—I was a party to Rintoul's letter of Saturday.

We have since taken on ourselves to decide that he shall page 176try to get either Lord Kinnaird or Arthur Kinnaird (really Liberal and very independent Whigs) to be a member of the Council. I also propose asking G. F. Young, because he is a sincere Colonial Reformer, a good man of business, and a leading Protectionist who would not sacrifice colonies to party.

Rintoul and I are most anxious that you should get before the public without delay. The advertisement ought, if possible, to be in next Satur ay's Spectator, with notice to Rintoul, so that he might get ready some remarks on the subject.

The Times of to-day, and above all, Cobden's speech at Bradford, seem to me just what we could desire.

If you have not all you wish on the Council, you can publish thus:—

"First Council.

"(With power to add to their number)"; and then add at leisure.

The Government are in great alarm. If they do not throw over Grey and adopt our views, we shall probably get the Protectionists into office for a while. But will the Protectionists go with you in earnest? I doubt. If not, we shall be beaten for this year.

I begged FitzGerald to state my very urgent reasons for disliking to be on the Council. The main one is, that my name there would make the movement appear anti-Grey; a reproach which we must take effectual care to avoid. Besides, it is my habitual and most useful function to work, like the mole, in out-of-sight obscurity. I hope you may have liked my last under-ground scratch—"Dr. Lang and Mr. Godley."