The Express.
London, England, 1868-11-21 00:00:00

L rrzLzsurn

EVERY EVENING.

/MNDON. SATURDAY, NOV. 21.

THE WEEK'S WOEK.

WE commenced the week's work with some un-
certainty, but with little misgiving. The week
was before us, and, though we were confident as to
the result of the appeal made to the constituencies
of the kingdom, we naturally alvirtsl in that
Lind of doubt which always exists in cases
where "what is to be" has to be con-
!firmed and fixed by " what is." To-day
ell uncertainty is removed, for the work
that remains to be effected cannot substantially
alter the work that has been accomplished. Up
to this morning there have been 486 members
returned to the approaching Parliament. Of
these 316 are Liberals ; 170 Conservatives—giving
a liberal majority of 146. There remain 172
snembers to be elected in order to complete the
represeotation of the country. Therefore, if every
member yet to be elected was a supporter of the
tlovernment, Mr. DISRAELI would only have
a majority of 26. But many of these seats are
uncontested by Conservative candidates, and of
those that are,—it is beyond question that several
Of them will be decided in favour of the Liberals.
The victory in the English boroughs has been
Beehive, the gains of the Liberal party being
213; those of the Conservatives 94 ; giving a
Liberal majority of 119, The victory in the
fkotch boroughs has been overwhelming. There
Ee sot II solitary Conservative from the Liberal and

educated northern towns to weigh against the.
26 elected by the borough oonstitueneies of Soot-
land. Ireland ham sent 27 Liberals against 11 Con-
sere afire.. On the borough returns, therefore,
the result stands thus:—Liberals, 366 ; Cons«,
e ashes, 103. With this fact before us, thee.. can
he no room for doubting to what side of politics
the city and borough electors of the United King-
dom belong. The counties of course, where the
territorial influence of the greet landed proprie-
tors prevails, cast a preponderant vote on the side
of Conservatism. But even here the result is not
adverse to the Liberal cause. There have been
some defeats and some victories, but on which-
ever ['lido the scale inclines in the county elections
Mr. Guentiroxn is sure of a strong and compact
majority in the Home of Commons.
There has not been a single day aim* Monday
last that we have not had to rooord an
addition to the first day's names. But those of
yesterday are perhaps more cheering and more
characteristic than any of those that have preceded
it. The returns from Ireland are especially note-
worthy, considering that the Established Church
in that country is the field on which the battle has
been fought. Belfast, Londonderry, Carrickfergus,
and Newry, all towns in the " black north," have
teen won from Conservatism to Liberalism.

The defeat of Lord CLAunx 11.1 MILTON, the son of
the Duke of ABERCORN, and Lord-Lieutenant of
Inland, in Londonderry, by Mr. DOWSE, whose
candidature was " regarded with contempt"
by the Conservative organs, has been so
astounding that these same organs admit their
inability to explain it. We tried that the
electors of Middlesex will follow the lead of Pro-
testant Londonderry, and will on Tuesday next
teach another son of the Duke of ABEncoaN, " the
'• scion of a noble house," that he had no claims
to rel,resent the metropolitan county of England.
Evtn Bandon. on whose walls we's once ize,cribed.
A Turk. or Jew. or Atheist
May enter here, but not a Papi+t,

has defeated the near relative of tho Earl of
BAwboN in what was hitherto his pocket borough,
and returned an independent Liberal end Protes-
tant in the person of Mr. Sit.tw.
We triumph. therefore, along the whole line, in
regard to the majority obtained, in regard to the
character of the returns effected, and the amount
of population which our majority represents in the
country. Of course we could not have engaged
in such a contest as that, which is virtually over
this day, without some loss. We have gal-
lant chiefs to deplore ; but wo have the
proud consciousness of knowing that they
Fuld/Lined in the midst of tho strifo tho liberal
ensign with courage and with gallantry ; and
they have the satisfaction of feeling that, if dis-
comfited in the individual contest, tho party has
achieved a signal and conspicuous victory.