city before that title be accorded to him?  Who knew aught of this man two years since,—­unless, indeed, it be some one who had burnt his wings in trafficking with him in some continental city?  Ask the character of this great British merchant in Hamburg and Vienna; ask it in Paris;—­ask those whose business here has connected them with the assurance companies of foreign countries, and you will be told whether this is a fit man to represent Westminster in the British parliament!’ There was much more yet; but such was the tone of the speech which Mr Alf made with the object of inducing the electors to vote for himself.

At two or three o’clock in the day, nobody knew how the matter was going.  It was supposed that the working-classes were in favour of...