o come in upon
us. These levelling and no doubt godless views prepare the way for such
revolutions as we have seen with so much horror across the Channel. Old
Cross Hall was a sceptic of the worst kind, and picked up his views of
religion and politics in France, and this new man could not rest till
he too went to France to improve his mind in the same way. These
cottages he has built on his estate, no doubt to increase his
popularity, and perhaps at Ladykirk they may go down, but in Swinton
and Freeburgh people see things differently, and even Plainstanes and
Auldbiggin like no such new fangled notions put into working people's
heads. The idea of compelling proprietors to build such palaces for
their tenants' labourers, when the labourers themselves do not ask for
them, and do not care for them when they get them!--and I hear that
Hogarth says they should all build houses just like his. Mere clap-trap
to win political influence--for his own people break the windows, and
take no care of their fine new houses. I am sure property is burdened
heavily enough without this absurd crotchet for additional spoliation.
Old Cross Hall was crazy enough to leave him a lot of money as well as
the estate; he certainly might have left the money to the poor girls he
had brought up like his daughters, and not have left them to starve,
and to be a burden on the country; and young Cross Hall can see no
better way of spending it than in throwing it away for the chance of
this seat--but he has no chance. The bank-clerk's hoards will be
somewhat diminished before all his expenses are paid. We need take no
trouble--indeed, Mr. Fortescue might walk the course."

But, in spite of all this careless talk, Mr. Fortescue, and Mr.
Toutwell too, did take a great deal of trouble, and employed every
possible means to secure the certain majority of thirty which they
spoke of. The greatest hope they had was in a split between the new man
and the earl's party, and Mr. Fortescue's agents managed to make the
most of every little point in dispute.

Reports reached the earl from different quarters, mostly reliable, that
the return of Mr. Hogarth would not at all strengthen his party in the
country. He had but a small following, and was comparatively little
known. The county voters were mostly tenant farmers, who generally
voted with their landlords. The race of portioners, or small
proprietors, was dying out in ----shire, as it is in all the British
island, a