conversation in the country, Sir James
had said to Lord Londonderry that parties never could go on as they
were, and that they must ultimately lapse into _two_; this, Lord
Londonderry reported to Mr Disraeli, who told it to Lord Stanley;
and Mr Disraeli wrote to Lord Londonderry, stating that if certain
advantages and reliefs were given to the landed interests, he
should not cling to Protection; in short, much what he said in his
speech--and that he was quite prepared to give up the lead in the
House of Commons to Sir J. Graham. Sir James answered that he never
meant anything by what he had said, and that he had no wish whatever
to join Lord Stanley; that if he had, he was so intimate with Lord
Stanley that he would have communicated direct with him.

Sir James said that as soon as he heard from Lord John, he thought
_what_ he wished to see him for, and that he had been thinking over
it, and had been talking to Lord Hardinge and Mr Cardwell. That he
did wish to support the Government, but that he thought he could be of
more use if he did not join the Government, and was able to give them
an independent support; that he had not attempted to lead Sir Robert
Peel's followers; that many who had followed Sir Robert would _not_
follow _him_; that he thought the Government in great danger; that
the Protectionists, Radicals, and Irish Members would try to take
an opportunity to overset them (the Government); that should the
Government be turned out, he would find no difficulty in joining them;
or should they go on, that by-and-by it might be easier to do so; but
that at this moment he should be injuring himself without doing
the Government any real service; besides which, there were so many
measures decided on which he was ignorant of, and should have to
support. Lord John told him that were he in the Cabinet, he would have
the means of stating and enforcing his opinions, and that at whatever
time he joined them, there would always be the same difficulty about
measures which had already been decided on. He (Sir James) is not
quite satisfied with the Papal Aggression Bill, which he thinks will
exasperate the Irish; he also adverted to the report of our having
protested against Austria bringing her Italian Provinces, etc., into
the German Confederation. Lord John told him that this had not been
done, but that we meant to ask for explanations.

In short, Lord John said it was evident that Sir James thought the
Government in grea