possible exertions to have every
and the earliest information on the subject of the election. I say
the election,--because, though the seat of the county is not yet
vacant, it is impossible but that it must soon be so. Any other man
than the present member must have died long ago; but Sir Timothy
Trimmer has been so undecided all his life that he cannot at present
make up his mind to die; and it is only by Death himself giving the
casting vote that the question can be decided. The writ for the
vacant county is expected to arrive by every mail, and in the
meantime I am on the alert for information. You know we are sure of
the barony of Ballysloughgutthery, and the boys of Killanmaul will
murder any one that dares to give a vote against you. We are sure of
Knockdoughty also, and the very pigs in Glanamuck would return you;
but I must put you on your guard on one point where you least
expected to be betrayed. You told me you were sure of Neck-or-nothing
Hall; but I can tell you you're out there; for the master of the
aforesaid is working heaven, earth, ocean, and all the little
fishes, in the other interest; for he is so over head and ears in
debt, that he is looking out for a pension, and hopes to get one
by giving his interest to the Honourable Sackville Scatterbrain,
who sits for the Borough of Old Goosebery at present, but whose
friends think his talents are worthy of a county. If Sack wins,
Neck-or-nothing gets a pension--that's _poz_. I had it from the
best authority. I lodge at a milliner's here:--no matter; more when
I see you. But don't be afraid; we'll bag Sack, and distance
Neck-or-nothing. But, seriously speaking, it's too good a joke that
O'Grady should use you in this manner, who have been so kind to him
in money matters: but, as the old song says, 'Poverty parts good
company;' and he is so cursed poor that he can't afford to know you
any longer, now that you have lent him all the money you had, and
the pension _in prospectu_ is too much for his feelings. I'll be
down with you again as soon as I can, for I hate the diabolical town
as I do poison. They have altered Stephen's Green--_ruined_ it I
should say. They have taken away the big ditch that was round it,
where I used to hunt water-rats when a boy. They are destroying the
place with their d----d improvements. All the d