nt which are opposed to my views upon it.

Up to this time I have not been able to bring myself to the point
of giving a vote in favour of your bills. I am grieved to have to
say this. As to the Land bill, if it comes to a second reading, I
fear I must vote against it. It may be that my hostility to the
rebel party, looking at their conduct since your government was
formed six years ago, disables me from taking an impartial view of
this great question. If I could believe them loyal, if they were
honourable and truthful men, I could yield them much; but I
suspect that your policy of surrender to them will only place more
power in their hands, to war with greater effect against the unity
of the three kingdoms with no increase of good to the Irish
people.

How then can I be of service to you or to the real interests of
Ireland if I come up to town? I cannot venture to advise you, so
superior to me in party tactics and in experienced statesmanship,
and I am not so much in accord with Mr. Chamberlain as to make it
likely that I can say anything that will affect his course. One
thing I may remark, that it appears to me that measures of the
gravity of those now before parliament cannot and ought not to be
thrust through the House by force of a small majority. The various
reform bills, the Irish church bill, the two great land bills,
were passed by very large majorities. In the present case, not
only the whole tory party oppose, but a very important section of
the liberal party; and although numerous meetings of clubs and
associations have passed resolutions of confidence in you, yet
generally they have accepted your Irish government bill as a
'basis' only, and have admitted the need of important changes in
the bill--changes which in reality would destroy the bill. Under
these circumstances it seems to me that more time should be given
for the consideration of the Irish question. Parliament is not
ready for it, and the intelligence of the country is not ready for
it. If it be possible, I should wish that no division should be
taken upon the bill. If the second reading should be carried only
by a _small_ majority, it would not forward the bill; but it would
strengthen the rebel party in their future agitation, and make it
more difficult for another session or another parliament to deal