er conception of my duty in parliament except
the simple one of acting independently, without faction, and
without subserviency, on all questions as they arise. To the
formation of a party, or even of the nucleus of a party, there are
in my circumstances many obstacles. I have been talking over these
matters with Manning this morning, and I found him to be of the
opinion which is deliberately mine, namely, that it is better that
I should not be the head or leader even of my own contemporaries;
that there are others of them whose position is less embarrassed,
and more favourable and powerful, particularly from birth or wealth
or both. Three or four years ago, before I had much considered the
matter, and while we still felt as if Peel were our actual chief in
politics, I did not think so, but perhaps thought or assumed that
as, up to the then present time, I had discharged some prominent
duties in office and in parliament, the first place might naturally
fall to me when the other men were no longer in the van. But since
we have become more disorganised, and I have had little sense of
union except with the men of my own standing, and I have _felt_
more of the actual state of things, and how this or that would work
in the House of Commons, I have come to be satisfied in my own mind
that, if there were a question whether there should be a leader and
who it should be, it would be much better that either Lincoln or
Herbert should assume that post, whatever share of the mere work
might fall on me. I have viewed the matter very drily, and so
perhaps you will think I have written on it.

To turn then to what is more amusing, the battle of last night.
After much consideration and conference with Herbert (who has had an
attack of bilious fever and could not come down, though much better,
and soon, I hope, to be out again, but who agreed with me), I
determined that I ought to vote last night with Disraeli; and made
up my mind accordingly, which involved saying why, at some period of
the night. I was anxious to do it early, as I knew Graham would
speak on the other side, and did not wish any conflict even of
reasoning with him. But he found I was going to speak, and I suppose
may have had some similar wish. At any rate, he had the opportunity
of following Stafford who began