No one who did not live in these times will, I dare say, believe but some of those I describe in these papers must have had some hard features and deformities exaggerated and heightened by the malice and ill-nature of the painter who drew them. Others, perhaps, will say that it least no painter is obliged to draw every wart or wen or hump-back in its full proportions, and that I might have softened these blemishes where I found them. But I am determined to report everything just as it is, or at least, just as it appears to me. It is in this spirit, and animated by no other, that this Diary has been written. H. W. L. C O N T E N T S . . CHAPTER I.–QUIET DAYS … … . . PAGE 2 CHAPTER I1 . - GERXS OF OBSTRUCTION . . 15 CHAPTER III.–XAJOR OGORXAN … … . . 28 CHAPTER IV . - SKIRMISHES WITH THE IRISH . 42 CHAPTER V.–U ERM R . DISRAELISM ANAGEMEN . T 55 CHAPTER V1.-DR. KENEALY … … … 71 CHAPTER VI1.-STORMS BREWING . 87 CHAPTER VII1.-MR. PLIMSOLL … … … 10 2 CHAPTER IX.–THE QUEENO PENSP ARLIAMEN . T . 119 CHAPTER X . - MR . DISRAELIBD ECADENCE … 130 CHAPTER XIII.. DIBRAELI NO YORE … … . . 160 CHAPTER XIV. EARL O F BEACONSFIELD … … . 17 0 CHAPTER XV.–a WHICITL EADER … … . . 18 3 CHAPTER XV1.-MR. BUTT DEPOSED … … . . 198 CHAPTER XVII. THE GREATT ICHBORNDE EMONSTRATION . 208 CHAPTER XVII1.-MR. GLADSTONEFSI VER ESOLUTIONS . . 221 CHAPTER XIX.–SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOT 8 E 8 LEADER . 248 CHAPTER XX.–THE COUNTY F UNCHISE . . 261 … v111 CONTENTS . PAGE CHAPTER XX1.-THE STATIOSERYO FFICE SCANDAL … . . 0 - I - 3 . L CHAPTER XXIII.–PROROGATIOS . . 306 CHAPTER XXIT.–R m F OR WAR ., . . 3 23 CHAPTER XSV.–A VOTE O F CREDIT .. 33s CHAPTER XWI.–LORD RLXDOLPII CHURCHILLD EVELOPS … 354 … . . CHAPTER XX II.. RESIC SATION OF LORD DERBY 367 i CHAPTER XXVII1.-C. LLLING om TIIE RESERVES . 381 CHAPTER XSIS.–XR FORSTER AS LORDC HATIIAM … 397 CHAPTER XSS.-UR. ROEBUCRKE P ZSED … … . 413 CHAPTER XXS1.- PEACE WITH Hosorn … … 4 CHAPTER XSSI1.-NR. GLADSTOX A E SD THE PRLMIEB … . 445 CHAPTER SXXIII.–A HOLLOWS ESSION . 4.55 CHAPTER XXXIV.-XR. GLADSTON O E N THE OFFEXSIVE . . 46G CHAPTER XXXV.–THE SPEAKERA RRAIGSED . . 3S2 CHAPTER XXSVI. - D s s o a . o s . 498