w not how many, of Lord John's men
are not to be relied on. Whether they win or not (I expect the
latter, but my opinion is _naught_) they cannot carry this
house-tax nor their budget. But the mischief of the proposals they
have launched will not die with them.

_Dec. 15._--I write in great haste. Though it is Wednesday, I have
been down at the House almost all day to unravel a device of
Disraeli's about the manner in which the question is to be put, by
which he means to catch votes; and _I think_ after full
consultation with Mahon and Wilson Patten, that this will be
accomplished. The debate may close to-morrow night. I am sorry to
say I have a long speech fermenting in me, and I feel as a loaf
might in the oven. The government, it is thought, are likely to be
beaten.

_Dec. 16._--I have been engaged in the House till close on post
time. Disraeli trying to wriggle out of the question, and get it
put upon words without meaning, to enable more to vote as they
please, _i.e._ his men or those favourably inclined to him. But he
is beaten in this point, and we have now the right question before
us. It is not now quite certain whether we shall divide to-night; I
hope we may, for it is weary work sitting with a speech fermenting
inside one.[274]

_Dec. 18._--I have never gone through so exciting a passage of
parliamentary life. The intense efforts which we made to obtain,
and the government to escape, a definite issue, were like a fox
chase, and prepared us all for excitement. I came home at seven,
dined, read for a quarter of an hour, and actually contrived (only
think) to sleep in the fur cloak for another quarter of an hour;
got back to the House at nine. Disraeli rose at 10.20 [Dec. 16],
and from that moment, of course, I was on tenterhooks, except when
his superlative acting and brilliant oratory from time to time
absorbed me and made me quite _forget_ that I had to follow him. He
spoke until one. His speech as a whole was grand; I think the most
powerful I ever heard from him. At the same time it was disgraced
by shameless personalities and otherwise; I had therefore to begin
by attacking him for these. There was a question whether it would
not be too late, but when I heard his personalities I felt there
was no choice but to go on. My g