t the form of what has been done,
and which substantially you cannot alter.

We hear this evening that Lord J. Townshend is to oppose Lord
Hood.

Ever most affectionately yours,
W. W. G.

Lord Hood's contest for Westminster was now dividing the attention of
the Government with graver questions. Mr. Grenville and Sir William
Young furnish some details, those of the latter bringing the features of
the scene vividly before us.

MR. W. W. GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Whitehall, July 30th, 1788.

My dear Brother,

I have not written to you for the last ten or twelve days, on
account of my time being wholly taken up with the election. You
know me well enough to imagine, that a canvass of this sort for
a fortnight together, especially in such a place as Westminster,
was no very agreeable undertaking for me. We were, however, in
want of nothing but active exertion; and I felt that I owed it
to the cause in which we are embarked to set the example. I am
persuaded, that if this had been done a little sooner, nothing
could have prevented our success; but Lord Hood's security for
the first three days, and his total inactivity for three days
more, after the opposition had been declared, gave the enemy so
much the start of us, that it is wonderful we should have been
able to do what we have. As it is, Townshend will certainly be
returned. It is impossible, without more minute inquiry, to
speak with _real_ confidence as to the event of a petition. It
is _unquestionable_, that their majority is owing to bad votes,
and to bribed votes; but in what proportion, it is not yet
possible to say. Before a Committee, it will be easy to detect
and strike off the former; but the proof of bribery is often
difficult, if not impossible. It must, therefore, depend on a
more minute inquiry to decide what probability there is of
succeeding in a petition. Even if we fail, this contest has, I
am satisfied, laid the foundation of an opposition at the
general election, not to Townshend only, but also to Fox. The
advantage of this you will easily see, is not the one vote, more
or less, in the House of Commons, or any _eclat_ from this
particular place; but the benefit we shall derive from carrying
the war into their head-quarters, and engaging their attention
to one point--an object, w