ng. 20.--Bed all day. I
spent the chief part of the day and evening in reflection on our
"crisis," and then in preparing a letter to go to the Queen for
her information at once, and a long address for an unnamed
constituency--almost a pamphlet--setting out the case of the
government in an immediate appeal to the country. 21.--Altered and
modified letter to the Queen, which went off. Came down at two.
Much conversation to-day on the question of my own seat.
23.--Cabinet 12-1/4-4. Address further amended there on partial
perusal. In evening corrected proofs of address, which runs well.
A very busy stirring day of incessant action.

In the letter of Jan. 21 to the Queen, Mr. Gladstone recapitulates the
general elements of difficulty, and apprises her Majesty that it will be
his duty at the meeting of the cabinet fixed for the 23rd, to recommend
his colleagues humbly and dutifully to advise an immediate dissolution, as
the best means of putting an end to the disadvantage and the weakness of a
false position. He trusts that the Queen may be pleased to assent. The
Queen (Jan. 22) acknowledged the receipt of his letter "with some
surprise," as she had understood him to say when last at Windsor that he
did not think of recommending a dissolution until the end of the session
or later. But she expressed her "full appreciation of the difficulties of
Mr. Gladstone's position," and assented, thinking that "in the present
circumstances it would be desirable to obtain an expression of the
national opinion."

The next day (23rd) the cabinet met, and Mr. Gladstone in the evening
reported the proceedings to the Queen:--

_To the Queen._

_Jan. 23, 1874._--... Mr. Gladstone laid before the cabinet a
pretty full outline of the case as to the weakness of the
government since the crisis of last March, and the increase of
that weakness, especially of late, from the unfavourable character
of local indications; as to the false position in which both the
crown and the House of Commons are placed when there can be no
other government than the one actually existing; finally, as to
the present calls of business and prospects of the country,
especially as to its finance, which are such as in Mr. Gladstone's
judgment, to warrant the presentation of a very favourable picture
of what may be effected with energy and prudence during the
present year. In t