ared himself to be a strong conservative in comparison. The
meetings went on for several days through the various parts of the
questions, Lord Hartington, Lord Granville, and Sir Charles Dilke being
also taken into council--the last of the three being unrivalled master of
the intricate details.

The operation was watched with jealous eyes by the radicals, though they
had their guardians in the cabinet. To Mr. Bright who, having been all his
life denounced as a violent republican, was now in the view of the new
school hardly even so much as a sound radical, Mr. Gladstone thought it
well to write (Nov. 25) words of comfort, if comfort were needed:--

I wish to give you the assurance that in the private
communications which are now going on, liberal principles such as
we should conceive and term them, are in no danger. Those with
whom we confer are thinking without doubt of party interests, as
affected by this or that arrangement, but these are a distinct
matter, and I am not so good at them as some others; but the
general proposition which I have stated is I think one which I can
pronounce with some confidence.... The whole operation is
essentially delicate and slippery, and I can hardly conceive any
other circumstance in which it would be justified, but in the
present very peculiar case I think it is not only warranted, but
called for.

On November 27 all was well over; and Mr. Gladstone was able to inform the
Queen that "the delicate and novel communications" between the two sets of
leaders had been brought to a happy termination. "His first duty," he
said, "was to tender his grateful thanks to your Majesty for the wise,
gracious, and steady influence on your Majesty's part, which has so
powerfully contributed to bring about this accommodation, and to avert a
serious crisis of affairs." He (M52) adds that "his cordial
acknowledgments are due to Lord Salisbury and Sir Stafford Northcote for
the manner in which they have conducted their difficult communications."
The Queen promptly replied: "I gladly and thankfully return your
telegrams. To be able to be of use is all I care to live for now." By way
of winding up negotiations so remarkable, Mr. Gladstone wrote to Lord
Salisbury to thank him for his kindness, and to say that he could have
desired nothing better in candour and equity. Their conversation on the
Seats bill would leave him none but the most agreeable recoll