⁷⁹¹ The idea originated with Sir Robert Phillimore, a Judge of Admiralty Court (1867–1883), who suggested that Gladstone should be sent as a commissioner to negotiate some disputes with the Neapolitan government. Carnarvon took up the idea, translating it to the Ionian Islands. See above, p. 5; Shannon, Gladstone, I, p. 363.

⁷⁹² Gladstone had introduced the Representation of the People Bill on 28 February: Hansard, CCLXXXV, cols 106–134.

⁷⁹³ Manners spoke in the Commons later that day: ‘That this House declines to proceed further a measure having for its object the addition of 2,000,000 voters to the electoral body of the United Kingdom until it has before it the entire scheme contemplated by the Government for the amendment of the representation of the people’ (ibid., col. 490).

⁷⁹⁴ In November 1883, an Egyptian army of 10,000 troops under an English officer, Colonel William Hicks, was annihilated by the Mahdi in the Sudan, which was under Egyptian rule. The Government decided, in January 1884, to send out Major-General Charles George Gordon (1833–1885) to Khartoum to report on the best means of evacuating Egyptian garrisons. By 12 March, the Mahdi's forces were closing in on Khartoum and telegraphic connection with the town was severed.

⁷⁹⁵ Northcote spoke in the debate on Egypt at a Saturday meeting of the Commons on events in the Sudan: Hansard, CCLXXXV, 15 March 1884, cols 1717–1720, 1726–1727. Hartington, Secretary of State for War, had announced that no news had recently been received from Major-General Sir Gerald Graham, in charge of a relief force (ibid., cols 1651–1652).

⁷⁹⁶ Lord Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill (1849–1895), Con. MP for Woodstock (1874–1885) and for Paddington South (1885–1895), Secretary of State for India (1885–1886), Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House (1886).

⁷⁹⁷ Churchill, then chairman of the National Union, hoped to take control of the Conservative organization. This ambition was made public by him on 3 May. A reconciliation was effected six days later.

⁷⁹⁸ The bill entered the committee stage in the Commons on 1 May. The first day of the debate was 6 May (Hansard, CCLXXXVII, cols 1484–1548).

⁷⁹⁹ Sir Edward Grey (1862–1933), recently succeeded as 3rd Baronet at the age of twenty-two, private secretary to Sir Evelyn Baring in July and, in October, private secretary to Childers, the Chancellor of the Exchequer; Lib. MP for Berwick-on-Tweed (1885–1916). See Trevelyan, G.M., Grey of Fallodon (London, 1937), p. 22Google Scholar.

⁸⁰⁰ Arthur James Balfour (1848–1930), Salisbury's nephew. Con. MP for Hertford (1874–1885) and for Manchester East (1885–1906), Secretary of State for Scotland (1886), Chief Secretary for Ireland (1887–1891), Leader, House of Commons (1891–1892, 1895–1902), Prime Minister (1902–1905), 1st Earl of Balfour (1922).

⁸⁰¹ On 1 May, Gladstone had announced the setting up of a conference of European Powers to tackle the problem of Egypt's growing economic decline by changing the Law of Liquidation. See Knaplund, Gladstone's Foreign Policy, pp. 195–197.

⁸⁰² Egypt. The Proposed Conference: Hansard, CCLXXXVIII, 13 May 1884, Carnarvon, cols 150–154, Granville, cols 154–155, Cairns, cols 155–158, Salisbury, cols 159–161.

⁸⁰³ George Thomas Keppel (1799–1891), 6th Earl of Albemarle (1851). At the age of sixteen, he had been an ensign at Waterloo.

⁸⁰⁴ John Singleton Copley (1772–1863), 1st Baron Lyndhurst (1827), Lord Chancellor (1827–1830, 1834–1835, 1841–1846); son of the portrait painter, John Singleton Copley (1735–1815).

⁸⁰⁵ Sir Edward Knatchbull, 8th Baronet Knatchbull (1758–1819), twice a widower, with ten children. Copley's labours lasted from 1800 to 1802. Rejected by the Royal Academy, the portrait was eventually destroyed. See J.D. Prown, John Singleton Copley in England, 1774–1815 (Cambridge, MA, 1966), pp. 360–372.

