The Gladstonians carried on Wednesday the St. Austell Division of
Cornwall, vacated by the resignation of Mr. Borlase, a very strong Gladstonian. But whereas Mr. Borlase was so sure of his seat that it was not even contested in the interest of the Unionists in 1886, for hie majority over the Conservatives in 1885 was more than two to one,—Mr. Borlase having polled 4,464 votes against 2,183 for Mr. Johnstone (majority, 2,281),— on the present occasion the majority was only 211. Mr. Brydgea Willyams, the Unionist candidate, polled 3,329 votes, against only 3,540 given for the Gladstonian, Mr. MacArthur. The poll, too, shows that a great many electors abstained. The total poll was, indeed, somewhat larger than in 1885,—namely, 6,869, against 6,647 in 1885. But, in the first place, the present register contains a thousand more electors than the register of 1885. In the next place, Mr. Borlase's victory was so secure in 1885 that a great many voters probably stayed away, in the confidence that their votes
would not be wanted, which was certainly not the case on Wednesday. It is stated on the spot that a large number of agricultural labourers who would not vote against Mr. Gladstone, were yet so determined not to vote for Irish Home-rule that they declined to vote at all. The poll, therefore, must score very heavily for the prospects of the Unionists in the South of England.
