ENGLISH BOROUGHS AND COUNTIES.

ATLESEURY. A double return. Bernard, 552; Wentworth, 535; (3. Smith, 635.

BATH. Mr. Phinn has not been elected. The numbers were—Tits, 1346; Way, 1340; Phinn, 1194. BERWICK. The Tories have carried the borough. The numbers were— Gordon, 366 ; Earle, 348 ; Marjoribanks, 330 ; Stapleton, 257. BIRMINGHAM. The result of the election at Birmingham was antici- pated. The numbers were Scholefield, 4426; Bright, 4282 ; Acdand, 1544. It is remarked that Mr. Acland polled more than Mr. Muntz at his first election nineteen years ago. BRIGHTGN. The old Members arc returned—Pechell, 2322; Coning- ham, 2106; M'Nab, 1327. Bnisron. The Tories fought a hard battle, but lost the day. The numbers were Berkeley, 4432; Langton, 4285; Slade, 4205, BUCKINGHAM. Here the Tories of the old school were signally defeated, the modern Conservative taking the second place, the old Tory the third. 'Verney, 198; Hubbard, 196, Barrington, 147.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. The three old Members were reelected without a word of opposition on Monday. As might be anticipated, Mr. Dis- raeli made a long speech ; but not so racy, brilliant, and peculiar as some he has delivered from the hustings at Aylesbury. He touched slightly on the reform bill; but his greatest effort was to refute the charges made against the Government by Lord Palmerston. at Tiverton. These were two : that the Government should not have entered into an informal negotiation between France and Austria ; the second was that the Congress was an error because Austria would not consent to absurd conditions. Into these allegations Mr. Disraeli entered at length but with less than his usual felicity, and did not throw any new light upon these disputed points. The interesting passages in his speech wore, strictly speaking, episodes. Thus he dealt with the alleged secret treaty with Russia as reported in the Times. He said there was not the slight- est tittle of a foundation for the statements.

"There is no treaty existing between Prance and.Russia, there is noseeret treaty between France and Russia, there is no secret convention existing between France and Russia. (Loud cheers.) There is between France and Russia what may be called an engagement, which they were not bound ire any way to communicate to this country, but which was communicated ton. this country voluntarily some time ago by 'the French Minister for Foreign Affairs. It amounted simply to this, that, in case of a war between France and Austria, Russia should assemble an army of observation on her German frontier. Russia has as much right to assemble an army of observation on her German frontier as England has to send, as she is about to send, a com- manding fleet to the Mediterranean. (Loud cheers.) Both may be, pro- bably are, means to maintain peace rather than to make war. But I have further to acquaint you that we have felt it our duty not only to request and to receive those communications from the Governments of France and Russia, but we have gone even beyond this, and have asked the Russian Government what perhaps, according to the strictness of diplomatic eti-

quette we were not justified in asking, but which we asked in the confi- dence of a Power that always acts with frankness and straight forwardness

towards her allies—we have asked the Russian Government whether in case of a war between France and Germany ley have entered into any engage- ment to declare war against Germany. And wo have received from the Russian Government the most explicit and most unequivocal declaration that no engagement of the kind exists or ever has been asked. rou see, gentlemen, how necessary it is that a country should not decide in heat end passion. Why, the very same day it was also announced, on great au- thority, that there was a secret treaty between Denmark and France, with the same purpose. Every one sees what the object of that was—that the whole Scandinavian navy should probably be united to that of Russia and France, in order to destroy the supremacy of England. Well, we have made inquiries of the Court of Denmark. Denmark is our natural ally and friend, and I am bound to say a Power which has on all occasions of late exhibited the utmost friendliness and confidence towards England. And I have the very best authority for thus publicly stating that there is not the shadow of a foundation for that statement, and that if—which God forbid ! —we ever have to call on our allies and friends to rally round our standard and support the cause of freedom, truth, and justice, I look with the utmost reliance to the spirit of Scandinavia being enlisted on our side." (Cheers.) The policy of England is peace, but she must be prepared for war. "It is not in any boastful spirit, but with, I hope, the becoming pride of an Eng- lishman speaking to Englishmen, that I tell you what is our situation. You have in India 100,000 seasoned and valiant troops, such as the world, proba- bly never saw before,—certainly equal to that army which Wellington render- ed immortal. A great portion of that force ought to quit India for England. They are at our command , and if they come here it is not from the neces- sity of this country, but because the happy course of affairs in India and the position of the Indian Government make it desirable that they should return home. You have in England itself at this moment 100,000 men, not equal, perhaps, to those who have been seasoned in the illustrious campaigns of India, but disciplined, and I need not add brave soldiers, since they are your countrymen. I was told by one of the honourable gentlemen who preceeded me that nothing would satisfy him but that we should have a powerful fleet in the Channel. You will have, before aim weeks have passed, not only a powerful fleet in the Channel, but also a powerful fleet in the Mediterranean. What nation in the world, then, can compete with England ? He painted the distressed condition of foreign states and the prosperous condition of England. While they borrow 2,000,0001., we can obtain 20,000,0001. by a single tax. " When I know these things I am not intimidated by the leagues of kings and emperors. I know well that if there is to be a war of nationalities, of opinions, and of races—a war of revolution and reconstruction, we shall weather the storm.

