Mr. Walter sat as the Liberal Member for Berkshire, but
has steadily supported Lord Beaconsfield. His seat is, therefore, attacked by Mr. Rogers, with a result which will be known to- night, but with a seriousness which has alarmed Mr. Walter. He made a speech on Wednesday which is one of the worst of the election. He declared that he could not see what a Government could do except what Lord Beaconsfield did, and admitted that he had supported him, but at the same time, he intended to support any policy, "foreign policy included," which Lord Granville or Lord Hartington was capable of suggesting. He did not name Mr. Gladstone. When pressed whether he would join in a vote of want of confidence, he declared that he would, if he could without making a retractation of his opinions on the Eastern Question. He would "most unquestionably, with all his heart," give a vote of confidence to Lord Granville or Lord Hartington, whose policy is diametrically opposed to the policy he has voted for. "These air my opinions, gentlemen!" said the American candidate ; "but gentlemen, if you do not like them, they can be changed." Mr. Walter's position is, no doubt, hampered to an extreme degree, but he would have kept his reputation better if he had said boldly that he declined to give any assurances, and stood upon his personal popularity. He has no right to Liberal votes, and should not ask them as a Liberal.
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