The elections for the French Councils-General, which play towards the
Prefects of Departments the part which the Chambers play towards the general Executive, have gone en- tirely in favour of the Republicans, who have gained 80 seats and lost 33. According to the correspondent of the Times, "a semi-official table represents the successful candidates as consisting of 557 Republicans, 477 Radicals, 83 Socialists, 54 `Rallied,' 29 Nationalists, and 209 Conservatives." The majority against the Opposition is therefore overwhelming, though 85 seats remain to be fought by second ballot, but it must not be forgotten that the minority of electors may be much heavier than is patent from the returns. If half France, plus about 100, voted for the Republic the country would seem to be unanimously Republican. Some leading Reactionaries, like M. Baudry d'Asson, have lost their seats. The verdict is the more noteworthy because the peasantry often elect men to do local work who would be too eonserva- tive to represent them in the Chamber, and because in the South the Clericals have always had local influence. It is noted, however, that Senators and Deputies are favourite candidates, taking the place, in fact, of the old local aristocracy.
