The Elections have gone decisively against Mr. Gladstone. On Thursday
week, as we reported in our last issue, the first borough election, in Colchester, showed an increased Conservative majority for the Conservative candidate. On Friday week, the gains and losses of each party were equal, but it was noticeable that the majorities for the Unionists were in general increased majorities, while the majorities for the Gladstonians were in general diminished majorities. For instance, even Lord Randolph Churchill, whose violent and discreditable election address had alienated all reasonable men, was returned for Smith Paddington by an immense majority ; -and at Barrow-in-Furness, Mr. Caine found himself with a larger poll than he had polled in April. At Bedford, Mr. Whitbread only kept his seat by the narrow majority of 23 votes. Even at Bolton (in Lancashire), the Gladstonians were defeated by a greater majority than the Liberals had been in November last ; and only in two or three places like Liverpool, Manchester, and Leeds, where the Irish vote is strong, did the Ministerialist party gain clear ground.
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