greater majority than ever. And so the cry went forth to the constituencies that a new Parliamentary campaign was about to commence. Mr. Gladstone, with his family, hurried off once more to Midlothian, and his colleagues, Mr. Chamberlain, Sir Charles Dilke, Sir Vernon Harcourt, the Marquess of Hartington, Lord Derby, and other members of the defunct Government, turned their attention to other parts of the country, and the battle began in earnest.
It was remarked that the tone of the Conservative party was rather a despondent one. Their organs of the Press certainly did not seem very hopeful; and the leaders could hardly help expressing doubts as to the result of the election. On the other hand, the liberals were everywhere blatant and exultant. They seemed never to tire of reminding the country that they had freed two millions of people from "political thraldom." It was a phrase that sounded well, and it was thrashed to pieces. "Two millions" made such a mouthful. It could be rolled forth with such volubility, and so it was used by every one, from the late Prime Minister to the pot-house demagogues. As the struggle proceeded, however, it soon became evident that the country as a body was not pleased with England's position, nor with the stewardship of the late Government. Trade was in a state of stagnation; amongst the working classes there was an immense amount of distress, and there was no disguising the fact that England was, politically speaking, isolated in Europe, while the friction between her and France was so great, that the most careful diplomacy would be required to prevent the friction giving place to flame. In fact, there was a very strong party indeed in France who clamoured for war with England, and it was obvious that such a war would have been very popular on the French side of the Channel. France turned envious eyes towards Egypt, and she was never tired of inveighing against Perfide Albion, for having excluded her from the banks of the Nile. It was pointed out by those writers in the French Press who wished to bring about a rupture between the two countries, that at that moment England was weak in her navy, and that her army was very far below its normal strength. In fact, the naval question
