of extreme regret to me that last night at
the Universe I should have asked you some chance question
about the coming division. Had I guessed to what it might
have led, I should not have addressed you. But as it is I
can hardly abstain from noticing what appeared to me to be
a personal charge made against myself with a great want of
the courtesy which is supposed to prevail among men who
have acted together. Had we never done so my original
question to you might perhaps have been deemed an
impertinence.

As it was, you accused me of having been dishonest to my
party, and of having "scuttled the ship." On the occasion
to which you alluded I acted with much consideration,
greatly to the detriment of my own prospects,--and as I
believed with the approbation of all who knew anything of
the subject. If you will make inquiry of Mr. Gresham, or
Lord Cantrip who was then my chief, I think that either
will tell you that my conduct on that occasion was not
such as to lay me open to reproach. If you will do this,
I think that you cannot fail afterwards to express regret
for what you said to me last night.

Yours sincerely,

PHINEAS FINN.

Thos. Bonteen, Esq., M.P.

He did not like the letter when he had written it, but he did not
know how to improve it, and he sent it.

CHAPTER XXXV

Political Venom

On the Monday Mr. Turnbull opened the ball by declaring his reasons
for going into the same lobby with Mr. Daubeny. This he did at great
length. To him all the mighty pomp and all the little squabbles of
office were, he said, as nothing. He would never allow himself to
regard the person of the Prime Minister. The measure before the House
ever had been and ever should be all in all to him. If the public
weal were more regarded in that House, and the quarrels of men less
considered, he thought that the service of the country would be
better done. He was answered by Mr. Monk, who was sitting near him,
and who intended to support Mr. Gresham. Mr. Monk was rather happy
in pulling his old friend, Mr. Turnbull, to pieces, expressing his
opinion that a difference in men meant a difference in measures. The
characters of men whose principles were known were guarantees for the
measures they would advocate. To him,--Mr. Monk,--it was matter of
very great moment who was Prime Minister of England. He was always
selfish enough to wish for a Minister with who