2-979-682 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The City of London Election in Guildhall: Lord John Russell, M.P., returning thanks, 1857. 'Lord J. Russell, accompanied by various members of his committee, entered the hall, and took up a position on the hustings, amid loud cheers, which were vigorously renewed as the Guildhall clock indicated the close of the poll...[He] said: "Gentlemen - You are no doubt aware that the time for the members returning thanks is when the poll is declared on Monday, and, as Baron Lionel Rothschild is not here, I should be very unwilling to make a speech at the present time, in his absence. Still, gentlemen, as we have a pretty good guess what the state of the poll is (Cheers), let me observe to you what was remarked to me in the course of the polling to-day, that this is a soldiers' victory. This is the people's battle - the people have won it and no one else (Loud cheers)".' From "Illustrated London News", 1857.