t4t. Vraciarti.-

The election of the new Council of the University of Oxford took place, in the Convocation House, on 'Tuesday morning. Pirst, the votes for the six Heads of Houses were taken, and then the poll was closed, and the names of the chosen were read up by the Vice-Chancellor-, next, the Pro- fessors were elected, and thirdly the Residents ; the names of each sec- tion being read up at the close of the poll, as in the case of the Heads. The following was the result. For (he Heads—Dr. Williams, Warden of New College, 126 votes ; Dr. Scott, Master of Bailie', '106 votes ; Hawkins, Provost of Oriel, 101 votes ; Dr. Gaisford, Dean of Christ- church, 93 votes; Dr. Jenne, Master of Pembroke. _74 votes ; Dr. Sy. mons, Warden of Wadham' 70 votes. 'professors—Reverend R. Hussey, B.D., Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History, 146 votes; Reverend E. B. Pusey, D.D., Regius Professor of Hebrew, 104 votes • G. B. Dan- beney, D.M., Professor of Chemistry, 100 votes; Reverend E. Cardwell, D.D., Camden Professor of Ancient History, and 'Principal of Alban Hall, 99 votes ; Reverend I. M. Wilson, B.D, Profess& of Moral Philosophy, 79 votes; W. F. Donkin, M.A., Savilian Professor of Astronomy, 79 votes. Residents—Reverend H. L. Mansel, B.D., St. John's, 82 votes ; Reverend J. B. Mozley, B.D., Magdalen College, 71 votes; Reverend T. P. ,Lightfoot, D.D., Rector of F.xeter College, 64 votes; Reverend B. Michell, RD., Magdalen Hall, 60 votes; Reverend 0. Gordon, B.D., Christeburch, 60 Totes, For the sixth place two sandiclates received equal numbers Reverend C. Marriott, .B.D., Oriel College, 56 votes; Reverend M. Pattison,. RD., Lincoln College, 66 votes. After much consultation, the Vice-Chancellor only declared the five first named dulY elected. Yesterdalthe Congregation proceeded to elect the sixth membdi • when the Reverend Charles Marriott, B.D., Oriel College, was dedl duly elected. He obtained 70 votes; his competitor, the Reverend Mr: Pattison, B.D., Lincoln College, 65 votes. 'The arierlitcy iiirtheittreieritatiofecif -Frontie' hag 'Wen' tilled-11P* the- election'of "Ord .Diingarven.' ' 'Ph-ere-were two eindidatetiLord I van, the son of the late Lord Dungarvan, and grandson of the Earlal Cork, a Liberal-Conservative, opposed to the ballot ; and Mr. Donald Nicoll, of Regent Street, late Sheriff of London, a.profesaor of Liberal politics, including the ballot. Lord Dungarvan had a "family" interest in the borough; Mr. Nicoll a cloth-manufacturing -interest. He loudly condemned' Tractstrianism " represented.at-Frorne by the Reverend Mr,., Bennett; late of St. -Pours knightsbridge. At the nomination, on Satur- day, Mr. Nicoll gained the show of hands.: but at the Ipoll, on Monday,.

he was defeated.; the numbers at elm* being—Tamp/wan, 181; Nicoll, 129.

A committee at Sheffield proposes to originate a new "National party." Besides the Sheffield men, who held a meeting last week, Mr. George Cravrshay was present as a deputation-from-Newcastle. This projected

arty is to be-based on-the following affirmations— "-1. That, in theopinion of this meeting, it is the most .urgent 'duty of all Liberals' in England to-take means -to insure that 'their principles be. re- spite. ted by the Government in their foreign policy. 2. That such diplomatic deipatches as Government are in the habit of publishing in blue books, fin theiiiformation.ef Parliament, .should be published weekly -in the Gazette,. or made accessible to Members of Parliament, -as is the ease .in the-United States; and that means be taken to insure that a resolutionto this effect be submitted to Parliament in the next session. 3. That it is the opinion of this committee that no treaties with foreign powers should be concluded be- fore Parliament has had an opportunity of considering them, and that this is especially indispensable in all treaties relating to the present war. 4. That as local self-government is the basis of all-rational freedom and progress, the thorough development of the principle be one of the main objects of this committee."

Major Beresfordhaving been present as a guest at the'Colchester Oys- ter Feast, on the 20th, took that occasion publicly to retract in the fullest manner the unbecoming expressions which he had uttered in a moment of. Warmth against Sir James Graham, and to praise Sir James for his moderate and manly conduct.

The lord President of her Majesty's Couneil has been appropriately i spending some.part of his leisure n -furthering the cause of education-at Bedford and'Bristol.

The Bedford Literary and Scientific Institution celebrated -its anni- versary, last week, by. a soirée ; at 'Which Lord John Russell, Sir Hamil- ton Seymour, Baron -Parke, Sir D. Dundee; the Duchess of Bedford and a partyfrom Woburn, attended. The Mayor of Bedford filled the chair, and the chief guest was the -chief orator on the occasion. Lord John Russell spoke-on the theme that " Mechanics' Institutions greatly tend to benefit the people of this conntry, by cultivating their minds, refining their tastes, and improving their social habits." But he soon got away from this to a wider field—the causes of the decline and fall of states.