i

(Cheers.) It will not be England that will suffer. It is- Europe that will be injured, Europe that will be desolated, and the very potentates whose pride, and ambition, and lust of conquest are bringing about this perilous state of affairs will find themselves at the end in an in- ferior position to that which they now occupy." (Cheers.) Mr. Disraeli spoke with great approval of his Reform Bill, and then showed his tact in silencing an interruption. "So far as dealing with this question in future is concerned I shall support no proposal for the improvement of the repre- sentation of the people in Parliament which does not involve these two great principles to which I have adverted—a large extension of the fran- chise and a due representation of those communities which are not at this moment represented, but which arc perfectly entitled to it by their intelligence, their numbers, and by their special interests. [A Voice —" What about the working classes ? What about the working classes ?"] Why, if you were the representative of the working classes, I should cer- tainly proceed with due deliberation in what I did. (Laughter.) But as the working classes generally are persons respectable for their industry, for their intelligence, and for their moral and social virtues, I should disap- prove of any reconstruction of the electoral body which did not offer a fair proportion of avenues for their admission. (Cheers.) [Here another ob- servation was made from the same quarter of the crowd, the perport of which did not reach us.] I suppose that is my old friend, Mr. Itetts ; but if you don't improve in your eloquence, you will certainly never get on in public life. [Laughter, and a farther inarticulate muttering from the same quarter.] I'll tell you what it is, Sir, if you go on making speeches like that I'll return you for a rotten borougli." (Loud laughter.)

Buns. Mr. F. Peel has defeated Mr. Barnes. The numbers were—Peel, 633 ; Barnes, 477. • CALNE. The Tory, Mr. Henly, had no chance. The numbers were— Lowe, 103; Henly, 35.

CRIUKLADE. Lord Ashley has been returned. The numbers were—God- dard, 745 ; Ashley, 743; Sir J. Neeld, 712.

DARTMOUTH. Sir Thomas Herbert has failed to carry this borough for the Government. The numbers were—Schenley 123 ; Herbert, 113. DEvoxpoirr. The old members are returned. The numbers were— Wilson, 1216; Perry, 1198; Ferrand, 1075; Peel, 1039. DOVER. The election here is said to have been more disgraceful and disorderly than any ever witnessed at Dover. London solicitors, Lon- don prizefighters, and probably London gold were called in. The de- claration of the poll was a scene of riot and tumult. The Liberals have been defeated. The numbers were—Leeke, 931; Nicol, 902 ; Russell, 788 ; Osborne, 752. Neither of the two Members could be heard. Mr. Osborne, however, succeeded in lauching some sharp words at his ene- mies, after an interval of uproar and contention. He said he should not regret being at the bottom of the poll had he been defeated in a fair stand-up fight.

