The Liberals in Austria have suffered heavily at the elections.
They will still retain a majority, but it will be an uncertain one, and will probably disappear in the first Session. The change is attributed to the desire of the electors that Constitutional questions should be left alone, and that the Reichsrath should devote itself to practical legislation, but it also shows a decline in the public mind of the dislike felt by the Liberals for pro- vincial liberties. In Bohemia and Gallicia the great pro- prietors who best represent Conservatism have compromised with the Czech and Polish parties, and everywhere they
are understood to be friendly to the authority of the Pro- vincial Diets. The main impulses, however, have undoubtedly been impatience of the sway of the "Professors "—who, it is said, have done nothing but talk--and a reaction in favour of the gentry, who, it is hoped, will insist on legislation for " practical" objects. That means, we imagine, that Austria feels the pre- vailing depression, and that the people think fiscal legislation will relieve it.
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