# The Senator’s Second Letter explained — The American Senator > Chapter companion for The American Senator by Anthony Trollope. ## What happens Senator Gotobed, in London, becomes increasingly disillusioned with English society and politics. He studies the workings of Parliament, attends the opening of the session, and observes a corrupt election in the pocket borough of Quinborough, where a marquis's nominee wins overwhelmingly. He also deals with the aftermath of the Goarly case, paying off Bearside's legal fees, and reflects on his strained relationship with John Morton, who fell ill after their quarrel. Despite his doubts, the Senator resolves to continue his mission of exposing what he sees as English hypocrisy and feudalism. ## Themes in this chapter ### American vs. British Values The Senator's critique of English elections, feudalism, and social hierarchy embodies the clash between American democratic ideals and British aristocratic traditions. ### Justice and Class Bias The Senator insists that Goarly's rascality does not negate his right to protection from trespass, highlighting the tension between legal principle and class prejudice. ### Hypocrisy and Moral Complexity The Senator feels the sting of English social rebuke while pursuing his mission, and is troubled by the gap between English self-perception and reality. ## Character check-ins ### Senator Gotobed The Senator is deeply troubled by English customs and politics, studying Parliament and witnessing a corrupt election. He also settles the Bearside legal bill and feels remorse over his quarrel with John Morton. ### John Morton Morton quarrels with the Senator after the dinner at Mr. Mainwaring's, telling him he misbehaved. He falls ill with gastric fever shortly after. ### Mounser Green Mounser Green arranges for the Senator to have a seat at the opening of Parliament. ### Lord Rufford The Senator reflects on feeling the lordship even from such a popinjay as Lord Rufford. ### Goarly Goarly has turned evidence against Scrobby, confirming his rascality, but the Senator insists this does not affect the principle of the case. ### Bearside Bearside sends the Senator a bill for legal costs, eventually settling for £20 after the Senator employs a London attorney. ## Key lines > It had been the duty of those 500 voters to show to the world that in the exercise of a privilege entrusted to them for the public service they had not been under the dictation of their rich neighbour. Instead of doing so they had, almost unanimously, grovelled in the dust at their rich neighbour’s feet. The Senator believed the voters should have demonstrated their independence from the marquis, but instead they submissively supported his candidate. _The Senator's outrage at the pocket borough election illustrates his view of English political servility._ > The man’s right to his own land—his right to be protected from pheasants and foxes, from horses and hounds—was not lessened by the fact that he was a poor ignorant squalid dishonest wretch. The Senator argues that Goarly's personal dishonesty does not affect his legal right to protect his property from hunting. _The Senator's insistence on principle over character highlights the theme of justice and class bias._ > When in private society I inveigh against pickpockets I cannot imagine, sir, that there should be a pickpocket in the company. The Senator defends his blunt criticism of church livings by saying he did not know any buyer of livings was present. _This exchange with Morton shows the Senator's inability to grasp English social sensitivities._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/li-the-senator-s-second-letter - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_senator_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters