[117] Daily Telegraph, August 3, 1868.
[118] In October Mr Keevil, chairman of the Irish Reform League, wrote again to Northampton. "Our members," he said, "consist of every denomination of Christians, and although we regret that Mr Bradlaugh does not believe in matters of religion as we do, and probably Mr Bradlaugh also regrets that we are not of the same religious opinions as himself, yet we do not think such controversial matters can hinder his usefulness for the people's work in the House of Commons. We in Ireland have had special opportunities of knowing the value of Mr Bradlaugh's works.... The field of Mr Bradlaugh's early labours was Ireland; the Lecture Hall in French Street, Dublin, was the arena of his triumphs, and the people soon recognised in him a champion. Private Bradlaugh was well known in County Cork many years ago as a man who would maintain the oppressed tenants against the injustice of landlordism."
[119] The latter part of this myth, at least, seems to have gained credence, for in July of this year (1894) Mr Courtney is reported to have said at Chelsea that "Mr Bradlaugh had to try constituency after constituency because he could not get a majority in any particular place."
[120] See article on "Electioneering Rowdies," October 1868, in which, with innate delicacy, it speaks of Mr Bradlaugh as "impudent."
[121] This song was written by a young shoemaker named James Wilson, and was set to music by another poor but gifted man, John Lowry. Poor Wilson died early, but his song became a sort of war-cry in Northampton, and will live long in the hearts of his fellow-townsmen.
[122] Page 28.
[123] These were the figures given in National Reformer, November 22, 1868. The Northampton Mercury of that week gives them rather differently, and the Souvenir brought out in June 1894 again differently. They give the poll as follows:—
| Mercury. | Souvenir. | |
| Gilpin | 2691 | 2623 |
| Henley | 2154 | 2111 |
| Merewether | 1634 | 1631 |
| Lendrick | 1396 | 1374 |
| Bradlaugh | 1086 | 1069 |
| Lees | 492 | 492 |
[124] Praying that there should be no breach of the peace.
[125] Daily News.