3-057-470 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Letter from Gladstone to Disraeli, 1878. Page from an exchange of letters between William Gladstone and the Conservative leader, Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield. Disraeli had claimed that Gladstone had described him as 'a dangerous and even devilish character'. '73 Harley Street, July 30, 1878. Dear Lord Beaconsfield, I find you are reported in The Times [newspaper] of today to have made last night a reference to a speech delivered by me at Oxford, in which you state that I "described you as a dangerous and even devilish character". I shall be obliged by your informing me on what words of mine you found [in] this statement. You likewise are reported to have said that during the controversy...'. Disraeli replied that these were innumerable and that, as he was busy, his assistants were undertaking the necessary researches. He did, however, cite instances where Gladstone had accused him of debasing 'the great name of England' and acting duplicitously.