If you exercise any control over the _Daily News_, it ought to keep your party straight by purging it of the rancour of defeat. Swear at us in private as much as you like, but avoid flinging bricks of the boomerang make. The _Daily News_ calling the Anglo-Irish voters "clots of turbid intrigue" must have cost you a trifle at the polls. We can slang you _de droit_ because we are powerless and irresponsible, but a governing body shall go "all delicately marching in most pellucid air." Excuse the philosophy!--Yours, T. M. HEALY. {275} _Mr. Chamberlain to Mr. Labouchere_ 40 PRINCE'S GARDENS, S. W., Dec. 11, 1885. MY DEAR LABOUCHERE,--There is much in what you say, but the fear is that anything like a bargain with the Irish would be resented by the English and Scotch workmen and that a Tory-Whig Coalition appealing to their prejudices against a Radical-Parnellite alliance would carry all before them then. This is a real danger. I am convinced, from personal observation, that the workmen will not stand much more in the way of Irish conciliation or concessions to Parnell. I am clear that we had better bide our time and rub the Tories' noses well in the mess they have made. Till the 16th.--Yours, J. CHAMBERLAIN. _Mr. Parnell to Mr. Labouchere_ IRISH PARLIAMENTARY OFFICES, LONDON, S. W., Dec. 17, 1885. DEAR LABOUCHERE,--I have only just opened your letters, as I have not been in London for some time. I will try and give you notice the next time I am in town, but my present impression is that it would be better to await events, and see what attitude the two English Parties may take towards each other at the commencement of the new Parliament.--Yours sincerely, CHAS. S. PARNELL. _Mr. Labouchere to Mr. Chamberlain_ 10 QUEEN ANNE'S MANSIONS, ST. JAMES'S PARK, Dec. 19, 1885. MY DEAR CHAMBERLAIN,--I wrote to Hawarden in the sense we agreed on respecting your views--keeping, however, a good deal to the vague. Yesterday morning came a letter from Parnell. Had only just received my letter, was passing through London, would say when he was coming back. Dilatory as usual. In the afternoon Healy arrived. He stayed six hours. The sum of all amounted to this: {276} Parnell is half mad. We always act without him. He accepts this position; if he did not we should overlook him. Do not trouble yourself about him. Dillon, M'Carthy, O'Brien, Harrington, and I settle everything. When we agree, no one can disagree. We are all for an arrangement with the G.O.M. on terms. We are forming a "Cabinet." We shall choose it. We shall pass what we like in this Cabinet. We have never yet let out any secret. The Kilmainham revelations were let out by Forster and O'Shea. _Terms_.--G.O.M.'s plan. _Details_.--We agree to nomination for two Parliaments or five years; we like it, for we want to hold our own against Fenians. Protestant religious bodies may, if wished, elect representatives.