This is how the _Western Daily Mercury_ describes "the fight"--before
it began. "The electoral battle continues, but it is a most unequal
contest. The Tories have been out-generalled, outmanoeuvred, and
outclassed. They are like the Chinese fleet at Yalu, stolid and
uncertain, whilst the Liberals are sailing round them, pouring into
them a withering fire from quick-firing guns, sweeping away masts and
signal-yards, and scattering their crews in confusion. The fire from
the Tories is intermittent, insufficient, and badly directed. It is
doing very little harm."
* * * * *
This is quite a gem of nautical description. Such as might justly be
expected from a great naval port like Plymouth, which is the home of
the _Mercury_. The chief beauty of it, moreover, is that it will serve
again to describe the battle--when it is finished ("after the poll"),
the only alteration necessary being a transposition of the two words
Tories and Liberals.
* * * * *
_Cornwall._--Excellent programme, including Two MACS. As
usual, when one "scores," the other doesn't. MCDOUGALL beaten,
while MCARTHUR of course held whip-hand in St. Austell's
division.
* * * * *