The return of Mr. Paget for South Leicestershire by a
majority of 33 was officially declared this day week, the issue having been doubtful to the very last moment. The Liberal victory shows, as we explained last week, an enormous Liberal gain since the contest of 1841, the last conteet,—when the Liberals were simply nowhere. This gain is partly explained by the great increase of Liberal voters in the environs of Leicester—the new suburban populations being,— as we suspect they will prove to be still more when the county qualification is lowered to 12/.,—predominantly Liberal. This, however, is by no means the whole explanation. Mr. Paget was far superior to Mr. Pell in personal qualifications, and, what is still more gratifying, the Liberal gain in many thoroughly rural districts has been very large.