On Saturday, however, came the declaration of the poll for
South Warwickshire, which had taken place on the previous day ; and the result was so intoxicating a stimulus to the hopes of the Tory Members, that the political situation was changed in a moment. Mr. Sampson Lloyd, the Conservative can- didate, had appealed to the desire of the farmers for reciprocity, in other words, for a duty on corn. The agricultural interest is, as every one knows, in extreme depression; and the occupiers of houses rated at 212 are in no hurry to give votes to the agricultural labourers. Consequently, Lord William Compton, the Liberal candidate, suffered a heavy defeat. Mr. Lloyd was returned by 3,095 votes, against only 1,909 given for Lord William Compton. As in 1880 the leading Conservative, Sir J. Eardley-Wilmot, beat the Liberal, Mr. Leigh (who obtained the second seat), by only 114 votes, the Conservatives have a fair right to be elated by their victory. And elated they certainly are up to that point at which sober judgment becomes hardly possible.
