ock
and bewilderment they did not instantly plant themselves in the judgment
seat, always so easily ascended by Englishmen with little at stake. The
politicians in Dublin did not hesitate. A great meeting was held at
Leinster Hall in Dublin on the Thursday (November 20th). The result was
easy to foresee. Not a whisper of revolt was heard. The chief nationalist
newspaper stood firm for Mr. Parnell's continuance. At least one
ecclesiastic of commanding influence was supposed to be among the
journal's most ardent prompters. It has since been stated that the bishops
were in fact forging bolts of commination. No lurid premonitory fork or
sheet flashed on the horizon, no rumble of the coming thunders reached the
public ear.

Three days after the decree in the court, the great English liberal
organization chanced to hold its annual meeting at Sheffield (November
20-21). In reply to a request of mine as to his views upon our position,
Mr. Gladstone wrote to me as follows:--

_Nov. 19, 1890._--Your appeal as to your meeting of to-morrow gives
matter for thought. I feel (1) that the Irish have abstractedly a
right to decide the question; (2) that on account of Parnell's
enormous services--he has done for home rule something like what
Cobden did for free trade, set the argument on its legs--they are
in a position of immense difficulty; (3) that we, the liberal
party as a whole, and especially we its leaders, have for the
moment nothing to say to it, that we must be passive, must wait
and watch. But I again and again say to myself, I say I mean in
the interior and silent forum, "It'll na dee." I should not be
surprised if there were to be rather painful manifestations in the
House on Tuesday. It is yet to be seen what our Nonconformist
friends, such a man as ----, for example, or such a man as ---- will
say.... If I recollect right, Southey's _Life of Nelson_ was in my
early days published and circulated by the Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge. It would be curious to look back upon it and
see how the biographer treats his narrative at the tender points.
What I have said under figure 3 applies to me beyond all others,
and notwithstanding my prognostications I shall maintain an
extreme reserve in a position where I can do no good (in the
present tense), and might by indiscretion do much harm. You will
doubtless communicate with Harcou