Churchill, Randolph Henry Spencer, Lord, 1849-1895
Mr. Chamberlain presents his compliments to Lord R. Churchill and
begs to thank him for his courtesy in communicating the grounds on
which he is prepared to support the charge which he has brought
against Mr. Chamberlain.
Lord Randolph had been much exhausted in health and strength by the
unremitting exertions of the year, and late in November it was announced
that he purposed to start almost immediately for a four months’ holiday
to India. Mr. Chamberlain no sooner heard this than he was anxious to
make friends. His letter speaks for itself:--
_Mr. Chamberlain to Lord Randolph Churchill._
40 Prince’s Gardens, S.W.; November 27, 1884.
My dear Churchill,--You see that I have returned to the old
superscription. If you object, I will not offend again; but I do
not like to allow you to leave the country for what, I understand,
is a long voyage, necessitated by circumstances that I sincerely
regret, without saying that recent occurrences have, in my case at
all events, left no personal bitterness behind.
I am sorry that we have been forced into public conflict; I should
be still more sorry if political opposition degenerated into a
private quarrel.
I heartily wish you a pleasant holiday, and hope that rest and
change of scene may thoroughly restore your health and strength.
Believe me,
_Sans rancune_,
Yours very truly,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
_Lord Randolph Churchill to Mr. Chamberlain._
2 Connaught Place, W.: November 27, 1884.
My dear Mr. Chamberlain,--I hasten to answer your very kind letter,
which caused me the greatest pleasure.
I had always hoped that the friendship which existed between us and
which, for my part, I most highly valued, might at all times be
altogether unaffected by any Parliamentary conflicts, however
brisk, and even sharp, the latter might be.
It is indeed very pleasant to me to know from the generous
expressions in your letter that my hopes are in no way illusory,
and as long as I continue in politics it will be a source of pride
to me to endeavour to the best of my abilities to mitigate the
asperities of party warfare as far as you and I are concerned. I am
not likely to forget that in the last Parliament you gave me the
most valuable and effective support in a matter in which at that
time I was greatly interested, without which support I should have
been unsuccessful.
I like to think that it is neither impossible nor improbable that
political circumstances may from time to time find us again in
agreement; and although your position and power will be far above
mine, I shall be on the look-out for those occasions.
Believe me, I am very sensible of your amiable wishes as to the
results of my travels to India, and that I hope always to remain
Yours very sincerely,
RANDOLPH S. CHURCHILL.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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