Nominations: Wednesday, 18 January 1860, Polling: Friday, 20 January 1860
Candidate
Votes
Votes %
Faucett, Peter (Elected)
1,346
50.32
Stewart, Robert
1,315
49.16
West, John
14
0.52
Formal Votes
2,675
Informal Votes
0
0.00
Total Votes / Turnout
2,675
35.35
Cause Category: Resignation - Other
Notes: Charles Cowper resigned on 17 November, a week after winning the previous by-election in this seat. (Resignation letter in SMH 14 November 1859, p.1 col.7.) His ADB entry notes his weariness after his time in government, and throughout his career Cowper had a tendency to resign from Parliament when he was not in receipt of ministerial income. Cowper was to be appointed to the Legislative Council in March, where he served in the Robertson Ministry and re-entered the Assembly at the general election in December 1860. It should be noted that the nomination of the Reverend John West was a joke on the husting, he being the very conservative then editor of the Sydney Morning Herald.
Source: SMH, report of nominations 19 January 1860, pp.4-5, results 21 January, p.6 col.5.