Referring to Macaulay's description of -the New-Zealander standing on a broken arch of London -Bridge sketching-the ruins of St, Paul's,. he asked what necessity there was for making.such a disagreeable prophecy ? States have fallen because they were not strong enough in .a military sense : that cause does not operate on England, which is great enough and strong enough to maintain herself for ages to come. Luxury-caused the. fall of fleece: luxuries are now more -abundant than .ever, but we do not.,find -that they make men ihrink.fromahe endurance of ,hardships—that, for instance, the gentlemen of her Majesty's Household Brigade have shown any unfitness to contend against the enemy in the Crimea. Despotism is another source of decay, but there is no danger of that -in England ; -and anothertause,, personal slavery, we have long been rid of. Other causes there are, such as political events and war, which may overset all calculations. But it behoves us to maintain our liberty and ourreligion •' and nothing will -lead to that so much asthaealtiration of the mind, thefullest.researches on all subjects, the most complete freedom. "It is not enough to say that opinions are very erroneous, and-must he-forbidden 'because they areso mischievous. The only true freedom is that -which is complete and universal."

. Sir Hamilton Seymour roused the audience.by-a war speech; predicting a- changnin the 'moraland political state of Europe by-the check which has been given to Russia.

The 'Bristol festivity took place on Wednesday. The business inland wamthe inauguration of the new Athenasum; and the ceremonies of the day began with a dejeuner and finished with a soirée. - Mr. Philip Miles M.P., President of the. Athenteum, filled the. chair on both occasions, and Lord John Russell was the chief guest, The other guests included the borough Members, and sothe county notables," the Bishop of Gloucester, Lady John Benoit, Sir Robert Peel, the AttorneyaGeneral, and Mr, M.D. Rill. Lord Min spoke briefly, in the evening, on the spread Of educa- tion; and then, turning his attention to one topic—history—he described how thernis a great void in our literature, which a true history of England, giving an account of our .struggles for religion and liberty, and our

achievements in literature, alone-can-supply. In showing how various authors are deficient, he fixed chiefly. on 'Hume ; Who, he said, could not do juitice to our literature, because his taste was French; nor to liberty and religion, because he did notaymplithize with either. "-I have endeavotred shortly to show you . why I come to the canblusion that among the wants of the'literatureof-this-country we-need some author who-will' write-the history of this people with a. due appreciation of their great qualities; who will celebrate, as they -ought to be celebrated, men who have been eminent in literature and science; who will appreciate, as they might to be appreciated, the- contests which the great men of former daya fought at the sacrifice -of their limbs .and. of -their lives in order to obtain freedom for-us; and who will appreciate likewise that liberty of conscience by-which a people, so great in other respects, have made themselves dewy- - ing of everlasting remembrance. He who shall attempt this work—he who shall attempt to give us such a history—will it least not have the mournful, rellectipn Of sonic of the Greek and Roman histotians, that; while they were depicting the virtues of pant -.days, they were describing wpeople who pee- ceased virtues whieh'had. altogether disappeared ;- for we-can say that, up to this time at least,'we value out liberties, that we appreciate the- benefits' which -we-possess, and that the last three months have shownwith regard. to valourin arms that there never was a time when Englishmen-stood-more- justly distinguished than they do at present, , -The Bishop of .Gloucester eulogized Lord John's efforts on -behalf of education; and Sir :Robert-Peel dilated on the advantages springing from. Methanics' Institutions, and -the. beneficial influence of early closing and half-holidays upon the -character rif the Working population. The meeting 'appears to have been altogether satisfactory and successful.

Meetiogs.to collect subseripttens for theFatrietic Fund have-been-held - duriag the week in most of the large provincial towns ; and the spirit everywhere displayed shows the strong union of all classes in sympathy for their brethren in the field.

Some of the reports from the manufacturing districts are not quite sa- tisfactory. The price of India cottons is so much reduced that it is believed the manufacturers continue the make orily to avoid -the worse alternative of closing -their mills and throwing their capital idle. At Darwen and Blackburn some of the mills are working short time, -and others will follow. The labour.anarket of South Staffordshire continues remarkably-good, and the colliers and workers in iron are contented. The gun-trade of Birmingham is in a critical state. Government, in conse- quence of the delays at Birmingham in turning out guns, have given an order for 20,000 at Liege : it is feared that the formation of a Govern- ment factory for small-arms-will be the next step. Last week the Man- ber of persons receiving poor-relief in Birmingham parish exceeded the number at this time-last year by 608. At Nottingham trade is inactive ; the glove .branch. at Leicester is depressed ; and the worsted trade of Bradford is "still dull."

The Reverend John Allen Giles, D:C.L., of Batupton in Oxfordshire, has been held to bail by the Witney Magistrates on a charge of having solemn- ized a marriage in his church, between six and seven o'clock in the morning, without a licence or the publication of banns. The persons married were Richard Pratt, an apprentice, and Jane Green, house-maid to Dr. Giles. The only persons present at the ceremony beyond the couple were Dr. Giles and Master Arthur Giles, his son. The entry of the marriage was subse- quently signed by Charlotte Lair, servant to Dr. Giles, who was not present at the ceremony. The motive for the offence charged is not stated : Dr. Giles is said to have arranged the marriage himself: and he showed to Jane Green a paper which purported to be a licence. A second charge of a similar nature, the offence having occurred last year, was made against Dr. Utica; but it was not fully entered upon.

Mr. Nicholson, a chemist's assistant at Norwich, has made an awkward mistake. At Rackheath, on a moonlight night, he beat Mrs. Ives with a stick while she was walking near her own house. When brought before the Magistrates, he admitted his offence, and explained why he had committed it : Mrs. Ives was dressedin white, with her shawl over her head ; he was startled by such an apparition in the moonlight, thought it was a boy play- ing a trick, and forthwith administered correction. Mr. Nicholson was al- lowed to compound with Elm Ives for his rashness.

Mr. George Harman, a builder of Lewes, has been run down and 'cut in two by a train near the town, at night. Be was seen standing on the relit, but there was not time to stop the train. Ile was subject to spasmodic fits; during which he was unconscious ; and it is supposed that he wandered on to the line while thus afflicted.