NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE German elections of Monday have ended in a victory for the Government. There is still some difference of opinion as to details ; but according to the best accounts, the Government have in the first ballots obtained 196 votes, and the Opposition, including the Centre, the Liberals, and the Socialists, 141. This leaves the Government a majority of 55 until the second ballots are taken ; and as they will be delayed for a few -days, the Government has summoned the Reichstag for Thursday, When the Septennate Bill will, it is expected, be passed without debate. At the second ballots the Government majority will be greatly reduced, the Socialists having directed their followers to vote for Liberals ; but the popular journals admit that Prince Bismarck will have a permanent, though small majority, as long as the Conservatives and National Liberals vote together. The Liberals have suffered most, losing nearly all their leaders, except Virchow and Eugene Richter ; and the Socialists next, they having been driven out of Saxony and the smaller cities. 'They have carried half Berlin, and their total vote has increased, it is asserted, by nearly half-a.million ; but the votes of all other parties have increased also, the poll everywhere having been the highest on record.
