The Midlothian election took place on the 12th July. Out of a constituency of 13,134, no less than 11,000 tendered their votes--or 84 per cent. of the total. It must be borne in mind that a large number of the returns throughout the country had already been made, and these in many cases showed in favour of the Liberal cause. Indeed, Lord Salisbury's majority in the House of Commons had disappeared, and each day brought additions to the Liberal majority. The party was naturally elated, and so far as Midlothian was concerned it was confidently predicted that Mr. Gladstone's majority would not be less than 2500. The result of the poll was made known next day at the Edinburgh County Buildings before an immense concourse of people. It was one of the biggest {124} surprises Mr. Gladstone's supporters encountered during the General Election, so far certainly as Scotland was concerned. The counting of the votes was completed about a quarter to one o'clock, and an unofficial intimation of the result soon found its way outside. It put Mr. Gladstone's majority at 673. There was a crowd of some thousands in number on the street in front of the court-house, and the announcement that Mr. Gladstone's majority had been reduced below 700 gave rise to a scene of extraordinary excitement. The crowd surged up to the door to hear the figures, and as the cry 'Gladstone in by 700' was passed from one to another, a roar of astonishment, we are told, went up from a thousand throats. The noise brought hundreds of more excited politicians flocking to the scene. Town Council committee men and young men from the adjoining Parliament House of every shade of politics hurried up to join the excited throng. Blank dismay took hold of every Gladstonian countenance. Some of them could nor restrain themselves, and the most convenient object on which to vent their indignation was apparently the Church of Scotland, which came in for no little share of abuse as the cause of it all. [Sidenote: Result of the poll]