n's first
explanation, the Duke of Argyll, while placing the utmost reliance
on his personal honour and accuracy, "felt bound to observe that the
statement did not appear to be complete, for he had omitted to
explain what the nature of the communication [with Mr. Parnell]
absolutely was." Neither then nor two years later was the omission
made good. Curiously enough on the first occasion Lord Carnarvon did
not even mention that Lord Salisbury in any way shared his
responsibility for the interview, and in fact his language pointed
the other way. What remains is his asseveration, supported by Lord
Salisbury, that he had made no formal bargain with Mr. Parnell, and
gave him no sort of promise, assurance, or pledge. This is not only
entirely credible, it is certain; for the only body that could carry
out such a promise had not been consulted. "I may at least say this
of what went on outside the cabinet--that I had no communication on
the subject, _no authorisation_, and that I never communicated to
them even that which I had done."--_Hansard_, 306, p. 1258.

_ 145 E.g._ _Hans._ 306, pp. 1181, 1199.

146 Letter to the _Times_, June 12, 1886.

M88 A Remarkable Interview

_ 147 Hans._ 332, p. 336.

148 August 24, 1885.

M89 Lord Hartington And Mr. Chamberlain

149 Lord Hartington at Waterfoot, August 29.

150 June 17, 1885.

151 Warrington, September 8.

M90 Letter To Mr. Childers

_ 152 Life of Childers_, ii. p. 230.

153 Sept. 18, 1885.

154 Nov. 9, 1885.

155 Midlothian Speeches, p. 49.

_ 156 Ibid._ p. 39.

M91 Declarations From Lord Salisbury

157 Some of them are set out in Special Commission _Report_, pp. 99,
100.

158 See Mr. Gladstone upon these tactics in his fifth Midlothian speech,
Nov. 24, 1885. Also in the seventh, Nov. 28, pp. 159-60.

M92 Irish Manifesto
M93 In Midlothian

_ 159 Nineteenth Century_, November 1885; reprinted in _Later Gleanings_.

160 Speech in the Free Assembly Hall, Nov. 11, 1885.

M94 First Days

161 November 26, 1885.

_ 162 Result of General Election of 1885_:--

English and Welsh boroughs and universities, 93 L., 86 C., 1 P.
Metropolis, 26, 36, 0
English and Welsh counties, 152, 101, 0
Scottish boroughs, 30, 3, 0
Scottish counties, 32, 7, 0
Ireland, 0, 18, 85
Tot