1868

I went to Phillimore's for the night. At Reading Station I was overwhelmed by the news of Lord Salisbury's most sudden death.272 The result will be great and I am afraid very unfortunate. Cranborne's removal to the House of Lords though it will strengthen my hands wonderfully and be personally very pleasant to me leaves the Conservative Party without anyone to rally round. Disraeli almost becomes a necessity to them and I am afraid that it will drive them to him and strengthen him.273 Politically matters look very gloomy to me.