58 CONTESTED ELECTION. [1812. 



Well, now I am fairly started, and on Thursday I go 

 from hence to Liverpool, being very slow to get there 

 until it is necessary. I am by no means so sanguine 

 as my friends there are. That the chance is fair, I 

 admit ; and if it fails, I don't think I shall be much 

 disappointed. Horner and Jeffrey have been here for 

 some days. Horner says that Lord Lansdowne brings 

 Abercromby in for Calne. I hope he will prefer 

 Komilly, should Bristol fail. Yours sincerely, 



"H. B." 



FROM LORD GREY. 



" HOWICK, Oct. 1, 1812. 



" DEAR BROUGHAM, I wish you all possible suc- 

 cess, and only regret I have no means of contri- 

 buting towards it ; but I am afraid you will have a 

 troublesome job. I have heard that starting Creevey 

 is likely to do harm ; and Derby, I am told, is of that 

 opinion. But the persons on the spot, and conversant 

 with the local interests, must know best. 



" A compromise such as you describe will undoubt- 

 edly be very disagreeable ; and, to be sure, considering 

 the state of politics which has produced your popu- 

 larity in a great degree at Liverpool, Canning seems 

 to be an odd colleague to choose for you. If your 

 merit is the attempt to reconcile America, what is it 

 that recommends the man who, when Secretary of 

 State, did all he could to produce the mischief which 

 now renders conciliation so difficult ? 



" All I hear leads me to believe that the ministers 

 will lose more than they will gain in the new elections. 

 Indeed I cannot very well understand their policy in 

 dissolving at this moment. Except that, you may say, 

 though things may be worse for them, they cannot be 



