governing England.

'I heartily wish I could clear out of the whole busine&s for the
next twelve months at least. I feel that there is no longer any
security for anything while Mr. Gladstone remains the foremost
figure in politics. But as between us two let nothing come.

'Yours ever sincerely,

'J. Chamberlain.'

'On May 7th Chamberlain wrote:

'"I hope it will all come right in the end, and though not so
optimist as I was, I do believe that 'le jour se fera.'

'"I got more names yesterday against the Bill. I have ninety-three
now. Labouchere declares still that Mr. G. means to give way, and
has now a plan for the retention of Irish members which is to go to
Cabinet to-day or to-morrow."

'On May 18th I presided at the special meeting of the London Liberal
and Radical Council, of which I was President, which discussed the
Home Rule Bill; but I merely presided without expressing opinions,
and I discouraged the denunciations of Hartington and Chamberlain,
which, however, began to be heard, their names being loudly hissed.
On May 27th we had the meeting of the party on the Bill at the
Foreign Office, which I attended. But there was no expression of the
views of the minority.'