- "I do not hesitate to tell you, and it will come out hereafter, that the Liberal cease has been hocussc:d.' I see men, and I do not grudge them, with gold laurel leaves in their hats ; what have they got in their pockets ? (" Hear!" yells, and confusion.) And so, (addressing some of his noisi- est assailants) you are even afraid to hear me when I am beaten, and try to kick me when I am down. Shame on you! But you will find me difficult to beat ; I am not apt to be discouraged by a trifle. A laurel is a fine em- blem when won in a noble cause ; but when it has been debased, when it has been dragged through the mire, as in this instance, I do not envy the -victory of those two honourable gentlemen. (Cheers.) Now, gentlemen, -what is the position of the borough of Dover ? A voice, "Sold."] As the -proverb runs, Money makes the mare to go ; and money has made the -honour of Dover go. (Cheers and confusion.) In :what position do the • -electors of Dover stand ? I congratulate them on their promotion. They were -an independent constituency ; you are now a perquisite of the Admiralty. You are the serfs of Mr. Churchward, and your two Members do not repre- sent the independence or the spirit of Dover. They represent Mr. Church- ward and the Royal Mail Packet service. (Confusion.) And now, gentle- men, let us look a little to the future. You have heard of committees of the House of Commons. (Derisive cheers.) Well, it is not impossible that some of those gentlemen with gold leaves in their hats may find them-

- selves before such a committee, and it is not impossible that Dover may find

itself disfranchised. I do not hesitate to say that the wholesale bribery and intimidation which have been carried on will cover with disgrace the par- -ties who have been implicated in it. (Cries of " Oh, oh !" from the hust- ings.) I do not accuse Admiral Leeke. I believe he knows nothing of it ; but I know the parties who do, and I am not the man to sit quietly. down without exposing them. You may find that some very great men in this town will lose a little of their character when this is done. (Cheers and groans.) He then thanked the electors for the attention they had given him under very exciting circumstances.' They reminded him, he said, of the description of an Irish election, which said, 'The election concluded with a bonfire, a riot, and other demonstrations of enjoyment.' (Laughter.) He wished them all good evening and he hoped when next they caught him addressing them from those hustings, they would not wear in their hate so ,many gold laurel leaves." (Cheers and confusion.)

Ditorrwion. Sir John Pakington was elected witho, opposition on Saturday. In the opening of his speech he remarked i at his seconder

