“You must concede that there are abuses, Hawley,” said Mr. Hackbutt, foreseeing some political disagreement with his family lawyer. “I myself should never favor immoderate views⁠—in fact I take my stand with Huskisson⁠—but I cannot blind myself to the consideration that the non-representation of large towns⁠—”

“Large towns be damned!” said Mr. Hawley, impatient of exposition. “I know a little too much about Middlemarch elections. Let ’em quash every pocket borough tomorrow, and bring in every mushroom town in the kingdom⁠—they’ll only increase the expense of getting into Parliament. I go upon facts.”