as a model for their communications to their own constituents.  This young politician, who depended on office for his bread, and on a seat in the House of Commons for office, adopted from the first an attitude of high and almost peremptory independence which would have sat well on a Prime Minister in his grand climacteric.  The following letter, (some passages of which have been here omitted, and others slightly condensed,) is strongly marked in every line with the personal qualities of the writer.

London:  August 3, 1832.

“My dear Sir,—­I am truly happy to find that the opinion of my friends at Leeds on the subject of canvassing agrees with that which I have long entertained.  The practice of begging for votes is, as it seems to me, absurd, pernicious, and altogether at variance with the true principles of representative government.  The suffrage of an elector ought not to be asked, or to be given as a personal favour.  It is as much for the interest of constituents to choose well, as it can be for the interest of a candidate to be chosen.  To request an honest man to vote according to his conscience is superfluous.  To request him to vote against his conscience is an insult.  The practice of canvassing is quite reasonable under a system in which men are sent to Parliament to serve themselves.  It is the height of absurdity under a system under which men are sent to Parliament to serve the public.  While we had only a mock representation, it was natural enough that this practice should be carried to a great extent.  I trust it will soon perish with the abuses from which it sprung.  I trust that the great and intelligent body of people who have obtained the elective franchise will see that seats in the House of Commons ought not to be given, like rooms in an almshouse, to urgency of solicitation; and that a man who surrenders his vote to caresses and supplications forgets his duty as much as if he sold it for a bank-note.  I hope to see the day when an Englishman will think it as great an affront to be courted and fawned upon in his capacity of elector as in his capacity of juryman.  He would be shocked at the thought of finding an unjust verdict because the plaintiff or the defendant had been very civil and pressing; and, if he would reflect, he would, I think, be equally shocked at the thought of voting for a candidate for whose public character he felt no esteem, merely because that candidate had called upon him, and begged very hard, and had shaken his hand very warmly.  My conduct is before the electors of Leeds.  My opinions shall on all occasions be stated to them with perfect frankness.  If they approve that conduct, if they concur in those opinions, they ought, not for my sake, but for their own, to choose me as their member.  To be so chosen, I should indeed consider as a high and enviable honour; but I should think it no honour to be returned to Parliament by persons who, thinking me destitute of the requisite qualifications, had yet been wrought upon by cajolery and importunity to poll for me in despite of their better judgment.