was a Liberal, and dwelt on the invitations from large sonstituencies to hiniself, Lord Stanley, and Mr. Thomas Baring—invit, ions extremely gratifying to them all. Plunging from personal into ge neral questions he made these remarks on the unexcited temper of the tim e. " Perhaps. it may be said that the reform question is an ex ception to this general opinion, but I do not so regard it. I ant happy to observe—and I confess it has given me considerable surprise—how little excitement there appears to be in any part of the country. on this question of Parliamentary Reform. I take this to be a most auspicious omen, and I do not hesitate, as a citizen of this great country, and even as a member of the Government, to say that I think this question of Parliamentary Reform having been mooted to such an extent ought to be settled." He gave a History of the struggle in Parliament, severely condemned Lord John Rutted] for the " factious" course he took, and described with minute detail. the great di- vergencies among the Liberal leaders, with compliments to Mr. Bright for honesty which he withheld from others. On the subject of continental po- lities he enlarged on the responsibility of the Government. on its great, its unsparing exertions to keep the peace , on the responsibility of the public press and its improper conduct in making premature and exaggerated state- ments. " We are on friendly terms with every great Power; we have re- ceived friendly assurances of the most recent date even from those two great Powers which by repute are at this moment supposed to be engaged in an alliance injurious to the interests of this country—I mean France and Rus- sia. The Government were not insensible to the bad Government of Italy ; they felt sympathy with Sardinia. " But these are not reasons for embark- ing in a sanguinary war. Let us endeavour to improve the institutions of Italy by friendly remonstrances by the interposition in a friendly spirit of all the great Powers of Europe ;, but sure I am that to endeavour to obtain these ends by letting loose the horrors of war and bloodshed will only end in disappointment. The only results which the most sanguine can look for from such a war must be to give Italy one despotic master instead of an- other. (Cheers.) . . . . It is imperatively necessary that we should be pre- pared for whatever may occur; the Government have decided to take strong measures—in fact, to take whatever measures may be necessary to increase our power, and above all, to strengthen that which is the right arm of England, and by which, more than any other, at a moment like this, she can make her influence felt—I mean the Navy. . . . Several line-of- battle ships have been put in a state to be launched during the past year, and by the close of the financial year which is now just commenced the number of line-of-battle ships will be nearly, if not quite, double what I found it; (Loud cheers.) We have made the same exertions in the other branches of the service and in the other classes of vessels, and if there is one point more than another on which the Government, in common with the people of this country, feel deeply, it is that the navy of England should never be allowed to fall into anything like a state of weakness or ineffi- ciency." (Cheers.) Essex (North.) Athongh there was no contest in this division of Essex yet a little incident significant of.tho unpopularity of " W. B." occurred at Braintree, where the good folk have long memories. Major Beresford had once designated his hearers as "rabble." Since then they have refused to hear him utter one word. On Tuesday he was not al- lowed to speak at all ; and ho left to the more courteous Mr. Ducatte the task of expounding Tory views. ESSEX (South.) The Conservatives have regained ther position in this division of the county. There were three candidates—Mr. Bramston and Mr. Wallington, in the Derbyite interest, and the Liberal, Mr. Baker. The Liberal has been ousted. The numbers were—Bramston, 2840 ; Wallington 2661; Baker, 2185, . GREENWICH. The Tories failed to make any impression here. The numbers were—Salomons, 3833 ; Angerstein, 3496; Chambers 1662; Maxwell, 1107. HUDDERSFIELD. The old League party has ousted Mr. Akroyd. He polled 730, but his opponent, Mr. Leatham, 779. HUNTINGDONSHIRE. The Liberal candidate for this county, Mr. John Heathcote, was proposed on Monday, by Lord John Russell. The other candidates were Mr. Fellowes and Lord Robert Montagu.' The latter lost the show of hands, but demanded a poll. In his nomination speech, Lord John Russell remarked that Sir John Pakington had imputed to him factious motives- " I might as well retaliate by saying that he and his colleagues eared for nothing else but office when tb.ey. dissolved Parliament. I will, however, make no such assertion, but I will say that the point now is that there is no public question now put before the country by them for you to decide, they rely solely on what they are pleased to term their own merits, and I say emphatically—most emphatically—that they. have endeavoured and are en- deavouring most unfairly, most foully, to pack the Parliament." (Cheers, groans, and uproar.) The Liberal was defeated. The numbers were—Fellowes, 1402; Montagu, 1311; Heathcote, 1069. KENT (West.) The Tories, determined to contest this division, put up Lord Holmesdale and Sir Edmund Tilmer' two very young fellows, to oppose Mr. Wykham Martin, and Mr. Whatman. The youth of the Tory candidates was a subject of good humoured joking by the crowd on Penenden Heath when they were nominated on Tuesday. The show of hands was in favour of the Tories ; the Liberals demanded a poll. KIDDERMINSTER. The Liberal candidate who came in at the eleventh hour has snatched this borough from Mr. Huddlestone. The numbers were—Bristow, 217 ; Huddlestone, 208. Knee's LYNN. Neither Lord Stanley nor his colleague found any op- ponent ready to break a lance with them. Lord Stanley delivered a speech treating of a variety of topics—the character of public men the position of the Government, the Reform Bill and the dissolution, the In- dian Government, and foreign affairs. The Ministerial speeches have a good deal in common and some of their views were recently fully ex- plained in Parliament. Some points from Lord Stanley's speech have a separate interest. On Lord Palmerston's loss of popularity-he said— "Lord Palmerston, who in March, 1857, was perhaps the most popular Minister since the time of Sir Robert Peel, contrived to lose that popularity more rapidly and more signally than any other man whose name is promi- nent in the political history of our times. This is neither the place nor the occasion in which to discuss the causes of the decline in 'the popularity of that noble lord. They were numerous, and the misunderstanding with France was neither the only cause nor the chief cause. There were appoint- ments which startled and scandalized ; there was a contemptuous indiffer- ence, if not aversion—scarcely disguised—to ideas which the Liberals valued and respected ; there was a consciousness of power too obviously displayed, as though a Minister, backed by a majority in the House of Commons, was Pjstified in treating all argument as mere cavilling. In March, 1857, Lord almerston was carried into power on the shoulders of the people ; in Febru- ary, 1858, he fell; No voice was raised in his defence, and the conviction must have been reed upon his most sanguine admirers that a second Min- istry, having Lo )d Palmerston for its head, during the existene.e at least of the Parliament was not possible." On the continental question he said- " I own that a war like this, occuring at such a time, appears to me one of those events w ich must, if not totally destroy, at least damp that confidence which we in t country are inclined to entertain in the progress of civiliza- tion and good government abroad ; for it will not be a war of opinion, it will not be one of those great struggles recorded at different periods in the his- tory of human kind, founded upon deep-lying differences of political or re- ligions principle ; it will not be one of those mighty contests in which all the sacrifices: the sufferings, and the miseries caused by war are in some de- gree compenoated by great ideas in which the interests at stake and the ob- jects to be obtained are struggled for in a spirit of disinterestedness, and in which to obtain them war is rendered necessary. It will be a war wantonly, needlessly, and, I will say, wickedly made. It will be a war dictated by the ambition of a few men placed in too high a position above the masses of mankind to feel that respect for human rights or that sympathy for human suffering, a due regard for which forms the bonds by which the human race is banded together. (Loud cheers.) The independence of Italy is the plea; but it is nothing more than a plea.', (Renewed cheers.) LAiwasnraz (South). The candidates, Mr. Cheetham and Mr. Hey- wood, Liberals, and Mr. Egerton and Mr. Legh, Tories, were nominated at Newton le Willows, on Monday. As might have been expected the show of hands in this rural region fell upon the two Tories. The other two demanded a poll. The contest was exciting. At the close, the numbers were—Egerton, 7769 ; Legh, 7001 ; Cheetham, 6803 ; Hey- wood, 6758. Thus the Tories were successful.

