'"I am not quite certain what was Mr. G.'s object in sending for me.
I suppose he desired to minimize our conditions as far as possible.
He was very pleasant and very well, with no apparent trace of his
hoarseness. He spoke at considerable length on the Irish Question;
said he was more than ever impressed with the advantages of the
Central Council scheme, and had written strongly to that effect to
Hartington. But I do not gather that he has any definite plan under
present circumstances. He thought Parnell's last speech was more
moderate (I confess I do not agree with him), and I suppose that if
we get a majority his first effort will be to find a _modus
vivendi_, and to enter into direct communications with this object.

'"As regards Radical programme I stuck to the terms of your speech,
namely, first, compulsory powers for acquiring land to be inserted
in the Local Government Bill. Second, freedom to speak and vote as
we liked on questions of free schools. He boggled a good deal over
this, and said it was very weakening to a Government; but I told him
we could not honestly do less, and that I expected a large majority
of Liberals were in favour of the proposal. We did not come to any
positive conclusion, nor do I think that he has absolutely made up
his mind, but the tone of the conversation implied that he was
seeking to work with us, and had no idea of doing without us. At the
close he spoke of his intention to give up the leadership soon after
the new Parliament met. I protested, and said that if he did this
our whole attitude would be changed, and we must and should ask from
Hartington much larger concessions than we were prepared to accept
from him. I expect the force of circumstances will keep him in his
place till the end, though I believe he is sincerely anxious to be
free."' [Footnote: Mr. Gladstone's account of this interview is to
be found in Morley's _Life of Gladstone_, vol. iii., p. 224.]