94 WITH MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN THE 



at Ottawa, called Earnscliffe, where he resided 

 when Parliament was sitting, and another home at 

 Kingston, where he spent most of his time in the 

 recess. He was, in truth, a very great man and a 

 very agreeable one too. Mr. Chamberlain had 

 several personal interviews with him at Ottawa 

 on the fishery question, with which he was espe- 

 cially conversant. 



On the 22nd Mr. Chamberlain received a deputa- 

 tion of Pressmen, who of course wanted to know all 

 about the fishery negotiations and how they were 

 progressing. The Chief, however, declined to be 

 " drawn " on this topic ; but he had a good deal to 

 say to them upon the tariff question and upon the 

 subject of commercial union with the States. His 

 views on that subject were in entire harmony with 

 those of Sir John Macdonald. The interview was 

 reported at great length the following day in the 

 Press. It would serve no useful purpose to reproduce 

 it at length. But there were some smart points and 

 counterpoints in which Mr. Chamberlain excelled. 

 For example : 



Q. " Do you think the English people would 

 favour any proposal from Canada discriminating in 

 matters of tariff against the mother country in favour 

 of the United States ? " 



