ll only waste your time, and the Party here
will be defeated. If you do not feel willing to be guided by
the old Leaders of the Party here, who know what is needed,
far better reconsider your position, and resign while there
is yet time.

Now, in addition to your _legal election expenses_ (between
L500 and L600), there will be the Registration which, however,
is a permissible payment. But, above all, railway fares,
conveyances, and sundry other expenses which are forbidden by
the Act, must be met by your friends, or success is hopeless.
Young HARRISON is standing at Chursfield. His father intends
him to win, and he will see to the needful!! That is the way
to work it, and to win. You must be prepared to pay at least
L150 (or to get someone to pay it for you) _for sundries_.
Even thus your expenditure will not reach L1000; dirt cheap
for a safe borough. Formerly a borough contest used to mean
L3,000, and a county anything up to L50,000!

I know you will believe me when I say that I have written
entirely in your own interest. Yours sincerely,

HENRY PARKINSON VULLIAMY.

What an old rascal! I answered very shortly, merely stating my
intention of coming to Billsbury on the 16th, in order to interview
the Committee. I must nip all this in the bud, or chuck the whole
business.

_Friday, May 16th, "George Hotel," Billsbury._--Came down to Billsbury
this afternoon. Had interview with a delegation from the Committee
in the Hotel. MOFFAT, BLISSOP, and JERRAM were there. They laid their
views before me. Much the same as VULLIAMY's letter. "Shame to wreck
the ship for want of a ha'porth of tar," said BLISSOP. "Gentlemen,"
I said, "if you think I'm going to handle any of this tar, or do any
dirty work, you are mistaken. I am willing to help in the Registration
and to pay proper subscriptions, but I won't budge a step outside the
Corrupt Practices Act, so far as my election expenses are concerned.
If you want someone who will make illegal payments, go somewhere else.
I'm quite willing to resign. Now you know my opinion, and I leave you
to confer with your colleagues." With that I left them. Met them again
two hours later. All three looking thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
Said they had reconsidered the matter, and begged me to think no more
about it. They were determined, they said, to use only legal means in
fighting the election. So that blew over.