Diary – James Losh – 21 Mar 1833

A final meeting of the committee was held today and it was determined to abandon the petition agst Mr. Bell upon condition that Mr. Clayton undertook to give up that ag'st Mr. Beaumont and to pay the expenses incurred already in promoting the petition ag't Mr. Bell.   We found that we had not above £800 subscribed including £100 which I undertook to make good.   I however held out an assurance that I could procure as much as wou'd bring up the whole to £1000.   And I strongly urged them to wait until Sunday (24th inst.) on which day I thought it more than probable than I should procure what we wanted, viz. as much as wou'd make up £1500 - the sum stated to be necessary to secure our success.

The committee, at best only a feeble party, gradually melted down to 3 or 4 - and I by no means blame Mr. Philipson (the petitioner) or Mr. Potter (his surety) for shrinking from a serious responsibility with nothing but promises and hopes to support them.

I declined having any thing to do with any negotiation whatever with Mr. Clayton, or anyone else, as Mr. Bell's Agent.   I soon heard, however, that Mr. Clayton at once closed with the terms proposed and the whole matter was speedily settled.   Mr. Beaumont's conduct in this matter has been by no means creditable to him.   After expressing in the strongest terms the absolute necessity there was to prosecute the petition with vigour - particularly after he found that one was presented ag't. himself - he seems to have made a private agreement with Mr. Bell (even proposing it first) that both petitions should be withdrawn.   And this no doubt operated considerably upon the committee, in making them less sanguine and less zealous in their proceedings.

The Whig Gentry, with a few exceptions, are, in Northumberland a set of very shabby fellows, and the inhabitants of that county, generally speaking, a cold hearted, selfish race.   I have exerted myself zealously in this business, but have found but little support and I am sick, very sick, of North'd. politics.   Henceforth I mean to stick to my profession and to withdraw as much as possible (gradually and quietly) from all but professional connection with Newcastle and North'd.   I will give up by degrees all my subscriptions to public charities, except those connected with education or literature, and so avoid public meetings in any degree connected with electioneering.