When it is recalled that in 1885 Mr. Gladstone had been elected by a majority of 4631, and that in the following year his return was not opposed, the figures of 1892 very well justified Colonel Wauchope's daring. These were, for Mr. Gladstone 5845, and for the Colonel 5150--a majority for the former of 690. In other words, Mr. Gladstone had lost 2000 votes, and Colonel Wauchope had polled nearly 2000 more than had been recorded for Sir Charles Dalrymple in 1885. Neither of the candidates happened to be at the County Buildings when the declaration of the poll was made, so that after the first surprise {125} was over the crowd dispersed. It had been the intention to have at once sent a telegram to Mr. Gladstone, who was residing with Lord Rosebery at Dalmeny, but it is said that so great was the perplexity among his supporters, that the telegram though made out was not despatched till later on, for, like the crowd outside, the people in the corridors refused for a time to credit the figures. Colonel Wauchope had a most enthusiastic reception accorded to him at his committee rooms in Princes Street, and on being called upon for a speech, said he would not make a speech, because he felt it to be true that it was the committee of Midlothian that had won this victory. It was, he repeated, the committee; it was the men who had stood by their guns at the committee rooms, the men who had assiduously and earnestly worked for the cause--a duty he feared not always of the most agreeable kind. But they had done their work well, and it was to them that they owed this great victory--because it was a victory--that would resound throughout the length and breadth of the land. 'It is true, I have been the standard-bearer in this fight, and I hope I have borne the standard not without discredit to myself. But it is very little that a standard-bearer can do if he is not supported by an army on the right and an army on the left of him, and I am here to acknowledge that I have been supported, and well supported, by a noble army both on my right and on my left. We have fought a good fight, and a straight fight, and we have proved that the heart of Midlothian beats sound enough.'