16 JULY 1898, Page 3

The Radicals have been disappointed in their hope of carrying

Gravesend. The contest ended on Thursday in a vote of 1,955 for Mr. W. Runciman, and 2 372 for Mr. J. H. D. Ryder, showing a majority of 417 for the Con- servative. This ie a reduction of the majority obtained by Mr. Palmer in 1895, which was 1,187, but is far above the Conservative majority in 1885, which was only 66. The poll was a heavy one, and the Radicals are contented because the Conservative numbers did not increase and theirs did. They forget that the former with their immense majority in Parliament are comparatively indifferent to by-elections.