LEEDS. The contest has been spirited on both aides, and it will be seen from a record of the poll how " near a thing " it was. It is un- derstood that many no-party men of Liberal views voted for the Con- servative Mr. Beecroft. The numbers were—Baines, 2343 ; Beecroft, 2302Forster, 2280. LINCOLNSHIRE (South.) The division is amicably shared by the op- posing parties ; Sir John Trollope representing the Tories, and Mr. George Packe, the Liberals. Sir John Trollope was as emphatic in his condemnation of the war and of the French Emperor, "Louis Napo- leon," as Mr. Roebuck himself.

MANCHESTER. The old Members have been returned. The poll was —Bailey, 7434 ; Turner, 7211 ; Heywood, 5420 ; Denman, 5158. MIDDLESEX. To the astonishment of all parties Middlesex has been condemned to undergo the farce of a contested election. When the late members, Mr. Hanbury and Mr. Byng, were nominated at Brentford, on Thursday, upatarted a Mr. Prowett, who nominated, and a Mr. Day, who seconded that electioneering fanatic, Mr. Haig, barrister-at-law, and proposer of lord Stanley in Marylebone. The electors patiently heard their old members expound their views, but they would not hear Mr. Haig. On the show of hands Mr. Byng and Mr. Hanbury were the winners, and the friends of Mr. Haig demanded a poll which is fixed for Monday. NEWARK. Lord Lincoln has been defeated. The numbers were—Hodg- kinson, 489; Handley, 435; Lincoln, 416. NORWICH. The Tories made desperate efforts to recover this ancient stronghold, but failed. The numbers were—Bury, 2151; Schneider, 2138 ; Bignold, 1054; Lushington, 1872. OXFORDSHIRE. Mr. Henley, Mr. Harcourt, and Colonel North, wero quietly returned on Monday. Mr. Henley made a brief speech, ex- pounding the reasons why he left the Government, and stating his views of our foreign policy. The Reform Bill, he said, did not do the thing undertaken in the sense of those who wanted it done. He did not think they would be much forwarded when they separated. As to foreign af- fairs, Mr. Henley thinks we should do all we can to keep out of the squabble and " keep our powder dry "; "because it occasionally happens when parties are quarrelling that a neighbour standing by gets a punch in the face—sometimes if he does not interfere, and sometimes if he does." He thinks liberty stands an "ugly chance," among the despots, and does not think that the French Emperor will set up in Italy that freedom he has pulled down at home. PLYMOUTH. Mr. White has been ousted, and the Tories have gained one Member. The numbers were—Valletort, 1153 ; Collier, 1086; White, 964. SALFORD. The opposition raised by the old League party to the return of Mr. Massey failed. The numbers were—Massey, 1919 ; Ashworth, 1787. SHEFFIELD. Mr. Roebuck made what is called an " alarmist " speech to the electors of Sheffield when he was elected on Saturday. We cull a few sentences.