⁸⁰⁶ William Coutts Keppel (1832–1894), Viscount Bury (1851), 7th Earl of Albermarle (1891), Under-Secretary of State for War (1878–1880, 1885–1886).

⁸⁰⁷ James Hamilton (1811–1885), 2nd Marquess of Abercorn (1818), 1st Duke of Abercorn (1868), Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1866–1868, 1874–1876).

⁸⁰⁸ Edward Walter Hamilton (1847–1908), Gladstone's secretary, wrote in his diary for 30 June, ‘The Egyptian vote of censure [on the terms of the agreement with France] came to an unexpected collapse this afternoon. With the smallest hint beforehand, Mr Goschen challenged Mr G.'s resolution for postponing the Order of the Day, and so successfully was the challenge taken up by the Liberal Party that they succeeded in overpowering the Government Front Bench and the Tories [by 190 to 148], and refused to allow the postponement for which Mr. G. was bound to ask’ (Bahlman, II, p. 646; see also Hansard, CCLXXXIX, cols 1689–1702).

⁸⁰⁹ Cairns's motion objected to ‘a change in the constitution of the electoral body of the United Kingdom’: Hansard, CCLXXXIX, 1 July 1884, col. 1770.

⁸¹⁰ Egypt (Terms of the Agreement with France), ‘that the terms of Agreement will not lead to the establishment of tranquillity and good government in Egypt’: ibid., cols 1770–1774.

⁸¹¹ Representation of the People Bill, second reading, first day: Hansard, CCXC, 7 July 1884, Cairns, cols 112–125, Argyll, cols 125–134.

⁸¹² Ibid., cols 375–389. Derby judged that Carnarvon's speech was ‘thoughtful & in parts able, but rambling and discursive, as if he rather wished to say all that was in his mind about reform rather than to argue the question actually before us’ (Vincent, Derby, IV, p. 686).

⁸¹³ Hansard, CCXC, 8 July 1884, Derby, cols 389–402, Selborne, cols 443–455, Salisbury, cols 455–469, Granville, cols 469–476.

⁸¹⁴ The Government was defeated on the Franchise Bill by 205 to 146 on Cairns's amendment motion.

⁸¹⁵ Hansard, CCXC, 10 July 1884, cols 692–693.

⁸¹⁶ In the Lords, there was a bitter exchange between Granville and Salisbury and Cairns concerning an overture made by Granville to leaders of the Opposition on 8 July with a view to coming to terms with them. The understanding was that the meeting was a confidential one, but Gladstone was unaware of this and referred to it at a Liberal Party meeting at the Foreign Office, reported in the Press on 11 July. For Gladstone's explanation in the Commons, see Hansard, CCXC, 11 July 1884, cols 832–838. Salisbury told Carnarvon, ‘How outrageous of Gladstone to try and make political capital of confidential talk between Granville and Cairns. It makes all such communications impossible for the future’ (Salisbury to Carnarvon, 11 July 1884: CP, BL 60759, fo. 139).

⁸¹⁷ Neither Granville nor Cairns would give way in the debate on the Franchise Bill, constantly interrupting each other. For an amusing account of this incident, see Lucy, H.W., A Diary of Two Parliaments: the Gladstone Parliament, 1880–1885 (London, 1886), pp. 429–430Google Scholar.

⁸¹⁸ Wemyss gave notice on 14 July that he would move a resolution that the Lords should continue with the Franchise Bill providing that a redistribution bill was introduced in the autumn: Hansard, CCXC, 14 July 1884, cols 873–874.

⁸¹⁹ Sir George Christopher Trout Bartley (1842–1910), principal agent, Conservative Central Office (1883–1885), MP for Islington North (1885–1906).

⁸²⁰ Carnarvon addressed meetings supporting the Lords’ stance on the Franchise Bill between 25 July and 13 September at Osterley Park, Tredegar, Penrhyn, Highclere, Newbury, Nostell Priory, Teversal, and Hedsor Park.

⁸²¹ Carnarvon to Salisbury, 14 July 1884: Hatfield House Papers, 3M/E.

