and Mr. Firth, who was a Gladstonian candidate and afterwards a Home
Rule member, seconding this resolution, which was carried
unanimously.'

'On April 20th Labouchere wrote to me as to an attempt which he was
making to heal the breach between Mr. Gladstone and Chamberlain.

'Chamberlain wrote on April 22nd from Highbury: "I got through my
meeting last night splendidly. Schnadhorst has been doing everything
to thwart me, but the whole conspiracy broke down completely in face
of the meeting, which was most cordially enthusiastic. The feeling
against the Land Bill was overwhelming. As regards Home Rule, there
is no love for the Bill, but only a willingness to accept the
principle as a necessity, and to hope for a recasting of the
provisions. There is great sympathy with the old man personally, and
at the same time a soreness that he did not consult his colleagues
and party. Hartington's name was hissed. They cannot forgive him for
going to the Opera House with Salisbury. I continue to receive many
letters of sympathy from Radicals and Liberals, and invitations to
address meetings, but I shall lie low now for some time. The
Caucuses in the country are generally with the Government, but there
will be a great number of abstentions at an election.... Parnell is
apparently telling a good many lies just now. He told W. Kenrick the
other day, not knowing his relationship at first, that I had made
overtures to him for Home Rule, which showed my opposition to Mr. G.
to be purely personal. I have sent him word that he has my leave to
publish anything ever written or said by me on the Irish Question,
either to him or to anyone else.... I have a list of 109 men who at
one time or another have promised to vote against the second
reading, but they are not all stanch, and I do not think any