| Description | Letter dated 8 February. Russell [1834-1920, first Baron Russell of Liverpool, newspaper editor and proprietor] encloses a letter from a Liverpool doctor for Chamberlain's interest [enclosure not included]. He discusses tensions within the Liberal Party, reassuring Chamberlain about the opposition from the 'Foljambe' Whigs: 'You and Sir Charles [Dilke] have nothing to fear because the certainty of immediate cleavage if you went is patent'. He praises Chamberlain for expressing his personal views rather than deferring to colleagues. He argues that the best way of securing change is by 'carrying the Whigs on our shoulders rather than shaking them off'. He fantasises about Dilke and Chamberlain 'standing before the world as the avowed personification of a Democracy strong & imperious in a military and diplomatic sense'. He comments on Goschen's [George Goschen, 1831-1907, politician and financier] speech and recent activities. |