⁸²² On the proposal to increase the number of recidivists sent to the Western Pacific, a proposition of much concern to Australia: Hansard, CCXC, 14 July 1884, cols 876–882.

⁸²³ Resolution on the Representation of the People Act, to be introduced on 17 July. Wemyss had given notice on 14 July (see Hansard, CCXC, 14 July 1884, cols 873–874).

⁸²⁴ Henry George Liddell (1821–1903), 2nd Earl of Ravensworth (1878), Con. MP for Northumberland South (1852–1878).

⁸²⁵ Charles Thomson Ritchie (1838–1906), Con. MP for Tower Hamlets (1874–1892) and for Croydon (1895–1905), Home Secretary (1900–1902), Chancellor of the Exchequer (1902–1903), 1st Baron Ritchie (1905).

⁸²⁶ Sir George Elliot (1814–1893), Con. MP for Durham North (1868–1880, 1881–1885) and for Monmouth (1886–1892).

⁸²⁷ Sir William Hart Dyke (1837–1931), Con. MP for Kent West (1865–1868), for Mid-Kent (1868–1885), and for Dartford (1885–1906), Chief Whip and Secretary to the Treasury (1874–1880), Chief Secretary for Ireland (1885–1886), Vice-President of Committee of Council on Education (1887–1892).

⁸²⁸ See Jones, A., The Politics of Reform, 1884 (London, 1972), p. 160Google Scholar.

⁸²⁹ William St John Brodrick (1856–1942), Con. MP for Surrey (1880–1885).

⁸³⁰ Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke (1843–1911), Lib. MP for Chelsea (1868–1886), President of the Local Government Board (1882–1885).

⁸³¹ Carnarvon to Salisbury, 15 July 1884: Hatfield House Papers, 3M/E. The ‘Memorandum of conversation between Brodrick and Dilke’ is reprinted in Hardinge, III, p. 105.

⁸³² William Thomas Stead (1849–1912), editor of the Pall Mall Gazette (1883–1890).

⁸³³ ‘I hesitate to urge adjournment now very strongly – not on account of this question – but on account of the atrocious precedent it would make for helping forward obnoxious bills in future years’ (Salisbury to Carnarvon, 17 July 1884: CP, BL 60759, fos 149–150).

⁸³⁴ Hansard, CCXC, 17 July 1884, Salisbury, cols 1368–1373.

⁸³⁵ Salisbury spoke at two meetings in Glasgow and then made further speeches in south-west Scotland (see The Times, 1 October 1884, p. 5).

⁸³⁶ Carnarvon, writing of the conversation, remarked, ‘I found that he agreed with me that it was important not to allow the House of Lords to be adjourned to long intervals, as during our last autumn Session, but to ventilate the different large questions which are pending’ (Carnarvon to Cranbrook, 9 October 1884: Cranbrook Papers, HA3 T501/262).

⁸³⁷ ‘The Redistribution Bill: the Government scheme’, Evening Standard, 9 October 1884, pp. 2–3. The paper stated, ‘We are now enabled to lay before you the complete details of the Government plan, in their present shape’.

⁸³⁸ The identity of this person is not known.

⁸³⁹ Aubrey Nigel Herbert (1880–1923), Carnarvon's elder son by his second marriage. Served in diplomatic service (1903–1905), then travelled extensively throughout the Turkish Empire. Unionist MP for Somerset South (1911–1918).

⁸⁴⁰ Carnarvon and Elsie stayed at Hams Hall, Lord Norton's residence (Childe-Pemberton, W.S., Life of Lord Norton (London, 1909), p. 263Google Scholar).

⁸⁴¹ At the meeting, the platform was stormed by rioters, and Churchill and Northcote, who were to have publicly shaken hands, had to flee for safety (see Escott, T.H., Randolph Spencer Churchill as a Product of his Age (London, 1895), pp. 261–264Google Scholar). Hamilton attributed the rioting to a number of Liberal supporters at the meeting who were wearing Gladstone badges (Bahlman, II, p. 706).

