generally desired with a view to arresting some great evil or
procuring for the nation some great good, my willingness to enter
into counsel for the occasion would follow from all I have said.
But always with the understanding that as between section and
section I could not become a partisan, and that such interference
even in the case of its proving useful would entail no obligation
whatever on those accepting it, and carry with it no disturbance
of any arrangement subsisting at the time.

The situation proved, as Lowe had foreseen, an anarchic experiment. Mr.
Gladstone went up to London for the session, and followed his ordinary
social course:--

_March 9, 1874._--Off at 4.45 to Windsor for the fete. We dined at
St. George's Hall. I was presented to the Duchess of C. by the
Queen, and had a few kind words from H.M. 11.--Archbishop Manning,
9-11. It is kind in him to come, but most of it is rather hollow
work, limited as we are. 16.--Dined at Marlborough House. A civil
talk with Disraeli. 20.--Finished _Vivian Grey_. The first quarter
extremely clever, the rest trash.

_May 15._--Emperor of Russia's reception at 3.15. He thanked me for
my conduct to Russia while I was minister. I assured his Majesty I
had watched with profound interest the transactions of his reign,
and the great benefits he had conferred upon his people. He hoped
the relations of the two countries would always be good.... Dined
at Marlborough House. Stafford House ball afterwards. The emperor
complained of the burden and late hours of evening entertainments.
Princess of Wales so nice about her picture. D[israeli] complained
of my absence, said they could not get on without me. 20.--Dined at
the F.O. to meet the emperor. It was very kind of Derby. Much work
at Hawarden in arranging books and papers.

The House of Commons is hardly attractive to an irregular and perfunctory
attendant; and Mr. Gladstone's thoughts all turned to other fields. To
Mrs. Gladstone he wrote early in April:--

The anti-parliamentary reaction has been stronger with me even
than I anticipated. I am as far as possible from feeling the want
of the House of Commons. I could cheerfully go there to do a work;
but I hope and pray to be as little there as possible, except for
such an aim. In London I think we were too much hustled to speak
leisurely o