pg 479668. W. W. to LORD LONSDALE

MS. Lonsdale MSS. Hitherto unpublished.

• Friday morning
• 18^th [Jan. 1832]

My Lord,

Apprehending that in my last letter I might have overrated the probable Reduction of the majority in favor of a second Conservative Candidate for West^nd in case of Lord Lowther making his Election for Cumberland, I was glad yesterday of an opportunity of talking upon this subject with Mr Tatham² of Kendal.—

I found him as afraid as Mr Daniel Harrison of another Election; but he said that perhaps neither he nor any Inhabitant of Kendal could be an impartial judge, because they had perpetually before their eyes the bitterness and activity of the Quakers and other Dissenters of the opposite Party, and because the Riot at the Election had alarmed so many. But after all he dwelt most on the difficulty of finding at present a proper person; and he thought that offense would be taken if Lord Lowther should desert them after being elected under circumstances which took away from all rational Men the plea of objection to two Brothers.

Though I wrote in a desponding tone as to the probable reduction of Votes, should an election take place immediately, I think that with due firmness, on this side of the County, the interest might hereafter be much strengthened, on the supposition that the Reformed Parliament does not alter the Constituency and even without that step a Clause requiring the attendance of non-residents at the Registration of the Votes would be to us very injurious. But what we chiefly want is a young active member who by his personal qualities would recommend himself to the Electors in the Wards on this side of Shap-fell, and would move about among them.

Mr Tatham said Col. Wilson³ would undoubtedly vote regularly with Ministers.

               Ever faithfully your Lordships    W Wordsworth