⁸⁴² The banquet was held at the Exchange Assembly Rooms, Birmingham. Churchill's address was entitled ‘Our Constitution’ (The Times, 15 October 1884, p. 6).

⁸⁴³ Bartley believed that ‘the Scheme as put forward by the Standard is one which is so unfair in its operation, that it is quite out of the question our accepting it. It is based on no general principle whatever and shows signs of Party prejudice in every detail’ (Bartley to Carnarvon, 11 October 1884: CP, BL 60832, fo. 30).

⁸⁴⁴ At a speech to the Hackney Conservative Union on 21 October, Carnarvon stated that, in his opinion, ‘if the scheme of redistribution were submitted to a body composed of a few men on each side, who had the confidence of their respective parties, a settlement of the question might be arrived at’ (The Times, 22 October 1884, p. 7).

⁸⁴⁵ Ponsonby had told the Queen on 22 October, ‘Lord Carnarvon in his speech said that four independent men might be found to settle it. Why should this not be tried?’ (Buckle, Letters, III, p. 554).

⁸⁴⁶ Carnarvon immediately replied, ‘The question is – first, are there a few individuals who sufficiently have the confidence of parties to undertake the task? Second, who are of sufficient fair temper to do the work? I have no doubt as to the second: I do not feel sure of the first, though on the whole I believe not, for such “righteous men” might be found’ (Carnarvon to Ponsonby, 23 October 1884: Royal Archives, C50/12). More optimistically, he told Bath, ‘If there be any merit in it, it is this – that there is no surrender or concession on either side. It is a common agreement, not a compromise which means concession’ (Carnarvon to Bath, 23 October 1884 (copy): CP, BL 60772, fo. 102).

⁸⁴⁷ Parliament reassembled that day. Debate on the Queen's Speech: Hansard, CCXCIII, 23 October 1884, Salisbury, cols 16–27, Granville, col. 27, Carnarvon, cols 27–32, Derby, cols 34–39, Argyll, cols 41–43.

⁸⁴⁸ Hicks Beach's views on franchise reform were somewhat in advance of the rest of the Party. With Churchill's encouragement, Hicks Beach suggested to Salisbury and Northcote that he should approach Hartington in confidence to discuss matters. See Hicks Beach, Life of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, I, p. 217.

⁸⁴⁹ Henry Cecil Raikes (1838–1891), Con. MP for Cambridge University (1882–1891), Postmaster-General (1886–1891).

⁸⁵⁰ Sir Thomas Erskine May (1815–1886), Clerk of the Commons (1871–1886), an authority on parliamentary procedure. Created Baron Farnborough (1886).

⁸⁵¹ Carnarvon to Salisbury, 26 October 1884 (copy): CP, BL 60832, fos 166–168.

⁸⁵² Norton to Carnarvon, 24 October 1884: CP, BL 60832, fos 40–41. See also Gladstone's reply to Norton, 24 October 1884: ibid., fo. 42.

⁸⁵³ Argyll to Carnarvon, 26 October 1884: CP, BL 60832, fos 43–46.

⁸⁵⁴ Richard de Aquila Grosvenor (1837–1912), 1st Baron Stalbridge (1886), Lib. MP for Flintshire (1861–1886), Liberal Unionist from 1886.

⁸⁵⁵ When May saw Gladstone on 28 October, Edward Hamilton noted, ‘Mr. G. gave Sir T. May every assurance of a disposition for peace; and though he thought it might hardly be proper for him to see Lord Carnarvon behind (as it were) the back of the Tory leaders, he sent Lord Carnarvon friendly messages of encouragement’ (Bahlman, II, p. 719).

⁸⁵⁶ Salisbury told Ponsonby that day that the Lords should read the Franchise Bill a second time and then wait for the Redistribution Bill to come up from the Commons. See Cecil, III, p. 118.

⁸⁵⁷ Auberon Herbert to Carnarvon, 29 October 1884: CP, BL 60795A, fos 9–10.

⁸⁵⁸ Replying to Herbert, Carnarvon stated that he reserved the right to inform Salisbury of the letter, as well as Northcote and two or three other political friends (Carnarvon to Herbert, 31 October 1884 (copy): CP, BL 60795A, fo. 15).

