may be right the week after to make one
which has a contrary effect, and then the congratulators become
revilers. I knew when I began to write that I should be
disagreeable, but had hoped not to be so as early as the second
page. However, having got into the complaining mood, I will not
hurry out of it; and I shall be surprised if you do not admit that
I have some reason for my complaints.

For the last ten days John has been urged and pressed and
threatened and coaxed and assailed by all the various arts of every
variety of politician to induce him to give up Reform! Mind,
_I_ say give up, where _they_ say put off, because I know
they mean give up; though cowards as they are in this as in
everything else, they _dare_ not say what they mean. Will you
believe that the language poured into my pained and wounded and
offended but very helpless ears, day after day, by official
friends, is to the effect that the country is apathetic on Reform,
and that therefore it should not be proceeded with; that Reform is
a measure calculated to produce excitement, conflict, disturbance
in the country, and therefore it should not be proceeded with; that
John having given a pledge was bound, "oh yes, certainly," to
redeem it, and that all the world will agree he _has_ most
nobly redeemed it, if he lets his Bill fall on the floor of the
House of Commons to-morrow, never to be picked up again; that if he
proceeds with it, he will be universally reproached for allowing
personal hostility to Lord Palmerston to influence him to the
injury of the country; that his character is so high that if he
gave it up, it would be utterly impossible for any creature to
raise a doubt of his sincerity in bringing it forward; that
dissolution or resignation are revolution and ruin and disgrace;
that the caballers are wrong, quite wrong, but that we must look at
the general question and the possible results (a hackneyed
expression which may sound wise but of which I too well know the
drift); that it may often be very honourable to abandon friends and
supporters with whom we agree, to conciliate the shabbies with whom
we differ; that, of course, they would be too happy to be out of
office, but people must not consult their own wishes; that I must
be aware that Lord John is supposed sometimes to be a little
obstinate