material. I
objected _in toto_ to Lord Salisbury's clause or its substitute.
He was unwilling to yield, chiefly on Lord Salisbury's account,
but finally consented. We agreed upon the commutation clause if
the 7 and the 5 per cent. were lumped together. On the curates
clause we could come to no agreement. He proposed to see Lord
Salisbury and the archbishop, and to meet again at four at the
colonial office. He spoke with fairness as to the difficulty of
his position, and the risk he ran with his own party. I again saw
you and asked the Irish attorney-general to be present at the last
interview. I stated to him in Lord Cairns's presence how far we
agreed, and expressed my regret that on the last point--the
curates--our difference was irreconcilable. Lord Cairns said he
hoped not, and proceeded to argue strongly in favour of his
proposal. He at last, however, at 4.30, compromised the matter by
accepting five years instead of one. I shook his hand, which was
trembling with nervousness. We discussed the form of announcing
the arrangement to the House. We at once agreed it was better to
tell the whole truth, and soon settled that it would be better for
its success that he should announce the details. I was afterwards
apprehensive that this latter arrangement might be disadvantageous
to us, but nothing could be better or fairer than his statement. I
cannot finish this statement, which I believe is accurate, without
expressing my admiration at the firmness and conciliation which
you displayed in directing me in all these negotiations.

"The news was brought to me on my sofa," Mr. Gladstone says, "and between
five and six I was enabled to telegraph to the Queen. My telegram was
followed up by a letter at 7 P.M., which announced that the arrangement
had been accepted by the House of Lords, and that a general satisfaction
prevailed." To the Queen he wrote (July 22):--

Mr. Gladstone is at a loss to account for the great change in the
tone and views of the opposition since Sunday and Monday, and even
Tuesday last, but on this topic it is needless to enter. As to the
principal matters, the basis of the arrangement on the side of the
government is much the same as was intended when Mr. Gladstone had
the honour of an audience at Windsor on Saturday; but various
minor concessions have been added. Mr. Gladston