10 FEBRUARY 1883, Page 1

The Liberals lost Haddingtonshire on Monday, by a large majority,

Lord Elcho being returned by 492 votes, against 400 given for Mr. Finlay. This is the worst beating the Liberals have had since 1865, and the majority against us is more than double that of 1880. The reasons are simple. Lord Moho went almost as far for the tenant-farmers as Mr. Finlay, while Mr. Finlay went almost as far for the Church Establishment as Lord Ekho. At a bye-election especially, the Free-Church party appear to have felt themselves almost called upon to emphasise the importance which they attach to a settlement of the issue between the Free Church and the State Church of Scotland.