You would, no doubt, be pleased to hear of Mr. Roscoe's election. There is certainly the semblance of political virtue in the Liverpool voters returning an avowed advocate of the abolition of the slave trade, yet when we consider that from ten to twelve thousand pounds have been expended by the friends of Mr. Roscoe in this contest, every thing like political virtue melts into thin air. I have a poor opinion of my countrymen in general, and my townsmen in particular, and am confident without such an expenditure, the worth and talents even of a Roscoe would have been wholly disregarded. […] I grant that a house of Commons composed of Roscoes, might do much, but a few virtuous men placed in the midst of corruption, are not only prevented from being useful, but there is a chance that they themselves, by coming familiar with political profligacy, may in time become more or less contaminated. He who should endeavour to purify a tub of soap-lees, by throwing into the putrid mass a few spoonful of essence of violets, would find himself wofully [sic] disappointed; yet such in my opinion is the state of the Imperial parliament.