56 CONTESTED ELECTION. [1812. 



friends at Liverpool. Lord Sefton attended, and they 

 resolved that both Creevey and I should be started. 

 This measure they describe as necessary, even if they 

 only succeed for one of us (which of course would be 

 myself). I cannot enter into all their details, but I 

 conclude that the connections of both the other candi- 

 dates may have made this step requisite. 



" Yesterday a public meeting was held by advertise- 

 ment, and at ten minutes after the hour named, when 

 Eoscoe arrived, the rooms were filled. One thousand 

 were present ; and they all, in one voice, adopted the 

 nomination of me, as first, and Creevey to stand with 

 me. They gave the loudest and most unqualified 

 support to it. And as soon as the dissolution is made 

 public, there is to be a formal invitation, as I men- 

 tioned before. 



" It is in vain to conceal the thing from myself any 

 longer. I am in for it, and accordingly I shall go 

 through it as if it were a matter of life and death. 

 There is no medium in such cases. I speak on the 

 supposition, of course, that a proper case shall be 

 made out. Another thing, I fear, is likely, though 

 not quite so certain viz., that each party will return 

 one, and that I shall be returned with a Tory, if I am 

 returned at all. This is really painful, and I may 

 fairly and sincerely say that the sitting with Canning 

 would greatly alloy any gratification I might other- 

 wise reap from it, and that the return of Gascoigne 

 and Tarlton, as before, would greatly alleviate my dis- 

 appointment. In truth, I shall feel very little, at any 

 rate ; for though I must go through it, d toute entrance, 

 when once committed, I shall be anything rather than 

 cast down, if I fail. 



