14May1877, Dissatisfaction With Turkey

HOLMBURY, May 14th-20th, 1877.
—The debate ended in a division on the 1st resolution, which merely expressed dissatisfaction with Turkey's disregard of Ld. Derby's first despatch. Government has said as much over and over again; but they met it with an amendment objecting to "embarrass" the Government, and of course their party voted almost to a man for the amendment; tho' I know many of them are thoroughly anti-Turkish. The Liberals all voted together, except the Irish, who have the Pope to please, and whose support is no compliment.

Cavendish made a perfectly admirable speech, leaving nothing to be desired: he is come on enormously in readiness and delivery, and not only argued excellently but did good cut-and-thrust work and was effective and humorous. I didn't quite approve of Uncle W.'s concluding speech: thought he trotted out the dear departed Resolutions unnecessarily (having made it already as clear as day that his own opinion of them is unchanged). But he made some very telling points. The division was, of course, a penance to one's feeling; Government getting "a clear majority of the whole House."

Mr. Chaplin was one of those who badgered Uncle W. on the 7th, but the great speech absolutely overcame him (he, a regular man of the world), and he was heard to say, "Certainly this is a marvellous man!" And in a fine elaborate speech last Monday, tho' of course taking the strong Government line, he paid a famous tribute to Uncle W., especially to his earnest convictions. Old Ly. Lothian is dead in Rome, of a pleurisy caught while entertaining pilgrims at a reception (such a funny view of pilgrims !)....

The "Ridsdale Judgement" is out: it forbids vestments, but I don't see how that is to be accepted while the "Ornaments Rubric" remains unchanged and stares one in the face; and it allows the Eastward position, provided the priest does not wilfully prevent Communicants seeing him break the bread and take the cup into his hands. I am afraid it will be universally considered an "expediency" judgment.