with regard to the continuance, at the
present moment, of Mr. Parnell's leadership of the Irish party, I
have seen Mr. McCarthy on my arrival in town, and have inquired
from him whether I was likely to receive from Mr. Parnell himself
any communication on the subject. Mr. McCarthy replied that he was
unable to give me any information on the subject. I mentioned to
him that in 1882, after the terrible murder in the Phoenix Park,
Mr. Parnell, although totally removed from any idea of
responsibility, had spontaneously written to me, and offered to
take the Chiltern Hundreds, an offer much to his honour but one
which I thought it my duty to decline.

While clinging to the hope of a communication from Mr. Parnell, to
whomsoever addressed, I thought it necessary, viewing the
arrangements for the commencement of the session to-morrow, to
acquaint Mr. McCarthy with the conclusion at which, after using
all the means of observation and reflection in my power, I had
myself arrived. It was that notwithstanding the splendid services
rendered by Mr. Parnell to his country, his continuance at the
present moment in the leadership would be productive of
consequences disastrous in the highest degree to the cause of
Ireland. I think I may be warranted in asking you so far to expand
the conclusion I have given above, as to add that the continuance
I speak of would not only place many hearty and effective friends
of the Irish cause in a position of great embarrassment, but would
render my retention of the leadership of the liberal party, based
as it has been mainly upon the prosecution of the Irish cause,
almost a nullity. This explanation of my views I begged Mr.
McCarthy to regard as confidential, and not intended for his
colleagues generally, if he found that Mr. Parnell contemplated
spontaneous action; but I also begged that he would make known to
the Irish party, at their meeting to-morrow afternoon, that such
was my conclusion, if he should find that Mr. Parnell had not in
contemplation any step of the nature indicated. I now write to
you, in case Mr. McCarthy should be unable to communicate with Mr.
Parnell, as I understand you may possibly have an opening
to-morrow through another channel. Should you have such an
opening, I beg you to make known to Mr. Parnell the conclusion
itself, whi