ill not be considered superfluous:--

_May 16th._--Sleepy. Mathematics, few and shuffling, and lecture.
Read Canning's reform speeches at Liverpool and made extracts. Rode
out. Debate, which was adjourned. I am to try my hand to-morrow. My
thoughts were but ill-arranged, but I fear they will be no better
then. Wine with Anstice. Singing. Tea with Lincoln.

_May 17th._--Ethics. Little mathematics. A good deal exhausted in
forenoon from heat last night. Dined with White and had wine with
him, also with young Acland. Cogitations on reform, etc. Difficult
to _select_ matter for a speech, not to gather it. _Spoke at the
adjourned debate for three-quarters of an hour_; immediately after
Gaskell, who was preceded by Lincoln. Row afterwards and
adjournment. Tea with Wordsworth.

When Gladstone sat down, one of his contemporaries has written, 'we all
of us felt that an epoch in our lives had occurred. His father was so
well pleased with the glories of the speech and with its effect, that he
wished to have it published. Besides his speech, besides the composition
of sturdy placards against the monstrous bill, and besides the
preparation of an elaborate petition[51] and the gathering of 770
signatures to it, the ardent anti-reformer, though the distance from the
days of doom in the examination schools was rapidly shrinking, actually
sat down to write a long pamphlet (July 1831) and sent it to Hatchard,
the publisher. Hatchard doubted the success of an anonymous pamphlet,
and replied in the too familiar formula that has frozen so many thousand
glowing hearts, that he would publish it if the author would take the
money risk. The most interesting thing about it is the criticism of the
writer's shrewd and wise father upon his son's performance (too long for
reproduction here). He went with his son in the main, he says, 'but I
cannot go all your lengths,' and the language of his judgment sheds a
curious light upon the vehement temperament of Mr. Gladstone at this
time as it struck an affectionate yet firm and sober monitor.

* * * * *

HEARS HIS FIRST DEBATE

In the autumn of 1831 Mr. Gladstone took some trouble to be present on
one of the cardinal occasions in this fluctuating history:--

_October 3rd to 8th._--Journey to London. From Henley in
Blackstone's chaise. Present at five nights' debate