cept and attempt
to form a government, or he may have grave doubts, and say that
you are the only man, etc.; he will consult the other, and will
consult you. Meantime there may be a "pronouncement" on the part
of the people, through the press and public meetings, which will
have a sudden effect on negotiations and on the views of the
Queen, and may decide the question. If such a time should come,
then you will have to say what is possible, and I hope you will be
able to decide rightly, and with reference solely to the interests
of the country and the service you owe to the crown as
representing the nation. You will act with a most strict honour to
Granville and Hartington, as I believe they will act to you. If,
as I hope for and believe, no selfish ambition will come in to
make mischief, the question will be determined in such a manner as
to content all honest men, and what is best for all will be done.
I am often asked as to the future. I reply only so as to say
nothing to add to the evident difficulty of the situation.

Your Scotch expedition has been one of discovery and of conquest.
The tory press and partizans are evidently astonished at it. The
government speakers have no new defence, and they want the past to
be forgotten. Mr. Smith, first lord, I see, entirely rejoices in
what has been done in South Africa, though "a few lives" have been
lost by it. This official life seems sorely to demoralise some
homely and decent people. I am fairly well so far during the
winter, but I seem feeble when I compare myself with your activity
and power.... We are to have meetings in Birmingham during
January. I should prefer the quiet of obscurity to these meetings.
I hope Mrs. Gladstone and your daughter have enjoyed their Scotch
trip and are well after it.

Five days later came Lord Wolverton's report of the state of feeling on
these delicate topics in high places in London. He had seen Lord Granville
on the evening of the 16th:--

To most affectionate inquiries as to your health and powers, I
gave a most satisfactory account, and the conversation then went
to the question as to the effect which your recent triumphant
progress in Midlothian and the North had produced upon your mind.
I frankly said that you had in my opinion not anticipated such a
marked expression of public feeling, and