use, whither I went
2-5 P.M., to propose concurrence in the Lords' amendments. Up to
the moment I felt very weak, but this all vanished when I spoke
and while the debate lasted. Then I went back to bed. 25.--Weak
still. I presumed over much in walking a little and fell back at
night to my lowest point.

Sir Robert Phillimore records:--

_July 21._--Found Gladstone at breakfast, calm, pale, but without a
doubt as to the course which the government must pursue, viz.: to
maintain upon every important point the bill as sent back by the
Commons, probably an autumn session, a bill sternly repeated by
the Commons, too probably without the clauses favourable to the
Irish church. 23.--Nothing talked or written of but the political
marvel of yesterday. Gladstone in a speech universally praised
proposed to the House of Commons the bill as now modified, and it
passed with much harmony, broken by an Orange member. Gladstone
very unwell, and ought to have been in bed when he made his
speech. 24.--Gladstone still very weak but in a state of calm
happiness at the unexpected turn which the Irish bill had taken.
Does not now know the origin or history of the sudden resolution
on the part of the leaders of the opposition. I am satisfied that
Disraeli was alarmed and thoroughly frightened at the state of the
House of Commons and the country, that Cairns was determined to
regain what he had practically lost or was losing, the leadership
of the Lords, and that many of his party were frightened at the
madness and folly of Tuesday night considered after a day's
reflection.... Above all there was a well-grounded alarm on the
part of Cairns and his immediate supporters in the Lords, that
their order was in imminent danger. Bluster disappeared, and a
retreat, as decent as well could be expected, was made from a
situation known to be untenable. They had never expected that
Gladstone would drop the bill. 25.--Much conversation with
Gladstone, who is still very weak. He wrote to the Archbishop of
Dublin to say in effect, that as a private churchman he would be
glad to assist in any way the archbishop could point out in the
organising of the voluntary church in Ireland.

Sir Thomas Acland writes, August 3, 1869:--

I stayed at House of Commons perforce till about 1.30 or 2, and
then walked away w