Parties in France are amusing themselves with calculations as to
the results of the Senatorial elections, and as the time approaches the Conservative majority grows leas. The Govern- ment at firatsakulated on a majority of 30 or 40, but on Thurs- day, according to the Times' correspondent, this was x2duced 4,0 15. Even this is based on the calculation that all Conservatives will be united, but in difficult Departments the Left intend to ally themselves with the Legitimists, or even the Monarchists gene- rally, if only they may save some seats ; and in a report drawn up by M. Gambetta for M. Thiers, and based on exact information, they calculate on 125 of the 225 elected seats, giving them, with their life-members, 180 seats to 120. As everybody in France is always with the Government till it is necessary to act against it, this is probably under the truth, and we should not be surprised to hear Conservatives denouncing "that revolutionary institution" a Second House,—which, it must be remembered, can stop any attempt of the President to dissolve the Chamber as
being too Radical.
