I cannot struggle against the torrent of lies and slanders directed against my personal action. I can only say that I have been, I believe, more anxious for reconciliation that any one of my followers or present allies. I have not to my knowledge said a single bitter word about Mr. Gladstone, or expressed either in private or in public anything but respect for him and belief in his absolute sincerity. Yet in spite of this the supporters of the Government are more bitter against me than against any one else. For the present I shall maintain the same reserve, and shall not attempt reprisals; but if the discussion goes on much longer on the same terms I suppose I shall have to defend myself and to say what I think of some of those gentlemen who, having swallowed their own principles and professions, are indignant with me because my digestion is less accommodating. I have an enormous correspondence, some of it hostile, but most of it friendly. The breach in the party is widening, and in a short time it will be beyond repair. All I can say is that I have done all in my power to heal {347} it--short of giving up my conscientious convictions and assenting to measures which I believe are totally wrong. I have not the least feeling against Mr. Gladstone; he is sincere in all that he is doing--but I cannot think favourably of many of those who are loud in his support, but who to my certain knowledge are as much opposed to his Bills in their hearts as I am myself.--Yours very truly, J. CHAMBERLAIN. _P.S._--Salisbury's speech is as bad as anything can be.[10] _Mr. Labouchere to Mr. Chamberlain_ TRUTH BUILDINGS, CARTERET STREET, QUEEN ANNE'S GATE, S.W. MY DEAR CHAMBERLAIN,--Herschell and one or two others were to meet (or possibly have met) to-day to decide upon what proposals were to be submitted to you. But I will let them have your letter. If the G.O.M. loses his Bill, it will be from not having been able to be clear for five minutes in his seventy-seven years,--Yours truly, H. LABOUCHERE. _Mr. Labouchere to Mr. Chamberlain_ Tuesday--or rather Wednesday Morning, May 25, 1886. MY DEAR CHAMBERLAIN,--I am pretty certain that unless wiser counsels prevail, Mr. Gladstone will not consent to withdraw the Clause. Childers, who has been doing all that he can to induce him to do so, finds that the Cabinet (so far as they have an opinion) are against it, and Mr. Gladstone strongly so. Morley vows that he would rather die, and that sort of thing. I cannot find that they have any valid reason for this, but so it is. Mr. Gladstone will, I think, in as plain words as possible (if he can be plain for a few minutes), fall back upon the programme {348} that we were negotiating, and say that he will so modify the Bill in Committee that it will give the Irish Representation here on Imperial matters, and he seems to have a notion floating in his brain of announcing that if the Second Reading be passed he will either withdraw or defer the Bill.