man whose sturdy Radicalism they feared.  Over and over again Mr. Bradlaugh was told that he was an “impossible candidate”, and gibe and sneer and scoff were flung at the man who had neither ancestors nor wealth to recommend him, who fought his battle with his brain and his tongue, and whose election expenses were paid by hundreds of contributions from poor men and women in every part of the land.  Strenuous efforts were made to procure a “Liberal” candidate, who should be able at least to prevent Mr. Bradlaugh’s return by obtaining the votes of the Liberal as against the Radical party.  Messrs. Bell and James and Dr. Pearce came on the scene only to disappear.  Mr. Jacob Bright and Mr. Arthur Arnold were suggested.  Mr. Ayrton’s name was whispered.  Major Lumley was recommended by Mr. Bernal Osborne.  Dr. Kenealy proclaimed himself ready to rescue the Liberal party in their dire strait.  Mr. Tillet of Norwich, Mr. Cox of Belper, were invited, but neither of these would consent to oppose a sound Radical, who had fought two elections at Northampton and who had been before the constituency for six years.  At last Mr. William Fowler, a banker, was invited, and accepted the task of handing over the representation of a Radical borough to a Tory.

October 6th was fixed as the election day, and at 7.30 on that day Mr. Merewether, the Tory, was declared elected with 2,171 votes.  Mr. Bradlaugh polled 1,766, having added another 133 voters to those who had polled for him in the previous February.

The violent abuse levelled against Mr. Bradlaugh by the Whigs, and the foul and wicked slanders circulated against him, had angered almost to madness those who knew and loved him, and when it was found that the unscrupulous Whig devices had succeeded in turning the election against him, the fury broke out into open violence.  As Mr. Bradlaugh was sitting well-nigh exhausted in the hotel, the landlord rushed in, crying to him to go out and try to stop the people, or there would be murder done at the “Palmerston”, Mr. Fowler’s head-quarters; the crowd was charging the door, and the windows were being broken, with showers of stones.  Weary as he was, Mr. Bradlaugh sprang to his feet and swiftly made his way to the rescue of those who had defeated him.  Flinging himself before the door, he drove the crowd back, scolded them into quietness and dispersed them.  But at nine o’clock he had to leave the town to catch the mail for Queenstown, where he was to join the steamer for America, and after he had left, the riot he had quelled broke out afresh.  The soldiers were called out, the Riot Act was read, stones flew freely, heads and windows were broken, but no very serious harm was done.  The “Palmerston” and the printing office of the Mercury, the Whig organ, were the principal sufferers, windows and doors vanishing somewhat completely.

In this same month of October I find I noted in the National Reformer that it was rumored “that on hearing that the Prince of Wales had succeeded the Earl of Ripon as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England, Mr. Bradlaugh immediately sent in his resignation”.  “The report”, I added demurely, “seems likely to be a true one”.  I had not much doubt of the fact, having seen the cancelled certificate.