Benson's congregation.
Accordingly, Mr. Bradshaw had applied to one of the Liberal
parliamentary agents in London--a man whose only principle was to
do wrong on the Liberal side; he would not act, right or wrong,
for a Tory, but for a Whig the latitude of his conscience had
never yet been discovered. It was possible Mr. Bradshaw was not
aware of the character of this agent; at any rate, he knew he was
the man for his purpose, which was to hear of some one who would
come forward as a candidate for the representation of Eccleston
on the Dissenting interest.
"There are in round numbers about six hundred voters," said he;
"two hundred are decidedly in the Cranworth interest--dare not
offend Mr. Cranworth, poor souls! Two hundred more we may
calculate upon as pretty certain--factory hands, or people
connected with our trade in some way or another--who are
indignant at the stubborn way in which Cranworth has contested
the right of water; two hundred are doubtful."
"Don't much care either way," said the parliamentary agent. "Of
course, we must make them care."
Mr. Bradshaw rather shrank from the knowing look with which this
was said. He hoped that Mr. Pilson did not mean to allude to
bribery; but he did not express this hope, because he thought it
would deter the agent from using this means, and it was possible
it might prove to be the only way. And if he (Mr. Bradshaw) once
embarked on such an enterprise, there must be no failure.
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