File FG 1/10. - Lengthy account of the illness and death of his niece Charlotte Dibgy, 7 Apr. - 1 June 1837 (pp. 60-112) ...,

Lengthy account of the illness and death of his niece Charlotte Dibgy, 7 Apr. - 1 June 1837 (pp. 60-112); possibility of standing for Birmingham which he declined, 18-19, 24 May 1837 (pp. 90, 94). From June to Dec. 1837 the diary is in narrative form, written in early 1838, and includes his recollections of his electioneering activities in co. Rad. in 1836, his refusal to stand in the general election in the said county, news about [Walter] Wilkins' (the M.P. for the said county) expected death and the possibility of Sir John Walsh standing for the county (pp. 119-22, 140-2, 149-52) and an account of his decision to stand for Poole, Dorset, together with a perceptive description of political influences and bitter party conflicts there and an account of his election campaign there (pp. 123-39, 143-5). Daily entries resume from 1 Jan. 1838 and these include attending the co. Rad. quarter sessions and political discussions there, 3-7 Jan. (pp. 164-7), the Sudbury by-election where he was elected, 15-27 Mar. (pp. 230-6); another visit to co. Rad. to declare his intention to contest the seat at the next vacancy, 2-10 Apr. (pp. 238-45); and a petition to unseat him at Sudbury (pp. 238-45). The diary breaks off again on 23 Apr. 1838 and continues in narrative form for the remainder of the vol. This narrative, written in Nov. 1838 is arranged thematically and not chronologically and contains further accounts of the Sudbury election petition [it was abandoned in May] together with remarks about the growth of party and about the continuation of bribery and treating, especially at borough elections (pp. 255-81); acceptance of a lease of a house in co. Rad. to use as a temporary residence and thus removing one of the chief objections to his candidature of co. Rad., that of non-residency (p. 259); his parliamentary votes during the session and a meeting with Peel about his (Sir John Walsh's) proposals relating to the Irish Municipal Franchise Bill which were adopted in the Lords' amendments to the Bill which eventually helped to defeat the Bill (pp. 259-60).