after the ranks of Lord Derby had been swollen with reinforcements from the English counties and from Ireland, without, at the same time, losing ground in Scotland. So long as the English borough returns, which came in almost all at once, or within two or three days of each other, showed a considerable numerical superiority for the opponents of Lord Derby, notwithstanding his gains, the Liberal papers, as if agreeing to close their eyes against the distant but inevitable _county_ returns! were loud in their exultations, occasionally slipping into even truculent expressions. “Thus ends,” says one, “somewhat prematurely too, the farce of a Derby Ministry.” “Will Lord Derby venture to meet the new Parliament?” asked another. “The Derbyites begin now to feel the absurd appearance they make before the country which they have so long striven in vain to mystify and amuse.” “How do you like the returns, my Lord Derby?”—And so forth. On the other hand, the friends of the Ministry began also to quake, and go about with downcast looks, uttering despondency; and one of their own ablest organs was forced to “remind its friends that they were not to run away disheartened by the idea that they had _suffered a loss_ on every occasion on which they had simply failed to wrest a seat from their opponents;” and its readers were assured “that, all things considered, matters wore by no means an unpromising aspect.” Another able journal concluded by the solemn assurance, that, “great as were Lord Derby’s difficulties, those of the leaders, whoever they might be, of the heterogeneous opposition, were at least as great”—a passage quoted the next day by a triumphant Liberal contemporary, with the words “cold comfort!” prefixed. A week’s time, however, began to tell startling tidings for the opponents of the Ministry. Unexpected success in Ireland, notwithstanding almost unprecedented difficulties and obstacles arising out of the demoniacal conduct of the Papal emissaries, to whom we shall presently again allude; and the counties, pouring in their contingents by threes and twos at a time, soon gave a totally different aspect to the field of battle. In almost every instance, moreover, where Lord Derby’s county friends were assailed, they triumphantly maintained their ground; and in nearly every case where they were assailants, they were successful. It was amusing to note how suddenly Lord Derby’s opponents in the press drew in their horns; and after the “boldest” had “held their breath for a time,” they began to comfort one another by fearful tales of intimidation; of divers gross irregularities pervading the whole proceedings; of divisions among the Liberal party, letting in the common enemy; the defective state of the registries; and the still more defective and unsatisfactory condition of the franchise!