" Under the guise of being a friend of freedom, the despot of France— (Loud cheers)—was determined, for his own personal purposes, to break the peace of the world. It is he who has done the evil deed ; and though Aus- tria has no sympathy of mine, though I think she has put her armed heel upon the poor Italian, though misery has been the result of her dominion there, still, for this war she is not answerable. It is Louis Napoleon, the tyrant of France. (Cheers.) Therefore, my friends,—constituents now I call you,—I go to Parliament in your name, determined to protect England against the machinations of that man. (Cheers.) I say that among the nations of the world, if England wishes to maintain peace, she should show herself dangerous if she is meddled with. The time has notyet arrived when, being smitten on one cheek, it is wise to offer the other. (Laughter.) If a man smites me, I smite him. (Laughter, and loud cheers.) And if England wishes to bethe arbitreas of peace, let her be prepared for war. If

i the world abroad shall know that the least infringement of the dominion or the territory of England will be followed by an instantaneous and terrible retribution, then, I say, England will be safe. But if it should ever so hap- pen that in this British Channel of ours a French and Russian fleet should ride triumphant, where would be your commerce, where would be your safety, where would be England'a power, where the civilization of man- kind ? But that those fleets shall not ride triumphant in the Channel will be one of my first considerations. There is nothing that I would not do, there is no vote that I would not pass, to maintain a triumphant fleet for England in the Channel."

SOUTHAMPTON. Mr. Weguelin has been ousted by Mr. Digby Seymour. The numbers were—Seymour, 1340; Willcox, 1219; Weguehn, 1033.

Bourn SHIELDS. The shipping interest here tried to oust Mr. Ingham, and brought up Mr. Wawn, an old Member for the borough. They were defeated: Ingham, 506• Wawn00. H SUNDERLAND. Mr. George Hudson is out. Mr. Lindsay opposed him. They polled : Fenwick, 1527 ; Lindsay, 1292 ; Hudson, 790. SUFFOLK (East). The election began on Wednesday with the nomi- nation at Ipswich. It was a noisy and tumultuous scene. The Tory candidates were Lord Henniker and Sir Fitzroy Kelly, the Liberal, Colonel Adair. The two latter obtained the show of hands ; Lord Hen- niker's friends demanded a poll, which takes place today. The speech of Sir Fitzroy Kelly was remarkable for the line it took. He complained of the Liberal leaders that they had not, when they had commanding majorities, carried a reform bill. While admitting that Lord John Rus- sell had brought in two bills, he insisted that the Derby Government alone had pressed a Reform Bill with the intention of carrying it. He said that we owe the Reform agitation to the feud between Lord John and Lord Palmerston [forgetting that we may owe the feud to the Be. form Bill]. In one part of his speech, he described the late Reform Bill as intended to enfranchise the middle classes, and in another he claimed, with emphasis, for the Tories the credit of having brought in a bill to enfranchise the working classes. These statements called forth energetic counter-statements from Colonel Adair, but the clamour of the Tories prevented them from being efficiently reported. SURREY (East.) The old Liberal Members, Mr. Locke King and Mr. Alcock, were opposed at the nomination on Tuesday by Mr. Cleasby a Tory, who believes that the majority against the Government was ob- tained by a " disgraceful coalition," or " conspiracy " ; and who is pre- pared to extend the franchise "with care and consideration." The Li- berals obtained the show of hands.

