asure," and the torrid heat of the meeting almost
broke him down, but friends around him heard him murmur, "I must do it,"
and bracing himself with tremendous effort he went on. Two days later
(June 28) he wound up the campaign in a speech at Liverpool, which even
old and practised political hands who were there, found the most
magnificent of them all. Staying at Courthey, the residence of his
nephews, in the morning he enters, "Worked up the Irish question once more
for my last function. Seven or eight hours of processional uproar, and a
speech of an hour and forty minutes to five or six thousand people in
Hengler's Circus. Few buildings give so noble a presentation of an
audience. Once more my voice held out in a marvellous manner. I went in
bitterness, in the heat of my spirit, but the hand of the Lord was strong
upon me."

He had no sooner returned to Hawarden, than he wrote to tell Mrs.
Gladstone (July 2) of a stroke which was thought to have a curiously
daemonic air about it:--

The Leith business will show you I have not been inactive
here.--former M.P. _attended my meeting in the Music Hall_, and was
greeted by me accordingly (he had voted against us after wobbling
about much). Hearing by late post yesterday that waiting to the
last he had then declared against us, I telegraphed down to
Edinburgh in much indignation, that they might if they liked put
me up against him, and I would go down again and speak if they
wished it. They seem to have acted with admirable pluck and
promptitude. Soon after mid-day to-day I received telegrams to say
I am elected for Midlothian,(212) and _also for Leith_,--having
retired rather than wait to be beaten. I told them instantly to
publish this, as it may do good.

The Queen, who had never relished these oratorical crusades whether he was
in opposition or in office, did not approve of the first minister of the
crown addressing meetings outside of his own constituency. In reply to a
gracious and frank letter from Balmoral, Mr. Gladstone wrote:--

He must state frankly what it is that has induced him thus to
yield [to importunity for speeches]. It is that since the death of
Lord Beaconsfield, in fact since 1880, the leaders of the
opposition, Lord Salisbury and Lord Iddesleigh (he has not
observed the same practice in the case of Sir M. H. Beach) have
established a rule of what may be called popular agi