on of plate deferred, ostensibly on the
ground of his health and necessity of going to German waters,
really because at present Gladstone refuses to take the chair at
the dinner, though attached to Brand, because many who had
deserted him (G.) would attend the dinner. Gladstone will not
countenance the appearance of a sham union when the party is
discredited. _June 7._--Attack on Gladstone as being in debt "hard
pressed by creditors," and therefore wishing for office. The
malice against him is wonderful. _29._--Dined at Newspaper Press
Fund. Gladstone in the chair, made a really faultless speech.
Never did I hear his voice better, nor the flow of his eloquence
more unbroken.

Two or three items more from Mr. Gladstone's diary are worth recording:--

_May 6._--The underground tone of the House most unsatisfactory.
_May 9._--Spoke earnestly and long for compound householders, in
vain. Beaten by 322-256. Much fatigued by heat and work. _May
28._--Spoke (perforce) on Disraeli's astonishing declaration of
consistency. _July 15._--Third reading of Reform bill. A remarkable
night. Determined at the last moment not to take part in the
debate, for fear of doing mischief on our own side.

The conservative leader himself was exposed to onslaughts from his
followers and confederates of the previous year as severe as have ever
fallen on the head of an English party. "Never," cried Mr. Lowe, in
desolation and chagrin, "never was there tergiversation so complete. Such
conduct may fail or not; it may lead to the retention or the loss of
office; but it merits alike the contempt of all honest men, and the
execration of posterity." Lord Cranborne, the chief conservative seceder,
described the bill in its final shape, after undergoing countless
transformations, as the result of the adoption of the principles of Bright
at the dictation of Gladstone. It was at Mr. Gladstone's demand that
lodgers were invested with votes; that the dual vote, voting papers,
educational franchise, savings-bank franchise, all disappeared; that the
distribution of seats was extended into an operation of enormously larger
scale. In his most biting style, Lord Cranborne deplored that the House
should have applauded a policy of legerdemain; talked about borrowing
their ethics from the political adventurer; regretted, above all things,
that the Reform bill should have been purchased at th