CHAPTER II

1874-1880

MEMBER FOR WOODSTOCK

The Parliament of 1874--A maiden speech--A social quarrel--Ireland--At the Little Lodge--FitzGibbon and Howth--The Historical Society--Irish politics--Butt and Parnell--The beginnings of obstruction--An unguarded speech--Irish education--The Eastern question--Correspondence with Sir Charles Dilke--The County Government Bill--The Irish Famine Fund--Ministerial embarrassments--Lord Beaconsfield’s letter to the Duke of Marlborough--The General Election of 1880--Mr. Gladstone’s triumph.....58