ons which expressed our opinions.

The more serious point, however, was that they all wished me to
insist upon taking the motion into my own hands; and announcing
this to Lord J. Russell as well as to Lord Derby. As to the second
I had no difficulty, could I have acceded to the first. But I did
not doubt that Disraeli would still keep hold of so much of his
notice of Feb. 3 as had not been set aside by the budget. I said
that from motives which I could neither describe nor conquer I was
quite unable to undertake to enter into any squabble or competition
with him for the possession of a post of prominence. We had much
conversation on political prospects: Graham wishing to see me lead
the Commons under Lord John as prime minister in the Lords;
admitting that the same thing would do under Lord Derby, but for
Disraeli, who could not be thrown away like a sucked orange; and I
vehemently deploring our position, which I said, and they admitted,
was generally condemned by the country.

I again went to Derby, as he had requested, at five; and he told me
that he had had with him Malmesbury, Hardwicke, Disraeli, Pakington,
Walpole, Lytton. They had all agreed that the best motion would be a
resolution (from Disraeli) on Monday, before the Speaker left the
chair, which would virtually rest the question on deficit. I made
two verbal suggestions on the resolution to improve its form.

CO-OPERATION WITH MR. DISRAELI

Late in the evening Lord Derby writes, enclosing a note received at
dinner from Disraeli, 'I hope I may take it for granted that there is
now a complete understanding between us as to the move on Monday night.'
'My dear lord,' runs the note, 'I like the resolution as amended. It is
improved. Yours ever, D.' When Monday came, the move was duly made, and
Gladstone and Disraeli again fought side by side as twin champions of
the cause of reduced expenditure. Time had incensed Mr. Gladstone still
further, and he conducted a terrific fusillade. He recounted how between
1842 and 1853 two and twenty millions of taxation had been taken off
without costing a farthing. 'A man may be glad and thankful to have been
an Englishman and a member of the British parliament during these years,
bearing his part in so blessed a work. But if it be a blessed work, what
are we to say of him who begins the undoing of it?' The p