⁸⁵⁹ Donald James Mackay (1839–1921), 11th Baron Reay (1876), Governor of Bombay (1885–1890).

⁸⁶⁰ For Smith's views on the bill, see E.A. Douglas, 3rd Viscount Chilston, W.H. Smith (London, 1965), pp. 183–184.

⁸⁶¹ Donald Cameron of Lochiel (1835–1905), diplomat.

⁸⁶² Aretas Akers-Douglas (1851–1926), MP for East Kent (1880–1885) and for St Augustine's (1885–1911), Opposition Whip (1883–1885), Government Whip (1886–1892), Home Secretary (1902–1905), 1st Viscount Chilston (1911).

⁸⁶³ Carnarvon had been in communication with leading Liberal peers on 29 October. In reply to a lengthy letter from Carnarvon, Granville wrote, ‘I can answer for Gladstone in being sincerely anxious for an adjustment, provided it is compatible with his responsibility to the Liberal Party, with regard to the legislation he has undertaken’ (Granville to Carnarvon, 31 October 1884: CP, BL 60773, fo. 139). To Argyll, Carnarvon declared, ‘My efforts so far have been fruitless, but I am not without hope that some understanding may ultimately be built on them. The door is still open’ (Carnarvon to Argyll, 1 November 1884 (copy): CP, BL 60832, fo. 70).

⁸⁶⁴ Motion for a Select Committee jointly with the House of Commons ‘to inquire into the condition of the work and commerce of this country’: Hansard, CCXCIII, 6 November 1884, Dunraven, cols 1044–1060, Harrowby, cols 1070–1073, Carnarvon, cols 1076–1079. The motion was withdrawn.

⁸⁶⁵ William Henry Waddington (1826–1893), French diplomat, Minister of Foreign Affairs (1877), ambassador at London (1881–1893).

⁸⁶⁶ Hansard, CCXCIII, 6 November 1884, Gladstone, cols 1121–1129. The bill was carried by 372 to 232.

⁸⁶⁷ Behind the scenes, on 31 October, Queen Victoria had suggested a bipartisan conference consisting of Gladstone, Salisbury, and Northcote. Salisbury accepted but Gladstone hesitated on the grounds that discussions were already under way between Hicks Beach and Hartington. See C.C. Weston, ‘The royal mediation in 1884’, English Historical Review, 77 (1967), p. 306.

⁸⁶⁸ John Fair has pointed out that Carnarvon's remarks were less to do with a challenge to Salisbury than concern over the future of the House of Lords and perhaps more. Richmond told Carnarvon on 31 October, ‘If the House of Lords is to be tinkered and the hereditary principle interfered with, it is not a very long step from the Throne’ (Fair, J.D., ‘The Carnarvon diaries and royal mediation’, English Historical Review, 106 (1991), pp. 105–106Google Scholar.

⁸⁶⁹ Grover Cleveland, the Democratic Party nominee, was elected after a turbulent campaign (see P. Nevins, Grover Cleveland: a study in courage (New York, 1932), pp. 156–188).

⁸⁷⁰ Henry Fawcett, Lib. Postmaster-General since 1880, had died on 6 November. For an assessment of his career, see Stephens, L., Life of Henry Fawcett (London, 1886), pp. 450–456CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

⁸⁷¹ Hansard, CCXCIII, 13 November 1884, cols 1463–1553.

⁸⁷² The South Warwickshire by-election on 9 November resulted in the capture of a former Liberal-held seat for the Conservatives: Sampson Lloyd, the Conservative candidate, obtained 3,095 votes; Lord William Compton, 1,919. Compton told Sir Edward Hamilton that his ‘crushing defeat’ was mainly due to ‘the dislike of farmers to the enfranchisement of their labourers’ (Bahlman, II, p. 730).

⁸⁷³ The second reading was to be in the Lords on 18 November.

