company; but Mr. Gladstone took ours, which made all
the difference in the world. His characteristic is the most
extraordinary facility of conversation on almost any topic, with a
great command of literary resources, which at once gives it a high
tone. Lord Houghton, if put to it, is not without aptness in
keeping it up; whilst the Duke of Argyll was stimulated out of his
customary indifference to take his share. Thus we passed from
politics, the House of Commons, and Mr. Mill, to English prose as
illustrated from the time of Milton and Bacon down to this day,
and contrasted with German, which has little of good, and with
French. In the latter connection Mr. Gladstone asked me if I had
read the _Conscrit_ of Erckmann-Chatrian. Luckily for me, who have
little acquaintance with the light current literature, I could say
"Yes," and could contrast it favourably with the artificial manner
of Hugo. It is a cause of wonder to me how a man like Gladstone,
so deeply plunged in the current of politics, and in the duties of
legislation and official labour, can find time to keep along with
the ephemeral literature abroad as well as at home. After an hour
thus spent we rose, and on a question proposed by Colonel Holmes
respecting a group of figures in china which stood in a corner,
Mr. Gladstone launched forth into a disquisition on that topic,
which he delights in, and illustrated his idea of the art by
showing us several specimens of different kinds. One a grotesque
but speaking figure in Capo di Monte, another a group of
combatants, two of whom were lying dead with all the aspect of
strained muscle stiffening; and lastly, a very classical and
elegant set of Wedgwood ware, certainly finer than I ever saw
before. This is the pleasantest and most profitable form of
English society.

Towards the close of the session (July 21) Mr. Gladstone presided over the
annual dinner of the club founded in honour of Cobden, who had died the
year before. As might have been foretold, he emphasised the moral rather
than the practical results of Cobden's work. "Public economy was with
Cobden," he said, "nothing less than a moral principle. The temper and
spirit of Mr. Cobden in respect to questions of public economy was a
temper and a spirit that ought to be maintained, encouraged, and
propagated in this country--a temper and spirit far m