His mother had, as usual, a somewhat more hopeful account.
Treasury Chambers, Whitehall: December 28, 1886.
I have as yet no news. Hartington may join. Goschen is to meet him in Paris to-morrow; it all depends whether he can be re-elected or not. Wolff is too faithful for description. I am pleased with the general tone of the Press. I expected it to be much worse. I can’t bear to leave this room, where I can sit and think and hear everything quickly. The matter is very critical, but by no means desperate, and may drag on indefinitely for some days.
I am very well and in very good spirits. Please do not worry about me or put off your journey.
The pleasant party at Howth, to which he had been looking forward, must be forsaken.
Lord Randolph Churchill to Lord Justice FitzGibbon.
Treasury Chambers, Whitehall, S.W.: December 24, 1886.
You see my Irish hopes are shattered. I mean the Howth hopes. I have nothing to do but to keep very quiet for the moment, and pleasure is out of the question.
I hope you do not blame me hastily. It was certain to come, and delay produced danger.
I should like to tell you all about it; it is too long to write.