He was glad to
get his little girls and their governess out of the way; for a
busy time was impending, when he should want his head clear for
electioneering purposes, and his house clear for electioneering
hospitality. He was the mover of a project for bringing forward a
man on the Liberal and Dissenting interest, to contest the
election with the old Tory member, who had on several successive
occasions walked over the course, as he and his family owned half
the town, and votes and rent were paid alike to the landlord.
Kings of Eccleston had Mr. Cranworth and his ancestors been this
many a long year; their right was so little disputed that they
never thought of acknowledging the allegiance so readily paid to
them. The old feudal feeling between land-owner and tenant did
not quake prophetically at the introduction of manufactures; the
Cranworth family ignored the growing power of the manufacturers,
more especially as the principal person engaged in the trade was
a Dissenter. But notwithstanding this lack of patronage from the
one great family in the neighbourhood, the business flourished,
increased, and spread wide; and the Dissenting head thereof
looked around, about the time of which I speak, and felt himself
powerful enough to defy the great Cranworth interest even in
their hereditary stronghold, and, by so doing, avenge the slights
of many years--slights which rankled in Mr. Bradshaw's mind as
much as if he did not go to chapel twice every Sunday, and pay
the largest pew-rent of any member of Mr.
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