⁸⁷⁴ After the meeting, Salisbury wrote to Carnarvon, ‘On the whole I come to the conclusion that it would be wisest, as you suggested, to let the bill pass through the second reading in the ordinary way on Tuesday, and take the division on going into Committee on Thursday. The words to that effect will go out tonight, the arrangement was of course made with the assent of Granville’ (Salisbury to Carnarvon, 12 November 1884: CP, BL 60760, fos 3–4).

⁸⁷⁵ Francis Henry Jeune (1843–1905), judge, created Baron St Helier (1905), and Lady Mary Jeune (1849–1931), society hostess (see E.F. Benson, As We Were: a Victorian peep show (London, 1930), pp. 284–286). The following year, Lady Jeune played a part in helping to set up the meeting between Carnarvon and Parnell on 1 August (Lady Jeune to Carnarvon, 22 July 1885: CP, BL 60822, fo. 125).

⁸⁷⁶ Wilson Barrett (1846–1904), actor-manager of the Princess's Theatre (1881–1886), took the leading role. Henry Irving (1838–1905) had long been celebrated for his interpretation of the part.

⁸⁷⁷ Carnarvon had arranged to meet Salisbury at midday on 17 November. Meanwhile, he warned Salisbury, ‘I am afraid that your joint meeting of the two Houses on Thursday is not popular with many peers; and even if no open dissatisfaction is expressed, I doubt if the results will be good. You can learn more of the feeling by enquiry but it is, I think, even now worth considering whether anything can be done to give them the sense of a somewhat free and more independent discussion of the course which they will pursue’ (Carnarvon to Salisbury, 16 November 1884 (copy): CP, BL 60960, fos 6–7).

⁸⁷⁸ When the Hartington–Hicks Beach discussions broke down, the way seemed clear for a meeting between Salisbury and Gladstone. As Gladstone was now willing to come to some understanding, Ponsonby informed the Queen on 15 November that he had talked to Richmond and Cairns (at Perth station that day, on their way to London) as she had requested, in order that they might persuade Salisbury to negotiate with Gladstone (F.E.G. Ponsonby, Sidelights on Queen Victoria (London, 1930), pp. 274–276). Salisbury, for his part, told Northcote on 13 November that there would be no easy passage for the Franchise Bill unless the Commons first sent up a Redistribution Bill (Salisbury to Northcote, 13 November 1884: Iddesleigh Papers, BL 50020, fo. 91).

⁸⁷⁹ Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1593–1641), despotic Lord Deputy of Ireland (1633–1639). The previous year, Carnarvon had visited Canada and stayed with his old friend John Macdonald, the Leader of the Canadian Conservative Party. In discussing the Irish question, Macdonald expressed ‘drastic and almost Cromwellian views’ (Hardinge, III, pp. 92–93).

⁸⁸⁰ Daniel O'Connell (1775–1847), MP for Dublin, Kilkenny, and Co. Cork, ‘The Liberator’, who supported Catholic emancipation in 1805.

⁸⁸¹ The Times, for instance, announced that ‘Lord Granville in the House of Lords and Mr Gladstone in the House of Commons will today make a public declaration of the basis on which they are prepared to proceed with reference to the Franchise and Redistribution Bills’ (The Times, 18 November 1884, p. 9).

⁸⁸² William Henry Edgcumbe (1832–1917), 4th Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe (1861), Lord Chamberlain (1879–1880), Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall (1877–1917).

⁸⁸³ Cairns and Richmond, strong advocates of reconciliation, nevertheless received Salisbury's permission after the meeting to talk to Granville (Richmond to Queen Victoria, 17 November 1884, in Buckle, Letters, III, pp. 575–576). Gladstone, in his speech later to the Commons on 17 November, as an act of reconciliation had offered either a conference or a Redistribution Bill on the lines discussed with Northcote, and that a second reading in the Commons could take place simultaneously with the passing of the Franchise Bill into Committee in the Lords (Hansard, CCXCIII, 17 November 1884, cols 1820–1824).

⁸⁸⁴ Hansard, CCXCIII, 17 November 1884, Granville, cols 1806–1809, Salisbury, col. 1809.

