310 LIFE AND EXPERIENCES CHAP. 



one of the leaders of Liberal thought and action, but as 

 one who had drunk deeply from the well of English 

 literature pure and undefiled. 



I fought the election of '92 with Lord Emlyn, now 

 Earl Cawdor, when I was again returned, but by a some- 

 what diminished majority. The last few years of this 

 Parliament were very trying, especially to Liberal 

 Members. Attendance had to be almost continuous, 

 an endless number of divisions occurred, and so far 

 as the political part of the matter was concerned 

 with but little satisfaction. Moreover, the task of 

 constantly visiting one's constituents was beginning 

 to be irksome ; not that I have any right or desire 

 to find fault with them, for I always experienced 

 at their hands kindness and consideration. My 

 supporters were anxious, of course, to see me fre- 

 quently in their midst and were desirous that I should 

 not lose touch ; but not infrequently one went down, 

 perhaps at considerable inconvenience, to a tea-party 

 or bazaar or local gathering and found the room half- 

 full. The fact is that it is difficult, or almost impos- 

 sible, to keep up for any length of time local interest 

 in political life, unless some serious or exciting conflict 

 is on the carpet. 



Thus it came about that in the spring of 1895 I 

 felt desirous of retiring from Parliamentary life, and 

 went so far as to intimate to some of my friends 

 my wish to do so at the end of that Parliament. 

 I had hoped to find a successor in a man of high 

 repute and position in the division, a man of 

 advanced Liberal views and a keen politician. I had 

 never concealed my opinion that for a constituency 

 like South Manchester, a person who represented the 

 local interests, especially in their commercial aspect, 

 would prove more useful than one like myself. 



