, in sum, that (if I rightly understand
you) I accept for myself broadly and freely what may be called the
extreme doctrine _about_ the indirect claims; but I think the
cabinet cannot fairly be challenged for an official judgment on a
matter really not before it.

The little entries in the diary give us a good idea of the pressure on the
prime minister:--

_Feb. 6, 1872._--Spoke an hour after Disraeli on the address....
The _Alabama_ and Washington question lay heavy on me till the
evening. Even during the speech I was disquieted, and had to
converse with my colleagues. _March 16._--Cabinet 23/4-7; laborious
chiefly on the Washington treaty. _17th._--Worked on part of the
despatch for America. _18th._--In conclave. Much heavy work on
_Alabama_. _22nd._--Severe bronchial attack. Transacted business
through West, W. H. G. [his son] Mr. Glyn, Lord Granville, and
Cardwell, who went to and fro between the cabinet below-stairs and
me. To all of them I whispered with some difficulty. _April
5._--Conclave on countercase. First with Cardwell and Lowe, then
with Tenterden and Sanderson. Much confusion. _May 12._--Saw Lord
Granville, who brought good news from America. _27th._--U.S.
question bristles with difficulties. _30th._--H. of C. During the
evening two long conferences on Washington treaty with Lord G. and
the lawyers, and a cabinet 10-1. Worked Uniformity bill through
committee at intervals. _June 3._--Cabinet 3-4-1/4. H. of C. Made a
statement on the treaty of Washington. The house behaved _well_.
Also got the Act of Uniformity bill read a third time. Its
preamble is really a notable fact in 1872. _6th._--H. of C. Spoke
on Washington treaty and Scots Education--the House _too_ well
pleased as to the former. _11th._--The cabinet met at 2. and sat
intermittently with the House to 53/4, again 9-1/4-1.

(M135) The arbitrators were to meet on June 15. Yet no break in the clouds
seemed likely. Mr. Gladstone and his colleagues had a meeting at the
foreign office, and did not separate until after midnight on June 11. The
British agent was to be directed to apply for an immediate adjournment,
and without lodging the summary of our case as provided by the treaty. If
the arbitrators declined to adjourn, either because the Americans
objected, or from a belief that they had no title to adjourn without a
formal opening o