The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-17 00:00:00

TUESDAY.—The Russell Ministry has triumphed. In spite
of a most vigorous and determined opposition, Mr. Macaulay,
the Goverament candidate, has been returned by the over
majority of 903 votes. The numbers at the close
of the pull stood thus:—
Macaulay- 1,735
Smith
Majority - 903
The hotel number of electors who voted is not more
than 2,567, considerably under one-half of the whole con-
stituency.
The majority thus secured is considerably beyond the ex-
pectation even of Mr. Macaulay's committee. • Up to Satur-
day afternoon they were not alarmod, but anxious—not
anxioiff as to the ultimate result, but anxious in the antici-
pation of the contest being much closer, the majority much
smaller than has actually turned out. Things were in a
vague, uncertain state. All manner of discouraging rumours
e altogetherd, if
nprospectsy
soofm
et hw eh a Liberalt
hazy.
On Saturday evening, however, matters somewhat mended.
prevailed. The reports from the different districts were
tclotuhiley,
candidatedoub f u l ,
looked,
The speeches at the hustings on. Friday began to tell. The
Tories openly stated that they would take no prominent part
in the election. Sir Culling Smith's hopes fell, and Mr.
Macaulay's prospects—not, we repeat, of success, but of a
great majority—brightened.
Monday saw this state of things continuing to become
more decided. The Catholic electors held a meeting, and
determined unanimously to support Mr. Macaulay. It be-
came certain that the Tories would not interfere. Then
another split took place in the Stnithean forces. The Free
Church folks in Scotland swear by Fox Mauls. He is one
of their most unflinching champions and greatest guns. His
presence, therefore, on the field as an active partisan of Mr.
Macaulay, his personal influence in the canvass, and the de•
cided nature of his speech upon the hustings on the occasion
of Mr. t)ibissii Craig's election, told powerfully, and the con-
sequence was a considerable reaction last night and this
tuurisi ng in favour of Mr. Macaulay.
The polling began briskly at eight o'clock. Mr. Macaulay
at once took a decided lead, and maintained it to the end.
The excitement was considerable up to - about • noon. .• Sir
Culling Smith's committee gave out that their champion was
rising on the p.ll eve- y hour. The assertion was true, in one.
sense; but as Mr. Macaulay happened to be rising two votes
to the elaynoodi-dreading Baronet's one, it was difficult to
see the practical advantage of his upward progress. By one
o'clock it was evident that Mr. Macaulay's majority would be
overwhelming. The' excitement then gradually abated.
Votes conic up less rapidly. Sir Culling Smith's people pub-
placards, urging the electors to vote for him, were it
only to have the s;tti,faction of registering their naines• as
champion* of true-blue Presbyterianism. The satisfaction
in question, however, did not seem to be at all in de-
mand. Sir James Forrest looked as dismal as he did when
he woke on the morning of the Queen's arrival, and Mr.
Blackaibter's (of anti-Sundav travelling notoriety) aspect
justified the compound signification of his name. Mean-
time, Mr. Macaulay's affairs went merri'y as a marriage
bell; he could have brought up many more supporters than
these who actually polled in his favour, but it was unneces-
sary. The battle had been fairly fought and fairly won.
The reserve was not required. Two, three, and four o'clock
ra.sed slowly by, and in a few minutes after the latter hour,
the decisive majority was announced from the windows of
Mr. Macaulay's committee-room, to the expectant crowd
v-ithout, and hailed by a tumult of cheering. The old and
new member then made his appearance on the arm of the
Lord Provost. A cry was raised of To the hustings—to
the hustings," and straightway there was a tremendous rush,
from Hunter-square up the I.ligh-street, to the spot where
the important platform has from time immemorial stood
The crowd was soon dense, and presently Mr. Macaulay,
with his hat in one hand, and his umbrella in the other,
made his way. We never saw a man looking more honestly
and heartily delighted through the throng which opened a
line for him towards the hustings. His appearance was the
signal for a renewed burst of acclamation, and after the noise
had partially subsided he spoke as follows:
Mr. MACAULAY—I cannot express to you, Gentlemen, the
joy with which I have listened to these acclamations—a joy
of no selfish kind. They prove to me that the feeling which
the poll of this day ir.dicates is confined to no particular
class.—(Cheers.) They prove to me that the whole;popu-
lation of Edinburgh is penetrated with approbation of these
great principles for which we have contended, and in the
cause of which we have triumphed.—(Loud cheers.) Most
painfute-most humiliating indeed would it have been, and of
evil omen for this great country, could we have believed the
contrary.—(Cheers.) When we consider the place which
Scotland occupied among civilised nations—when we con-
sider the place which Edinburgh occupies amongst the cities
of Scotland—formerly the seat of legislation and govern-
ment, still intellectually and morally the capital of a great
and enlightened people—it would have been strange indeed,
if, in such a city, an appeal to reason against prejudice—an
appeal to the great
_principles of religious liberty, principles
to which no good Protestant ought ever to be unfaithful—
should not have been successfuL —(Cheers.) I shall carry with
me into my place in Parliament—l shall carry. with me
into the councils of her Majesty, a mind strongly impressed
with this important truth—that the people of your great
city are attached with equal firmness, and on grounds equally
conscientious, to the Protestant religion and to the prin-
ciples of religious freedom.—(Cheers.) I trust that no part
of my future conduct will appear to you inconsistent with
either the one or the other of these two great principleswhich
have done'so much to mske your country what it is.
Long -and loud cheering hailed the termination of this
short and pithy-address; and then the Right Him. VeMber,
still hare-headed, was escorted by a numerous and enthusi-
astic crowd down the High-street, across the South and
North Bridges (stopping only to honour the Lord Provost's
shop with a hearty cheer), to hissesidence at Gibbs',s Hotel,
roAt_
Thus closed the first disputed election semen has taken
place in Edinburgh since 1835, and the only disputed election
of any member of the new Administration. The triumph
has been signal, sod the Smithitea are, as they deserve to be,
terly di-consolate.
We subjoin a detailed account of the state of the po
,hroughout the day :

NINE O'CLOCK.

Macaulay
Smith
TEN O'CLOCK.

Macaulay
Smith
ELEVEN O'CLOCK

Maciulay 1,095
Smith
TWELVE O'C LOCK.

Macaulay
Smith

1,305
616

ONZ O'CIAJOK.

Macaulay
Smith

1,465
695

-. ..... 1,549
769

~.. 1,667
.... 780

1,735
832