The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-27 00:00:00

CARLIciL E TLECTION.

'Pls. ~.umaleuceet at 8 o'cloAc yesterday
morning. Duriwthe whole of the previous night
the zealous partisans of the two candidates peram-
bulated the streets, looking after doubtful voters,
and challenging each other with party cries of
" Blue" and " Yellow" when they met: At 8 o'clock
numerous " tallies" of voters issued from the com-
mittee rooms of the respective candidates to try and
lead the majority. At 9 o'clock Mr. Hodgson's
committee issued a statement, giving the numbers
as follows :—Hodgson, 265 ; Potter, 170 ; majority
for Hodgson, 95. At 10 o'clock they issued another,
showing the numbers—Hodgson, 420 ; Potter, 338 ;
the majority having thus decreased 13 in an hour.
At half past 10 Mr. Potter's committee issued their
first return of the state of the poll, showing for them
a more favourable state of things. Their numbers
were—Potter, 400; Hodgson, 450 ; majority for
Hodgson, 50. The excitement throughout the town
increased es the narrow and decreased majority
indicated the severity of the contest. At 11 o'clock
Mr. Potter's committee issued another statement.
The numbers were—Potter, 419 ; Hodgson, 457 ;
majority for Hodgson, 38. A quarter of an hour
later another statement reduced Mr. Hodgson's
majority to 23, and at half-past 11 it fell to 17. At
noon the numbers were—Potter, 471 ; Hodgson,
483 ; majority for Hodgson, 12. At a quarter past
12 the majority was reduced to 9, and at half-past
12 it was 6. The announcement of the state of the
poll at half-past two, with only a majority of 3 for
Mr. Hodgson, was loudly cheered by Mr. Potter's
supporters. At three o'clock the tables were turned,
Mr.PottEr's committee issuing a statement showing
a majority of 3 for Mr. Potter. The announcement
was loudly cheered by the immense concourse of
people who now filled the streets. No more state-
ments were issued before the close of the poll at
4 o'clock, when Mr. Potter's committee claimed a
majority of 1 vote, the numbers being 523 for Pot-
ter, and 522 for Hodgson. The announcement was
received with enthusiastic cheers, and the crowd,
which was one of the greatest, if not the very
greatest, ever seen in Carlisle, took up their posi-
tions before the hustings.
Mr. W. N. Hodgson, the Conservative candidate,
first appeared in the hustings, and the cheering of
his supporters seemed to indicate that they claimed
the victory. About half-past four Mr. Potter and
his immediate supporters were seen making their
way through the crowd, who received them with
the greatest enthusiasm, waving hats and loudly
cheering. This showed the crowd how the events
of the day had turned. Mr. Hodgson had by this
time left the hustings. The deputy Mayor an-
nounced the numbers as follow :

Potter
Hodgson.

536
533

Majority .... 3
The Deputy Mayor then declared Mr. Potter
duly elected. A. scrutiny was demanded on behalf
of Mr. Hodgson, but we believe that a scrutiny can
only be obtained by petition to the House of Com-
mons.

Mr. POTTER, briefly returned thanks. He felt
the responsibility of his position. The only pledge
he would make was that he would do his duty by
the electors. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. LAWSON, M.P., who was received with loud
cheeri, said—Electors of Carlisle, I congratulate
you on the great Tory reaction. (Laughter, and
loud cheers.) This " stranger" has become your
member. (Cheers.) The men of Carlisle have
shown they do not care who the man is or where ho
comes from ; they look at what he is. (Prolonged
cheers.) Mr. Potter has declared himself a
thorough and an honest Liberal. He goes to Par-
liament to carry out those great principles which
arc dear to the Liberal party. I believe he will be
true to them, and that while he has been during
this contest the popular candidate, he will prove
himself in the House of Commons the member for
the people. (Prolonged cheering.)
A vote of thanks was given to the Deputy Mayor,
and the proceedings terminated. The crowd was
afterwards addressed from Mr. Potter's headquar-
tsra by figyeral