NORTH HANTS, ELECTION.
[FROM OUR REPORTER.]
SECOND DAY'S STATE OF THE POLL.
WINCHESTER, WEDNESDAY.—This morning both parties were stirring early to bring up voters; yet for the first two or three hours very few were seen at the hustings for either candidate.
It was stated here this day that Mr. Portal's majority at Kingsclere yesterday arose from the chief part of the tenants of the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of Carnarvon tendering their votes at that polling-booth. At Basingstoke, those renting under Lord Bolton, of Harkwood House, voted for Mr. Portal. At Odiham and Alton the great landed proprietors and game preservers opposed Mr. Shaw's return with all their influence; while at Andover and Winchester the majority of those left to vote as they wished recorded their votes for Mr. Shaw, who had the interest of Lord Portsmouth, through Newton Fellowes, Esq., of Hurstbourne Priors, as well as that of Ralph Etwall, Esq., late M.P. for Andover; Wm. Etwall, Esq., of Longstock House; Colonel Ironmonger, of Longparish, &c.
To show the indifference among the farmers and others as to the result of this election, we need only observe that, out of more than 5,000 persons having the franchise for North Hants, not more than 1,400 yesterday availed themselves of that privilege, or nearly three out of four stood neutral on the first day.
Taking into account that the northern parts of Hants has always been considered as the stronghold of Protectionist principles, where the farmers have hitherto been ruled at the will of their landlords, most persons wonder how Mr. Shaw obtained so respectable a minority. Such a minority, added to the number who did not vote at all, leads to the conclusion that had all the voters been free to record their votes as they wished, Mr. Shaw would have been returned by a considerable majority.
| STATE OF POLL | |||
| SECOND AND LAST DAY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4. | |||
| Portal | Shaw | ||
| Winchester | 4 o'clock | 189 | 208 |
| Basingstoke | 4 o'clock | 160 | 102 |
| Andover | 4 o'clock | 133 | 186 |
| Alton | 3 o'clock | 170 | 104 |
| Bishop's Waltham | 4 o'clock | 39 | 166 |
| Kingsclere | 3 o'clock | 179 | 85 |
| Odiham | 4 o'clock | 192 | 104 |
| Petersfield | 4 o'clock | 48 | 92 |
| 1,110 | 1,047 | ||
| Majority for Portal 63 | |||
Two returns for the last hour, have not been received at the hour for closing this despatch. This city is in considerable excitement, some persons asserting that Mr. Shaw has a trifling majority.
(See also
05 Apr 1849 Final results
04 Apr 1849 1st Day results)