that it had doubtless
tended to lead your mind to the consideration of the position of
the party, and to the fact that public opinion might call upon you
to an extent which no one could have looked for. I then (with
anxiety to convey what I know to be your desire) most earnestly
impressed upon Lord Granville that you had upon every occasion
when the subject was alluded to, prefaced all you had to say with
the strongest expressions of loyalty to Hartington and himself.
That I felt convinced that nothing would induce you to encourage,
or to even listen to, any attempt which others might make to
disturb the existing state of things as to the leadership, unless
the wish was very clearly expressed to you by Hartington and
himself, and you would demand full proof that their interests and
that of the party strongly pointed to the reconsideration of your
own position. I need hardly say that, though I felt it my duty to
take care that I did not understate your feelings, it was not
necessary to reassure Granville upon that point.

The conversation then went to the state of the party and its
present position. I learnt that a private meeting had been held at
Devonshire House in the morning. I believe Hartington, Granville,
Cardwell, Adam, and Harcourt were present. My _impression_ is that
the advice Adam gave as to the elections, was that "union in the
party at this moment would not be promoted by a change of front."
I do not mean to say that the question of leadership was _actually
discussed_, but I _suspect_ the conversation turned somewhat upon
the point which you place "_third_" in your letter to Bright. To
sum it all up, I do not think you will at present be troubled by
any application to you from Granville and Hartington.(361)

The third point in the letter to Mr. Bright was the question whether a
liberal government under Mr. Gladstone would not be exposed to a special
degree of hostility, due to the peculiar antagonism that his personality
excited. In a later letter (December 20), Wolverton tells Mr. Gladstone
that in the conversation of the 16th, "Lord Granville raised the point you
made your third in your note to Bright, and that he did converse upon at
_some length_, evidently having real fears that many of our weak-kneed
ones would feel some alarm if Hartington went from the front _now_, and
that the tories woul