SUB.REY (West.) Mr. Briscoe and Mr. Drummond are again Members of Parliament, this time without a poll. Mr. Drummond dwelt on the importance of a permanent Government. There are four factions in the House—the largest being Lord Derby's. Every now and then there is a combination to put down a Government by a side wind or a dirty trick. He wishes that charges should be brought in an open and direct manner, and that leaders should settle their little quarrels before they turn out a Government. As to the alliance between France and Russia, he thinks that is "a two year old," dating from M. de Morny's visit to St. Peters- burg. As to the English they are the most quarrelsome people on earth, always poking their noses into some mess. He thinks that if Trieste is attacked, which Mr. Disraeli said belongs to the German Confedera- tion, that Confederation should take care of it. If Malta or Gibraltar is attacked, or Belgium invaded, we are bound to interfere, but we must not go into the thing at all as long as they keep their paws off us. TAUNTON. The Radical opposition to Mr. Labouchere did not succeed. The numbers were—A. Mills, 407 ; Labouchere, 388 ; Bentinck, 324 ; Beadon, 255. WILTS (South.) On the occasion of his reelection, in company with Lord Henry Thynne on Monday, Mr. Sidney Herbert made a pleasant speech from which we take two passages : first, on home affairs. " I have seen two candidates for counties going for the ballot and Lord Derby. .(Laughter.) I also see this statement everywhere, am going in to give an independent support to Lord Derby's Administration,' with the addi- tion, I intend also to vote for a ten-pound franchise iu counties, and a MX.. pound franchise in boroughs.' That is what they say, but what is it that they mean ? They mean Lord Derby's Government and Lord J. Russell's Reform Bill. (Laughter and cheers) The division they are going to make is this—The Opposition are to do the legislation, and the Government are to hold the offices. (Laughter.) Great caution must be used in dealing with the question. Nevertheless, I maintain that a Reform Bill we must have, and that too, very soon. ("Hear, hear !" and cheers.) [A voice- " It ought to have been passed already."1 So it ought, and if we had had a sensible Government at the head of affairs it would have been. (Cheers.) But we have had a Government led in the House of Commons by a very remarkable man, of very distinguished ability—Mr. Disraeli, who is virtu- ally the head of the Government. He is a very ingenious man but he is not acquainted with the common straightforward course in which English- men delight ; and he drew a Bill which was meant to redeem a pledge to introduce a measure, and which was thought likely to pass because there was something in it to please or Ratisfy all the various sections into which the House of Commons is subdivided.

As to the negotiations : " I have said that Lord Malmesbury has done his best. He may have been mistaken in listening to the proposal for a Con- gress; but this I am bound to declare, that though other Governments might have taken better means, I am satisfied that none of them would have been successful. ("Hear !" and cheers.) We have had two great Powers deter- mined to go to war and, no matter what our negotiation might have been, with two great nations so determined to fight, and armed to the teeth, war could not have been prevented by any means in our power." Wilms (North.) Mr. Sotheron Estcourt and Mr. Walter Long were reelected on Tuesday. Speaking of the continental war Mr. Estcourt said—

To him it appeared most shocking that after forty years of peace, during which the arts of peace had been cultivated and its blessings enjoyed both in Europe and America, when even in Italy a chance had been given for the

spread of constitutional doctrines by means of the example of Sardinia, all this should be checked and the world should be thrown into confusion—for what? He said most distinctly, for nothing that was apparent, for nothing iu truth but the selfish ambition and love of aggrandisement of two des- potic kingdoms. (Cheers.) What had been the attitude taken by the Bri- tish Government? They had been like a mutual friend, attempting—at- tempting, he allowed in vain—to prevent two bullying fellows who were determined to have a scratch at each other from fighting. Austria and France had clearly resoloved to have a turn at each other ; and probably their military forces, the result of peace, had at last got to such a head that they could not keep them down ; 500,000 men ready for strife was too great

i a power for the Executive of either country to keep in order. 'near. Mr. Layard tried for a seat. He was defeated. The numbers were—Weathead, 1864; Smyth, 1783; Layard, 1704.

IRELAND.

