one's in Northampton, because he stood upon the distinct issue that, whatever the religious opinions of a candidate might be, they were sending him to Parliament to perform certain political duties, and if his political views were in accordance with theirs, religion had nothing to do with it.[4] The borough had previously returned two Tory members, Mr. Phipps, a local brewer, and Mr. Merewether, a lawyer. They were not themselves very formidable opponents to the Radical joint candidature. The clergy and the press urged the theological motive, as well as his greatly misunderstood views on Malthusianism against Bradlaugh. On the Sunday before the election the Vicar of St. Giles intimated that "to those noble men who loved Christ more than party, Jesus would say, 'Well done.'" But, in spite of nearly 2000 years of Christianity, heaven has not yet learned to bless the weaker cause, and on the election day, the figures stood--Labouchere (L.), 4518, Bradlaugh (R.), 3827, Phipps (C.), 3125, Merewether (C.), 2826. When the news of the poll was brought to Mr. Labouchere, who was smoking his cigarette in the coffee room of the hotel where he was staying, his only comment was a quiet chuckle, and the remark, "Oh, they've swallowed Bradlaugh, after all, have they?" {145} Great was the fury in the Conservative camp. "The bellowing blasphemer of Northampton," as Mr. Bradlaugh was amiably called by the _Sheffield Telegraph_, had to meet the full blast of popular prejudice, which was exploited to the utmost by his political opponents. The Tories were soon to have more than popular prejudice to exploit. On May 3, Mr. Bradlaugh, before taking his seat in the House of Commons, handed to Sir Thomas Erskine May, the Clerk of the House, the following statement: _To_ THE RIGHT HONBLE. THE SPEAKER. I, the undersigned, Charles Bradlaugh, beg respectfully to claim to be allowed to affirm as a person for the time being by law permitted to make a solemn affirmation or declaration, instead of taking an oath. On being invited by the Speaker (Sir Henry Brand) to make a statement to the House with regard to his claim, he replied: Mr. Speaker, I have only now to submit that the Parliamentary Oaths Act, 1866, gives the right to affirm to every person for the time being permitted to make affirmation. I am such a person; and under the Evidence Amendment Act, 1869, and the Evidence Amendment Act, 1870, I have repeatedly for nine years past affirmed in the highest courts of jurisdiction in this realm. I am ready to make the declaration or affirmation of allegiance.