me. Therefore
am I not disturbed "though the hills be carried into the middle of
the sea."

III

_To Lord Acton._

_Hawarden, Jan. 13, 1887._--It is with much pleasure that I read
your estimate of Chamberlain. His character is remarkable, as are
in a very high degree his talents. It is one of my common sayings
that to me characters of the political class are the most
mysterious of all I meet, so that I am obliged to travel the road
of life surrounded by an immense number of judgments more or less
in suspense, and getting on for practical purposes as well as I
can.

I have with a clear mind and conscience not only assented to but
promoted the present conferences, and I had laboured in that sense
long before Mr. Chamberlain made his speech at Birmingham. It will
surprise as well as grieve me if they do harm; if indeed they do
not do some little good. Large and final arrangements, it would be
rash I think to expect.

The tide is flowing, though perhaps not rapidly, in our favour.
Without our lifting a finger, a crumbling process has begun in
both the opposite parties. "In quietness and in confidence shall
be your strength" is a blessed maxim, often applicable to
temporals as well as spirituals. I have indeed one temptation to
haste, namely, that the hour may come for me to say farewell and
claim my retirement; but inasmuch as I remain _in situ_ for the
Irish question only, I cannot be so foolish as to allow myself to
ruin by precipitancy my own purpose. Though I am writing a paper
on the Irish question for Mr. Knowles, it is no trumpet-blast, but
is meant to fill and turn to account a season of comparative
quietude.

The death of Iddesleigh has shocked and saddened us all. He was
full of excellent qualities, but had not the backbone and strength
of fibre necessary to restore the tone of a party demoralised by
his former leader. In gentleness, temper, sacrifice of himself to
the common purpose of his friends, knowledge, quickness of
perception, general integrity of intention, freedom from personal
aims, he was admirable.... I have been constantly struggling to
vindicate a portion of my time for the pursuits I want to follow,
but with very little success indeed. Some rudiments of Olympian
religion have partially taken shape. I have a paper ready for
K