back seventeen years after, upon his refusal in 1880 to serve in a
place below the first, wrote: "I conceive that I was plainly right in
declining it, for had I acted otherwise, I should have placed the facts of
the case in conflict with its rights, and with the just expectations of
the country. Besides, as the head of a five years' ministry, and as still
in full activity, I should have been strangely placed as the subordinate
of one twenty years my junior, and comparatively little tested in public
life."

As the diary records, on Monday, April 12, Lord Wolverton left Hawarden,
and was to see the two liberal leaders the same day. He did so, and
reported briefly to his chief at night:--

I hope the Plimsoll matter(369) is at an end. The clubs to-night
think that Lord Beaconsfield will meet parliament, and that when
the time comes, if asked, he will advise that Hartington should be
sent for. I do not believe either. I have seen Lord Granville and
Hartington; both came here upon my arrival, and Adam with them.
Lord Granville hopes you may be in London on Friday. I told him I
thought you would be. He has gone to Walmer, and will come up on
Friday. He has a good deal to think of in the meantime as to "the
position of the party." I need not say more than this, as it
embraces the whole question, which he _now quite appreciates_....
Nothing could be more cordial and kind than Granville and
Hartington, but I hardly think till to-day they _quite_ realised
the _position_, which I confess seems to me as clear as the sun at
noon. They will neither of them speak to any one till Friday, when
Lord Granville hopes to see you. Adam is much pleased with your
kind note to him. He has gone home till Friday. It is well to be
away just now, for the gossip and questioning is unbearable.

Acknowledging this on the following day (April 13), Mr. Gladstone says to
Lord Wolverton:--

The claim, so to speak, of Granville and Hartington, or rather, I
should say, of Granville with Hartington as against me, or rather
as compared with me, is complete. My labours as an individual
cannot set me up as a Pretender. Moreover, if they should on
surveying their position see fit to apply to me, there is only one
form and ground of application, so far as I see, which could be
seriously entertained by me, namely, their conviction that on the
ground of pu