persons without limit of domicile'. Blair Hospital, now demolished was built on land donated by former mayor James Knowles at Bromley Cross. He was Deputy Lieutenant for the County Palatine from 1870 until death and on taking up residence at Mytton Hall, Justice of the Peace for Whalley, Lancashire, he rejoined the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in 1871, proposed by Frederick Bramwell and elected a Member of Council in 1872, a Vice-President of the institute from 1874 to 1876. For his contribution to the 1873 International Exhibition at