The contest between Conservatives and Liberals in the county of
Elgin, for the seat vacated by the elevation of Lord Macduff to the Peerage, which has excited great interest in Scotland, has ended in a decided victory for the latter. A very large portion of the country is owned by the Duke of Richmond and other Conservative landlords, and their factors accompanied the Tory candidate, Mr. Brodie, of 13rodie, on his canvas, and, it is said, obtained a large number of pledges ; while his opponent, Sir G. M`Pherson Grant, was obliged to trust to the known feeling of the electors. It was believed, therefore, up to the polling-day, that many of the tenant farmers' would stay away, and that Mr. Brodie would be returned. The farmers, however, were per- haps emboldened by a feeling that in these hard times they would as soon lose their farms as not, and they not only returned. Sir G. MPherson Grant, but raised, the Liberal vote from the 829 given to Lord M.acduff at the last election to 959. It is to be noted, however, that this number was not taken from the Conservatives, who also were enthusiastic, and polled 701 votes, against 619 given to the last Tory candidate. The con- versions took place among the indifferents. The issue put before the electors was distinctly the foreign policy of the Government. -
Previous page
