Autograph Letter Signed from '<James?> Bell' of Hastings, written while dying, to James Wyld, member of Parliament for Bodmin, regarding a Parliamentary Bill on the sale of poisons.

12mo, 4 pp. 64 lines. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He was 'mistaken about the Marylebone Election - Having been a prisoner so much lately' he had 'not seen many electors & those whom I saw thought it was too late & regretted to see a split in the liberal party'. He 'did not influence a single vote being too unwell to take any part in it'. He 'left town to escape the excitement'. He has 'already troubled our new Representative with a little Parliamentary Business', and is sending Wyld 'some documents on the same subject by the Book post'. He hopes to be in London in the next few days, and hopes to have 'a few minutes conversation [...] to whisper any explanation that may be required'. He lists the documents, which include 'the Pharmaceutical Journal for March with two articles on the Sale of Poisons Bill. (the first & second articles -)' and 'a circular sent by the Poison Committee of the Pharml. Society to our correspondents in the Country'. 'Mr. Walpole declines to insert [certain clauses] in his Bill reserving that part of the question for another Bill which I fear will not be passed during the remains of my life'. In December 1854 Bell had stood unsuccessfully in the Liberal interest at a by-election for the borough of Marylebone.