The Parliament of 1874—A maiden speech—A social quarrel—Ireland—At the Little Lodge—FitzGibbon and Howth—The Historical Society—Irish politics—Butt and Parnell—The beginnings of obstruction—An unguarded speech—Irish education—The Eastern question—Correspondence with Sir Charles Dilke—The County Government Bill—The Irish Famine Fund—Ministerial embarrassments—Lord Beaconsfield's letter to the Duke of Marlborough—The General Election of 1880—Mr. Gladstone's triumph 58 CHAPTER III 1880-1883 THE FOURTH PARTY Position of parties—Tory depression—Bradlaugh—The origin of the Fourth Party—The four friends—The Employers' Liability Bill—Fourth Party tactics—Differences with leaders—Sir Stafford Northcote—Activities of the Fourth Party—The Fourth Party and Lord Beaconsfield—Lord Salisbury at Woodstock—Correspondence with Wolff—Joyous days 119 CHAPTER IV 1881-1882 IRELAND UNDER STORM Outbreak of the storm—The Parnell movement—Irish speeches—The Compensation for Disturbance Bill—The winter of 1880—The Land League—The revolt of the Boers—Coercion—Mr. Forster's misfortunes—The Kilmainham Treaty—The Closure—Lord Beaconsfield gone 172 CHAPTER V 1883 ELIJAH'S MANTLE The war in Egypt—The Conservative leaders—Minor tactics in the House of Commons—Correspondence with Sir Stafford Northcote—The Beaconsfield statue—Lord Randolph's letter to the Times—Party displeasure—Elijah's mantle—The Affirmation Bill—The Primrose League—An Ishmaelite at bay—His father's death—An interlude 224 CHAPTER VI 1882-1885 TORY DEMOCRACY A period of crisis—Conditions in the House of Commons—Conservative paralysis—The new champion—Power and popularity of Lord Randolph Churchill—The Tory Democrat—A 'Trilogy' at Edinburgh—The Blackpool speech—The Birmingham candidature—'Peace, Retrenchment and Reform'—Tory democracy and Fair Trade—Tory democracy and the Constitution—The Church of England—The main achievement 268 CHAPTER VII 1883-1884 THE PARTY MACHINE A daring enterprise—The Fourth Party: final phase—The National Union and the Central Committee—The conference at Birmingham—The proceedings of the new council—Dispute with Lord Salisbury—Lord Randolph elected chairman—The 'charter' letter—'Notice to quit'—A declaration of war—Close fighting—Lord Randolph resigns—Satisfaction in the House of Commons—Dismay in the Conservative party—Intervention of the provincial leaders—Lord Randolph reinstated—Progress of the conflict 302 CHAPTER VIII 1884 THE REFORM BILL