We have a meeting at the St. James's Hall, on Thursday, at which I am to take the Chair. The Resolution is conceived in the above spirit, and I have already had rows with some of the Members who are to attend, because they say it looks like knocking under to Chamberlain. It assents to Second Reading, but trusts that the measure will be modified in a democratic sense in Committee. This we shall carry. I do not myself believe in Morley's resignation, nor indeed in Harcourt's. It is possible, however, that the Lord Chancellor will be firm, though I understand that he likes his salary. {324} Supposing that you voted against the Second Reading with ten followers. This would be a tactical fiasco. If, however, you carried all the Radicals with you--or almost all--in Committee, this would be a tactical success, whilst the Radicals would be delighted with your acting with them on the first, and would act with you on the second. Had we begun sooner, I think that we could have got up a pronouncement against the Bill, if the point were not yielded. But most of the Radicals have now compromised themselves. I talked to Hartington and some of the Whigs this evening. They seemed to me rather down-hearted. I suspect that they are not getting the support that they anticipated. This is always the case with a big cave.--Yours truly, H. LABOUCHERE. _Mr. Labouchere to Mr. Chamberlain_ POPE'S VILLA, TWICKENHAM, April 19, 1886. MY DEAR CHAMBERLAIN,--Your letters will go to Mr. Gladstone this evening. If he is wise he will make terms about the Members sitting. I hear that he was very much put out about your speech, and no one dared to speak to him before he left for Hawarden. John Morley is going to speak on Wednesday. He will be conciliatory, and say, "If a plan can be devised, etc." Mr. Gladstone should ask you for your plan, as he says that he cannot make one. I don't well see how he can promise to go against the guarantees. He has already said that they are inserted for weaker brethren. They will, if retained, and if we vote against them, keep the Irish on our side. Don't forget that if you do not get what you want, there is still the Third Reading.--Yours truly, H. LABOUCHERE. _Mr. Labouchere to Mr. Chamberlain_ POPE'S VILLA, TWICKENHAM, April 20, 1886.