BELFAST. Sir Hugh Cairns and Mr. Davison were elected on Mon- day without opposition—antagonism to the Papacy making union impos- sible among the Liberals of that commercial community. Sir Hugh Cairns made some remarks on the Italian question. Having described Sardinia as once " a little light amid the gloom of Italy, :but now as attempting to exalt herself into a military power and see Vie territorial increase, he said. " Do we believe that the real end of a French invasion of Italy would be the freedom of that country ? Now you have all heard the fable of a ve- nerable author, of The Stag, the Horse, and the Man.' The stag began to butt the horse with his horns, and the horse applied to the man to assist him against the stag. The man put a saddle on the horse, and they soon drove the stag off the pasture. When the horse said to the man, 'I am very much obliged to you, but now take the saddle off me, and I wish you good morning.' But the man said—' Oh, I think you area little premature- there, I found the saddle on you to be so good and you so serneeablepiyn verily en- abling me to keep this pasturage for myself, I must prefer to occupy seat on your back, and preserve my dominion here.' Now, Au_ wet.. uais: tube stag, Sardinia is the horse, and Franca is the man. ( ugh ) say no more on this matter except this—that I hope the stag will not be snowed to injure the horse ; but I hope that when the horse succeeds in re- pelling the assaults of the stag, he will not be made the subject of the man. (Loud cheering and laughter.) Now, let us turn to Austria. Can we feel any sympathy with that Power ? It is also a Government of the most ab- solute kind ; liberty, civil and religious, is utterly unknown there. Aus- tria's domination exists in her more immediate territory, and supports in other places the despotism which is so repugnant at home. To Austria, then, we can afford no sympathy—no aid ; and the conclusion to which I must arrive on the whole of the case is this—we as a nation should, in addi- tion to the sound policy of not meddling with strifes which do not belong to us, also look to the additional reason that there is not one of these Powers which is not subject to some blame, and at the present time there is not one of them which can command our entire support." In confirmation of the remark we have made about the anti-papal tendency of opinion in Belfast, we observe that when Sir Hugh Cairns, making use of the commonplace phrase, said he was above all for the maintenance of our Protestant institutions, there was great applause, " Kentish fire," and a voice crying "three cheers for Derry, Aughrim, and the Boyne," which we need not say were given.

Coax (City). Tories have been unable to oust the Liberal Members who are again returned. The numbers were—Beamish, 1276 ; Fagan, 1218 ; Wood, 1200 ; Carroll (Tory), 1081. Drimisr. The Liberals have not been able to defeat their domineering opponents. The Tories are again elected, Thus stood the numbers at the poll. Grogan, 4251; Vance, 4224 ; Brady, 3976 ; M'Carthy, 3881.

LIMERICK. The election for this city took place on Wednesday. The town was in a fever of excitement. The police and soldiers were called in to quell the violence of the mob. In the evening the mob assailed the police with stones ; the Riot Act was read ; the mob continued the war ; the police fired, killing two men and wounding five. The two Liberals were returned. The numbers were—Russell, 1207 ; Gavin, 90.3; Spaight, 806.

SCOTLAND.

BERWICKSHIRE. This county has been under landlord rule for a quar- ter of a century. The Liberals determined to contest it, and put up Mr. Robertson. His opponent was Mr. Majoribanks. After a severe and gallant contest the Liberals won. The numbers were—Robertson, 461; Majoribanks, 428. BITTESHIME. The Lord Advocate is opposed by the Liberal, Mr. La- mont. At the nomination the latter won the show of hands. A poll was demanded by the friends of the Lord Advocate. Duman es. Mr. William Ewart has had a narrow escape. The Tories brought out a Captain Walker to fight their cause. Every nerve was strained to win. The numbers were—Ewart, 432 ; Walker, 403. FALKIRK Bununs, Mr. Merry has triumphed over " the Bairds." Unseated on petition in 1857, he now came forward again, and was .elected without opposition. FIEESIIME. The Tories had long been nursing Lord Loughborough as their champion in this county. He contested it with Mr. Fergus, and was beaten. His friends hoped he would have a better chance against Mr. Wemyss, and no exertions were spared. But the Liberals proved too strong. The numbers were—Wemyss, 1087; Loughborough, 850.

his-sasress. The Tories made a point of trying to carry these burghs. They brought out Mr. Campbell of Menzie. But Mr. A. Matheson. beat him hollow. The numbers were—Matheson, 410 ; Campbell, 307. KIRKCALDY. Colonel Ferguson has defeated Mr. Harcourt, by 312 to 294.