Mr. F. Smith was returned for the Strand on Tuesday
by a majority of 3,006 votes over Dr. Gutteridge. Mr. Smith polled 4,952 votes, against 1,946 for Dr. Gutteridge. The poll was a rather light one,-6,898 in all. In 1885, the total poll was 8,131, and the Conservative majority 3,159. In 1886, the total poll was 6,562, and the Conservative majority 3,546. So that on Tuesday the total poll was slightly above that of 1886, but very much below that of 1885. Mr. F. Smith did not obtain the full majority which his father got on each occasion of a contest ; but of course he had not the same hold over the electors, and as everybody knew that there was an absolute certainty of his return, there was no fear of defeat to goad on the Unionists. After all, a majority of more than 2i to 1 is satisfactory enough, though the Gladstonians try to be proud of having slightly diminished the magnitude of the majority. They are hardly so thankful for small mercies as they endeavour to appear.
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