nation carried the day:--

_June 25._--Cabinet 2-1/2-4-1/2 .... The final position appeared to be
this, as to alternatives before the cabinet. 1. Dissolution, only
approved by three or four. 2. A vote of confidence with vague
assurances as to future reform--desired by seven, one more
acquiescing reluctantly, six opposing. _W. E. G. unable to act on
it._ 3. Lord Russell's proposal to rehabilitate the
clause--disapproved by seven, approved by six, two ready to
acquiesce. 4. Resignation generally accepted, hardly any strongly
dissenting. I have had a great weight on me in these last days,
and am glad the matter draws near its close.

This decision greeted the Queen on her arrival at Windsor on the morning
of June 26. Both the prime minister and the chancellor of the exchequer
had audiences the same day. "Off at 11.30 to Windsor with Lord Russell,
much conversation with him. Single and joint audiences with the Queen, who
showed every quality required by her station and the time. We had warm
receptions at both stations." Mr. Gladstone's memorandum of the interview
is as follows:--

_Windsor Castle, June 26._--H.M. expressed her regret that this
crisis could not be averted; stated she had wished that this
question could have been postponed altogether to another year; or
that upon finding the strength and tenacity of the opposition to
the measure, it could have been withdrawn. I reminded H.M. that
she had early expressed to me her hope that if we resumed the
subject of the reform of parliament, we should prosecute it to its
completion. Also, I said that in my opinion, from all the
miscarriages attending the past history of this question, not
ministries alone, and leaders of parties, nor parties alone, but
parliament itself and parliamentary government were discredited.
The Queen was impressed with this, and said there was certainly
great force in it. She had previously seen Lord Russell, and spoke
of his proposal further to amend the clause. Such a proposal she
considered advisable, subject to two conditions: (1.) The general
assent and concurrence of the cabinet; (2.) The reasonable chance
of its being carried. If the proposal were made she was quite
willing it should be said, with the approval of the cabinet, that
she had observed that the issue taken was on a point apparently
one of detail, and th