⁸⁸⁵ Before the Carlton Club meeting, Salisbury despatched his nephew, Arthur Balfour, to Gladstone, seeking reassurance whether the pledge to pass the Reform Bill ‘is or is not to predate an agreement with regard to the provisions of the Redistribution Bill’. Acting through Hartington's private secretary, Reginald Brett, Gladstone replied in a conciliatory manner. An inter-party conference would safeguard Salisbury's position. See J.D. Fair, ‘Royal mediation in 1884: a reassessment’, English Historical Review, 88 (1973), p. 111. The Franchise Bill was given its second reading later in the day: Hansard, CCXCIV, 17 November 1884, cols 1–10. There was also some unease on the Liberal benches at the settlement. Arthur Elliot reported a dinner party conversation hosted by another Liberal MP, Leonard Courtney: ‘Courtney like other people were taken aback by the novelty of Ministers and Opposition jointly bringing forward the Redistribution Bill: a course of action which effectively destroys any influence from the House at large before the measure’ (Elliot, Diary, 19 November 1884: Minto Papers, MS 19511, vol. 10, pp. 75–76).

⁸⁸⁶ Stead, greatly concerned at the Liberal government's policy of reducing the vote on naval expenditure, wrote an article, ‘The truth about the Navy’, for his journal, the Pall Mall Gazette. It was later reprinted as a pamphlet and had a significant impact on public opinion. This led to an increase in the naval vote.

⁸⁸⁷ On 22 November, Salisbury and Northcote met Gladstone, Hartington, and Dilke, President of the Local Government Board, with no minutes taken. A written compact known as ‘the Arlington Street Compact’, agreed between Salisbury and Dilke, was concluded on 28 November. See S. Gwynn and G.M. Tuckwell, The Life of the Rt. Hon. Sir Charles Dilke, 2 vols (London, 1917), II, pp. 74–75.

⁸⁸⁸ Edward Hamilton reported after one meeting between the two men, ‘Mr. G. was in great spirits [. . .]. He said the discussions were intensely interesting and carried on in great humour. Lord Salisbury, who seems to monopolise all the say on his side, has no respect for tradition. As compared with him, Mr. G. declares he is himself quite a Conservative’ (Bahlman, III, p. 741).

⁸⁸⁹ Carnarvon wrote to Salisbury later the same day, ‘It seems to me of the highest consequence that the Redistribution Bill should be as far advanced at once as to have the Speaker out of the Chair on this side of Christmas’ (Carnarvon to Salisbury, 26 November 1884: Hatfield House Papers, 3M/E).

⁸⁹⁰ After earlier hearing Gladstone's report to the Cabinet on the proposed conference between the two parties that day, Carlingford wrote, ‘Very promising and near an agreement, but it is accepting the great change of the almost general introduction of the system of single member electoral districts instead of groupings which the Conservative chiefs began by proposing’ (Carlingford, Diary, 19 November 1884: Carlingford Papers, BL 63692, fo. 254).

⁸⁹¹ The Times, 27 November 1884, p. 7.

⁸⁹² Gladstone had introduced the Redistribution Bill on 1 December: Hansard, CCXCIV, cols 372–385.

⁸⁹³ The State of the Navy: ibid., 2 December 1884, Northbrook, cols 395–414, Carnarvon, cols 414–422.

⁸⁹⁴ Ibid., 4 December 1884, cols 572–594. Carlingford wrote the following day, ‘To the House of Lords, and saw the Franchise Bill passed without a word, with a few cheers from our side – a historical event’ (Carlingford, Diary, 5 December 1884: Carlingford Papers, BL 63692, fo. 254). It received the Royal Assent on 6 December.

⁸⁹⁵ Hansard, CCXCIV, 4 December 1884, cols 578–579.

⁸⁹⁶ Lilias Sophia Ashworth Hallett (1844–1922), who with Millicent Fawcett was responsible for campaigning for a bill to enfranchise unmarried women and widows; Lydia Ernestine Becker (1827–1890), agent for the Central Committee of the National Society for Women's Suffrage. See Crawford, E., The Women's Suffrage Movement (London, 1999), pp. 46, 260Google Scholar. Carnarvon received a warm letter of thanks from the Central Committee for his supportive speech (CP, BL 60832, fo. 107).