and untrue things have been said about us, public and private, and that in these days people will write and will know; therefore the only way to counteract this is to let the real full truth be known, and as much be told as can be told with prudence and discretion, and then no harm, but good, will be done. Nothing will help me more than that my people should know what I have lost!... The ‘Early Years’ volume was begun for private circulation only, and then General Grey and many of papa’s friends and advisers begged me to have it published. This was done. The work was most popular, and greatly liked. General Grey could not go on with it, and asked me to ask Sir A. Helps to continue it; and he said that he could not, but recommended Mr. Theodore Martin as one of the most eminent writers of the day, and hoped I could prevail on him to undertake this great national work. I did succeed, and he has taken seven years to prepare the whole, supplied by me with every letter and extract; and a deal of time it took, but I felt it would be a national sacred work.” CHAPTER XX. EMPRESS OF INDIA. Mr. Disraeli recognises Intellect--Lord Hartington Liberal Leader--The Queen’s Speech--Lord Hartington’s “Grotesque Reminiscences”--Mr. Cross’s Labour Bills--The Artisans’ Dwellings Act--Mr. Plimsoll and the “Ship-knackers”--Lord Hartington’s First “Hit”--The Plimsoll Agitation--Surrender of the Cabinet--“Strangers” in the House--The Budget--Rise of Mr. Biggar--First Appearance of Mr. Parnell--The Fugitive Slave Circular--The Sinking of the Yacht _Mistletoe_--The Loss of the _Vanguard_--Purchase of the Suez Canal Shares--The Prince of Wales’s Visit to India--Resignation of Lord Northbrook--Appointment of Lord Lytton as Viceroy of India--Outbreak of the Eastern Question--The Andrassy Note--The Berlin Memorandum--Murder of French and German Consuls at Salonica--Lord Derby Rejects the Berlin Memorandum--Servia Declares War on Turkey--The Bulgarian Revolt Quenched in Blood--The Sultan Dethroned--Opening of Parliament--“Sea-sick of the Silver Streak”--Debates on the Eastern Question--Development of Obstruction by Mr. Biggar and Mr. Parnell--The Royal Titles Bill--Lord Shaftesbury and the Queen--The Queen at Whitechapel--A Doleful Budget--Mr. Disraeli becomes Earl of Beaconsfield--The Prince Consort’s Memorial at Edinburgh--Mr. Gladstone and the Eastern Question--The Servian War--The Constantinople Conference--The Tories Manufacture Failure for Lord Salisbury--Death of Lady Augusta Stanley--Proclamation of the Queen as Empress at Delhi.