25 MAY 1878, Page 3

The election for the county of Down terminated on Saturday

in the return of Lord Castlereagh, by a majority of 1,375. The

numbers were,—Lord Castlereagh (Conservative), 6,076 ; Mr. Andrews, Q.C. (Liberal), 4,701. Lord Beaconsfield immediately telegraphed the " encouragement " the election had given him, and the Tories were wild with delight. There was, however, no great occasion for congratulation. Mr. Andrews had been selected by the tenant-farmers to come forward as the representa- tive of tenant-right, and their votes and a few thoroughly Liberal votes he no doubt got ; but all the other parties were combined against him,—Roman Catholics, who wanted more denominational-

ism in education than he could approve,—Orangemen, for whom he was far too liberal ; Teetotallers, for he objected to the Permia-

sive Bill, at least, without full compensation to Licensed Victuallers ; Home-rulers, whose nostrum he dislikes ; land- owners, whose power he would undermine. Lord Castlereagh rained promises on his supporters ; and his conspicuous position in the county helped him, of course, greatly. The wonder is that Mr. Andrews made so stout a fight. Lord Castle- reagh took as his motto, " Live, and let live," and some very clever political verse was fired off at him by the Irish, who understand this sort of thing. This last verse, for instance, of a very good squib, is not bad :-

" No, 'Live and let live,'—that's the text to instil ; That's for landlord and tenants the only true plan. He there finds a licence to ' live,'—as he will ; And they a permission to live,'—as they can."