g. 28, 1886._--We found Doellinger reading in the
garden. The course of his life is quite unchanged. His
constitution does not appear at all to have given way. He beats me
utterly in standing, but that is not saying much, as it never was
one of my gifts; and he is not conscious (eighty-seven last
February) of any difficulty with the heart in going up hill. His
deafness has increased materially, but not so that he cannot carry
on very well conversation with a single person. We have talked
much together even on disestablishment which he detests, and
Ireland as to which he is very apprehensive, but he never seems to
shut up his mind by prejudice. I had a good excuse for giving him
my pamphlet,(213) but I do not know whether he will tell us what
he thinks of it. He was reading it this morning. He rises at six
and breakfasts alone. Makes a _good_ dinner at two and has nothing
more till the next morning. He does not appear after dark. On the
whole one sees no reason why he should not last for several years
yet.

"When Dr. Doellinger was eighty-seven," Mr. Gladstone wrote later, "he
walked with me seven miles across the hill that separates the Tegernsee
from the next valley to the eastward. At that time he began to find his
sleep subject to occasional interruptions, and he had armed himself
against them by committing to memory the first three books of the
_Odyssey_ for recital."(214) Of Mr. Gladstone Doellinger had said in 1885,
"I have known Gladstone for thirty years, and would stand security for him
any day; his character is a very fine one, and he possesses a rare
capability for work. I differ from him in his political views on many
points, and it is difficult to convince him, for he is clad in triple
steel."(215)

Another high personage in the Roman catholic world sent him letters
through Acton, affectionately written and with signs of serious as well as
sympathising study of his Irish policy. A little later (Sept. 21) Mr.
Gladstone writes to his wife at Hawarden:--

Bishop Strossmayer may make a journey all the way to Hawarden, and
it seems that Acton may even accompany him, which would make it
much more manageable. His coming would be a great compliment, and
cannot be discouraged or refused. It would, however, be a serious
affair, for he speaks no language with which as a spoken tongue we
are familiar, his great cards being Sl