ament meets, I
think the proper course would be for the Speaker to say that he
had received a certificate of vacancy from two members, but not
the notice from the member himself, and having doubts he referred
the matter to the House, according to the Act. This ensures the
priority of the question and calls on you to explain your not
having sent the notice. You state the facts as above, place
yourself in the hands of the House, and withdraw. I agree with
what Bright said that the House of Commons will deal quite fairly
in such a case. A committee will be appointed. I don't think it
can last very long, and you will be absent during its sitting. No
important business can be taken during your absence, and I do not
know that any evil will ensue from shortening the period of
business before the budget. They may vote estimates, or take minor
matters.

This sensible view of Lord Halifax and Mr. Bright may be set against Lord
Selborne's dogmatic assertion that a dissolution was the only escape. As
for his further assertion about his never doubting that this was the
determining cause of the dissolution, I can only say that in the mass of
papers connected with the Greenwich seat and the dissolution, there is no
single word in one of them associating in any way either topic with the
other. Mr. Gladstone acted so promptly in the affair of the seat that both
the Speaker of the House of Commons and Lord Selborne himself said that no
fault could be found with him. His position before the House was therefore
entirely straightforward. Finally Mr. Gladstone gave an obviously adequate
and sufficient case for the dissolution both to the Queen and to the
cabinet, and stated to at least three of his colleagues what was "the
determining cause," and this was not the Greenwich seat, but something
wholly remote from it.(298)

III

The autumn recess began with attendance at Balmoral, of which a glimpse or
two remain:--

_To Mrs. Gladstone._

_Balmoral, Aug. 22, 1873._--The Queen in a long conversation asked
me to-day about you at Holyhead. She talked of many matters, and
made me sit down, because odd to say I had a sudden touch of my
enemy yesterday afternoon, which made me think it prudent to beg
off from dining with her, and keep on my back taking a strong dose
of sal volatile.... The Queen had occasion to speak about the
Crown Princess, laud