The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-17 00:00:00

THE LORD .REC7ORSHIP OF THE UNI-

VERSI7Y OF GLASGOTV.

(From the .North British Hail of Saturday.)

To-day immense excitement was caused among

the matriculated students of our ancient University
by the fact that the election of a Lord Rector was
to take place. Such an event in past times has
always caused great stir, but on the present °ma •
sion the excitement has been even greater than
usual. This has arisen in part, no doubt, by the
pre-eminent names which have been brought for-
ward as candidates for the honour, and still more,
perhaps by the strong party feeling which exists in
the University at the present time. Lord Palmer-
ston was brought forward by the Liberal Associa-
tion, and Lord Glencorse, the Lord Justice Clerk,
was nominated by the Conservative Club; and it is
only doing justice to both bodies to say that they
worked as hard for their candidates as men could
do. This was exhibited in a variety of ways.
Night after• night did they hold meetings to impress
the claims of their nominees upon the wavering
electors, and during the day several of the members
of the committees gave up their classes, and for a
fortnight back threw their studies to the winds, in
order to canvass for votes. How far this has been
successful may be guessed from a reference to the
number who voted for each candidate.

The result, it will be seen, is in favour of Lord
Palmerston, who has gained the high honour of
Lord Rectorship by a majority of 82 votes, there
being a majority for him in three Nations, and a tie
in the fourth. In the latter there would also have
been a majority for him, but for the fact that a
student lost his Library ticket, and before he could
obtain another the poll had closed.
The following is the state of the poll at its close :
For Lord For Lord
Palmerston. Giencorse.
Natio Glottiana 174 167
Natio Rothseiana 127 89
Natio Loudoniana 123 86
Natio Transforthana 132 132

556 474
showing a majority for tord Palmerston of 82.
The poll was opened at 10 o'clock, but two hours
before that time the chief supporters of each candi-
date were astir marshalling their forces. By nine
o'clock the excitement became quite perceptible in
the vicinity of the University, and subsequently it
increased rapidly, so that a few minutes to eleven
o'clock, when the outer gates of the College were
shut, a grand rush was made inside the walls of
the University. Up till this time the scouts sent
out to bring in waverers had been very busy.
These gentlemen extended themselves over the
city, and wherever they saw any one wearing the
garb of their particular party they immediately
lugged him off post-speed to the poll. Their labours
ended to a great extent at eleven o'clock, but after
that hour a few of the keenest remained in High
street to direct any stray but late voter how he
might get inside the university, namely, by climb-
ing overlthe outer walls in Vennel or in Blackfriars-
street. By these means, accordingly, a number
gained admission and recorded their votes in time,
as the poll did not close till 12 o'clock, although the
front gates were shut an hour earlier.

The following telegram, addressed to Mr. Moodie,
a member of the Conservative Club, was received at
the University from Lord Palmerston on Friday
afternoon :
" I have written to Lord Belhaven to explain why I am
unable to accept the honourable office of Rector if offered to
me."

This telegram added greatly to the excitement, as
it was looked upon as an artful dodge by the sup-
porters of the Lord Justice• Clerk to gain the election
by stratagem. Accordingly, bills in profuse num-
bers, were isued by the Liberal Association, de-
nouncing the telegram as a trap, and warning the
supporters of Lord Palmerston to give no heed to it.
They also placarded the walls of the city, near the
College with such bills as these—" Vote for Palmer-
ston," " Palmerston and Victory," Palmerston, the
friend of Italy,"" Who's Inglis ?" In fact they used
every means in their power to thwart any damaging
effect which the telegram might have had.lt was aptly
reasoned by them—what right had a Conservative
to write to Lord Palmerston, and ask him whether
he would accept the Lord Rectorship if elected ?
and supposing he had declined, would he not corn
municate with his supporters ? They made up
their minds from the first to disregard the rumour,
and show the Conservatives that they would carry
their man, let the upshot be what it might.

As was to be expected the contest was keenest in
the Glottiana Nation, or among the matriculated
students belonging to Lanarkshire, they being most
numerous. It was in fact a neck and neck race
until the close, when Lord Palmerston's supporters
had only polled seven more than their opponents.
Next in importance and in keenness of competition
displayea was that of the Transforthana Nation, in-
cluding the students from Shetland, Orkney, and
from the counties of Caithness, Sutherland, Ross,
Inverness, Cromarty, Moray, Nairn, Banff, Aber-
deen, Perth, Forfar, Kincardine, Clackmannan,
Fife, Kinross, Argyll, Stirling, and Dumbarton.
Up till the last moment both parties in this Nation
fought with much energy, and one minute after the
poll closed a student with a pink cap on tendered
his vote for Lord Palmerston, but which of neces-
sity was refused. Of the other two Nations, that
of Rothseiana, including students from the counties
of Bute, Renfrew, and Ayr, had the largest num-
ber of votes, and showed no less a majority for Lord
Palmerston than 38. The Loudoniana Natiot stu-
dents not included in the districts embraced by the
others, polled 123 for Palmerston and only 86 for
Inglis, being a majority of 37 for the Premier.