The Express.
London, England, 1857-07-22 00:00:00

OXFORD BLECTION.

DECLARATION OF THE POLL.
Ty EMMY EVINING.
The polling commenced this morning at 8 o'clock,
and continued with unabating vigour until 4 in the afternoon.
Towards the middle of the day it breams manifest that Mr.
Cardwell's friends had not over-rated the right hoe. gentles
man's chance of success, and at 4 o'clock their expectatirns
were realised. The victory was nut emily earned, and but
for the conduct of some of the liberal party, who voted foe
Mr. Cardwell, the result would have been in favour of Mr.
Tharkemv. Considerable excitement prevailed in the town
after it had become known that Mr. Cardwell wao rue esprit!,
and acme violent behaviour was exhibited by the rabble, but
nothing furth, r than a few broken windows and i haira in
the vicinity of Mr. Cordwella committee-room took place.
The following statement from Mr. Thackeray's committees
room will show the state of the poll at each hour of the day,
commencing at 9 o'clock :
Thackeray. Cardwell.
9 o'clock
10 „ 429 443
11 „
612 686
12 „ 728
804
1 " 801 86.5
4 .
$ _ . 9.5.5
At 6 o'clock, at the Town-hall, the Novo', as returning
officer, gave out the official state of the poll, viz. :
Cardwell 1,08.5
Thackeray
Majority for Mr. Cardwell _67
Mr. PIKE, the chairman of Mr. Canlwell's committee, rose
to return thanks on behalf of Mr. Cardwell, but each a deter-
minfatign was expressed nut to hear him, that he desisted, and
sat down.

Mr. THA( • then mane forward to address the meet-
ing, and was received with loud and prolonged cheering.
He said—Give me leave to speak a few words to you on
this occasion, for although the red, white, and blue are my
Meads, I hope to make the blue and yellow my friends also.
Let me tell you a little story, but a tree one. Some years
ego, when boxing wits more common in this country than it
ii the prevent time, two celebrated champions met to
fight • battle on Moniseythenth. Their names were
0111 y and °region. They fought the moat tram-
Sou battle that bad been known for many long
yeas, and °region got the worst of it. (Laughter.)
As he wee lying on his bed some time after-
wards, blinded, and hie eyes closed up, ho wilted •
Mend to give him something to drink. A person in the
mom handed him some drink and grasped him by the hand.
"Whose hand is " Liked Gregaon. "'Tie Jack Gully's,"
war the reply. Now, Gregeon was the man who was beaten
and Gully was the conqueror, and he woe the first nom to
shake him by the Land, to show that ho had no animosity
%mind him. (Cheers.) This should be the conduct ef ell
loyal Englishmen—to fight a good fight, and to hold no ani-
mosity ageinst the opposite side. (Loud cheers.) With this
feeling (proceeded Mr. Thaekeray) I go away from Oxford.
With this feeling I shall have redeemed one of the promises
I made you yesterday; the other I cannot by any pessibdity
answer, because, somehow or other, our Bide has come out
a little below the other tide. (Lioghter, cheers, end
groans.) I with to shake )Ir. Cardwell by the hand,
and to congratulate him on being the representative of this
greet city. (Cries of " No, no !" " Yes, yea!" and greens
and hisses.) I say it is a victory which you ought to be
proud of; it is • battle which yon ought to be proud of
who hare taken part in it; you have done your
duty nobly and fought most gallantly. I, a man
who was unknown to most of you, and who only came
before you with the recommendation of my 'Ale and
excellent friend, Mr. Neste (cheer.), hove met with many
friends. You have fought the battle gallantly against great
influences, spinet an immense strength which have been
brought against you, and in favour of that honoured and
respected man, Mr. Cardwell. (Cheers, !dews, and green.)
Stop (exclaimed Mr. Thackeray) don't bum When Lord
Month came down here and addressed the elector+, he wee
kind enough to say a kind word in favour of mc. Now,
that being the case, don't let me be outdone in courtesy and
generosity, but allow me to any a few words of the reaped
and cordiality which I entertain for Mr. Cardwell. As for the
party battle which divides you, I am, gentlemen, a strangers
for I never heard tho name of certain tradesmen of this city
till I come among you. Perhaps I thought my name was a
little better known than it is. You, the electors of Oxfoid,
know whether I have acted honestly towards you, and you
on the other side will say whether I ever solicited • vote
when I knew that rote was promised to my opponent; cc
whether I have not always said—" Fir, keep your wordi
here is my hand on it, let impart good friends." (Loud cheers.;
With my opponents I part so. With others, my friends.
I part with feelings still more friendly, nut only for the
fidelity you have shown towardsme, but for your noble
attachment to the gallant and tried friend whole you did
know—(lend cheers)—and who I hope will be your repre
sentative at some future time. (Cries of "Bribery.') Don't
cry out bribery; If you know it prove it; but as I em inno-
cent of bribery myself, Ido not choose to fancy that other
men are not equally loyal sod honest. (Cheers.) It matters
very little whether I am in the Howie of Commons or not
to prate a little more; but you hive shown a great spirit, a
greet resolution, and great independietee, and I trust at some
future day, when vou are better anpiainted with Toe, when
you know me better thou yon do now, you will be able to
carry your caws to a more tueeeetful isaue (Laud cheers.) Be-
fore I cams to Oxford I knew there was a certain question
' that would go against me, and which I would not blink to be
made a duke or a marquis to-morrow. In March last, when
I was at a diuner in Edinburgh, some friends of mine asked
me to stand for the representation of their city. My answer
was this :—" That I was for having lb* people amused after
they bad done their worship on a Sunday. (Cheers.) I
knew that I wee speaking to a people' who, of all others,
were the most open to irruptes on that point, but I did my
duty as a honest man, and stated what my opinion tees.
(Cheers.) I have done my duty honestly to this city, and I
believe that is the reason why I am placed in • wins'
rite, but lam contented to bow to that chasm. I told
year that I was for allowing a men to here harmlett plea-
sures when be had done his worehip on Sunday. (Cheers.)
I expected to bare a hire, but they have taken a more
dangerous shape—the shape of Blonder. Those gentleness
who will take the trouble to read my books—and I shall be
clad to have as many of you for subscribers se will mine
forward—will he able to say whether there is au=
in them that should net be reed by aurae'.
army own, or by any Christian man. I say, on this
I erili melee, and take my place, with my pen end Val
my desk, and hare to Mr. Cardwell n Liminess which
am sore he understands better then I do. (Cheer*.) Het
Thick/ray concluded by proposing a vote of thinks to
=err, sad the yruceedings shortly afterwards tee'