HENRY PARKINSON VULLIAMY.

What an old rascal!  I answered very shortly, merely stating my intention of coming to Billsbury on the 16th, in order to interview the Committee.  I must nip all this in the bud, or chuck the whole business.

Friday, May 16th, “George Hotel,” Billsbury.—­Came down to Billsbury this afternoon.  Had interview with a delegation from the Committee in the Hotel.  MOFFAT, BLISSOP, and JERRAM were there.  They laid their views before me.  Much the same as VULLIAMY’s letter.  “Shame to wreck the ship for want of a ha’porth of tar,” said BLISSOP.  “Gentlemen,” I said, “if you think I’m going to handle any of this tar, or do any dirty work, you are mistaken.  I am willing to help in the Registration and to pay proper subscriptions, but I won’t budge a step outside the Corrupt Practices Act, so far as my election expenses are concerned.  If you want someone who will make illegal payments, go somewhere else.  I’m quite willing to resign.  Now you know my opinion, and I leave you to confer with your colleagues.”  With that I left them.  Met them again two hours later.  All three looking thoroughly ashamed of themselves.  Said they had reconsidered the matter, and begged me to think no more about it.  They were determined, they said, to use only legal means in fighting the election.  So that blew over.  Afterwards each of them came to me in private, to beg my pardon, and put the fault on the others.  MOFFAT said it was BLISSOP, BLISSOP declared it was JERRAM, and JERRAM swore that such a thing would never have entered his mind if MOFFAT hadn’t insisted on it.

Wrote to VULLIAMY that I found he had entirely misjudged the local feeling, and that, in any case, his suggestions were quite impracticable.  He’ll detest me, but I don’t care a brass farthing.

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[Illustration:  ALL-ROUND POLITICIANS—­SAMPLES OF SALISBURY.]

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THE NEWEST NOSTRUM.

[Mr. AUBERON HERBERT and other amiable enthusiasts held a “Breakfast” at St. James’s Hall, over which Sir NATHANIEL STAPLES presided, to advocate the principle of Voluntary Taxation.]

  Oh, AUBERON, in fairy land
    You must (like Oberon) be dwelling! 
  Your notion’s lovely, winning, grand,
    The fiscal cat most bravely belling;
  Guileless NATHANIEL, too, affects
    World-hardened hearts—­almost to weeping,
  Volunteer taxes who expects
    To draw from Mammon’s harpy keeping. 
  Go, lure the tomtit from the twig,
    Go, coax the tiger from his quarry,
  The toper from his thirsty swig,
    The swindler from his schemings sorry: 
  “Persuade” the Sweater to be just,
    The ’cute Monopolist to be kindly;
  Tempt hunger to resign his crust,
    The niggard churl to lavish blindly: 
  Make—­by soft words—­the ruthless wrecker
    Subscribe for life-boats, ropes and rockets;
  Then plump the National Exchequer
    By willing doles from well-filled pockets!