attention.' 'Halifax will be all Local Government,' he wrote to Mr.
Frank Hill, 'which is necessary, as it is clear that Balfour and
Salisbury have cribbed my last year's Bill.'

'I may note here that on October 6th, at my Chelsea meeting, George
Russell told me that he had on the previous day induced Mr.
Gladstone to send for Chamberlain to Hawarden. On October 7th
Chamberlain wrote:

'"Hawarden Castle.

'"My Dear Dilke,

'"I was sent for here, but up to now I do not know why.... My
present object is to say that you made a capital speech, and that I
approve every word of it except the part about London Government.
But as to this I suppose that Londoners must have their way and
their own form of municipal government though I doubt if it will not
prove a fatal gift. Why will the papers invent differences between
you and me? I verily believe that if I spoke your speech, and you
spoke mine, they would still find the distinguishing characteristics
of each speaker unchanged. I thought your last part admirable and
just what I should have said. Yet the _Standard_ thinks it quite a
different note to the South London and Bradford speeches. Mr. G.
thinks Mr. Parnell's last speech more satisfactory I confess I had
not perceived the improvement. He (Mr. G.) is still very sweet on
National Councils."

'On October 9th Chamberlain wrote: