The by-elections of the week have not been unfavourable to
the Government. The Unionists carried the Romford division of Essex, but by a diminished majority, 683 (7,573 for Mr. A. M. Wigram, against 6,890 for Mr. J. H. Bethell), as compared with 1,182 in 1892 for the Conservative candidate, Mr. Theobald. In the Wisbech division of Cambridgeshire, the Gladsionian, Mr. Brand, was returned again by a majority of 136 (4,363 for Mr. Brand, against 4,227 for Mr. Sackville), which was a gain of 14 on the majority of 1892. In this case, Mr. Brand may have owed his election partly to the disgust felt by the Unionists at the rude treatment of Mrs. Brand by some of the roughs on their side. On the whole, the evidence seems to show that the new Government is not yet losing ground, but that the constituencies are waiting to see how it goes on. It is probable that the Budget may determine the view which the country takes of the Rosebery Adminis- tration.
