28Oct1880, Suspension of Habeas Corpus

HAWARDEN, October 28th, 1880.
—Sir Th. [FN: Mr. Gladstone's eldest brother, who was a strong Conservative.] and Ly. Gladstone and their Mary are here—so kind, and nice and pleasant, in spite of politics, which are of course rather avoided. Mary still so handsome it's wonderful she is an old maid. The two brothers are pleasant and funny to see together; so extremely alike outside and entirely unlike inside ! they talk no end over old recollections, and Sir T. is also great audience to the trees and walks, which Uncle W. is particularly high gee over just now, having delightful new walks, laid out by Willy in the park, and Boobery wood to show off.

F. got home Saturday morning; and after breakfast talked over Irish matters with Uncle W.: grubous major. He says the panic is very great, and all the people he spoke to unanimous as to the suspension of the Habeas Corpus, on the ground that it has never been known to fail in putting down sedition. Certain landlords are said to be in danger because they are good ones; Parnell and Co. considering they stand in the way of their revolutionary schemes. Mr. Forster very patient and stout-hearted in his trying isolation. No one but Government supporting him or agreeing with him as to non-coercion for the present, while the Land Leaguers are equally down upon him. Parnell has nicknamed him "Buckshot Forster," with the base intention of gibbeting him as cruel, when he must know that it was to prevent the ghastly danger of bullets that he suggested buckshot for the use of the constabulary. F. put the black view strongly before Uncle W. that he might know the worst; but F. is as strong as Uncle W. against extra-legal measures being resorted to except as a last resource. "What?" he said, "are we to lock up 500 people in gaol?" Baths, Mr. MacColl, Mr. Leveson , and George [FN: . Gladstone's private secretray, now Sir George Granville Leveson-Gower, K.B.E. His father, always spoken of in the Diary as "Mr. Leveson," was Lord Granville's brother.] came. Lord Bath went off upon Ld. Salisbury's crookedness with the same zeal and fervour as at Longleat and Highclere.