ABSTRACT
Thackeray for some time past had been looking for a constituency that would elect him as its Parliamentary representative, and when Mr. Neate (Professor of Political Economy), the member for the city of Oxford, was unseated in June 1857, for what Thackeray called ‘a twopennyworth of bribery which he never committed. Thackeray started up with an oath, and rushed down to the street, notwithstanding the efforts of some old electioneerers who wished to hold him back. He was next seen towering above the crowd, dealing about him right and left, in defence of his opponent’s partisans, and in defiance of his own friends. The first day of the election Thackeray made a really good speech, part of which is well worth reproducing for its biographical interest. Of course to-day every one is delighted at Thackeray’s defeat, for if ever a man’s defeat were a gain for the world, the Oxford election must occupy a prominent place in such annals.
