NEWS OF THE WEEK.
TH-F1 Elections during the week have more than answered our expectations, though they have proved, in several instances, in Forfarshire, in Brigg (Lincolnshire), and in Mid-Norfolk, how very unsafe it is to rely on by-elections for any inferences as to the real opinion of the constituency. In all three cases, the constituency has returned to its Glad- stonianism, though it gave the omen of coming defeat to the Gladstonian party. Nevertheless, we have long passed the moderate estimate of 120 majority which we anticipated last week, and we believe we shall achieve almost a majority of 150. As we write it is already 144. In Wales and Monmouthshire we shall have 8 seats instead of 3, as the Unionists have gained seats in one Welsh county (South Glamorgan) and four boroughs, Swansea, the Cardiff District, the Carmarthen District, and the Pembroke District. In Scotland we have not made so much progress as we had hoped; but we have won Argyllshire, South Ayrshire, Dumbartonshire, Roxburgh- shire, Stirlingshire, Elgin and Nairn, South Edinburgh, the Ayr Burghs, the Falkirk Burghs, the Inverness Burghs, the Kil- marnock Burghs, and two divisions of Glasgow, thirteen seats in all; while we have lost Dumfries-shire, Forfarshire, North- West Lanarkshire, Linlithgowshire, and Perth, leaving us a net gain of 8 seats. But North of the Humber is still the Gladstonian country, though we have won a few of its strong places ; and the Midlands is still the great Unionist country. One of our most remarkable victories is that in North Worcester- shire, where a minority of no less than 2,158 has been turned into a Unionist majority of 588. Where Mr. Chamberlain is the predominant influence, there Unionism wins its greatest pitched battles.
