RECENT ELECTIONS AND THEIR PARTY BEARING.— In examining the returns of the contested elections whioh have taken place during the three years' life of the dying Parliament, it is obvious that the balance is un-mistakeably on the side of the Liberal party. They have won eight seats — Aberdeenshire, Devonport (two), Bridgewater, Petersfield, Waterford county, Coventry, and South Leicester. The Conservatives claim credit for having won six — Bridgnorth, Sandwich, Helston, Brecon, Rutland, and Cockermouth. The Liberal gains are more significant than as a mere balance of eight against six, for the more closely the circumstances are examined tbe greater the victories become. The counties of Aberdeen, South Leicester, and Waterford were won in the face of all the territorial influence which the Tory party could bring to bear. The two seats at Devonport, and those at Bridgewater and Coventry were wrested from the other side after hardly-fought struggles, and Petersfield was the only place in which no contest took place. On the other hand, the Conservative gains at Bridgnorth and Helston were obtained on petition, Sandwich, Brecon, and Cockermouth were contested, and Rutland was not. With respect to Brecon and Rutland, it should be explained that the members who were replaced by ministerialists — the present Marquis Camden and Lord Aveland — were Adullamites of a very decided character, and as they seldom if ever voted with Mr. Gladstone, they cannot well be counted as actual losses. Sandwich and Cockermouth, then, remain as the only places in which the electors have declared at the polls that their former Liberal member shall be succeeded by a Tory. Considering that the last-mentioned borough is in Schedule A, and the size and importance of the constituencies which have pronounced for Liberalism on the other side, the Opposition has every reason to be satisfied with the results. They are the more remarkable when contrasted with the numerous gains of the Conservatives in the last Parliament, and in the face of all Lord Palmerston's popularity. From 1859 to 1865 the Tories gained on an average of four seats every year.—Daily News.