2 May 1887 – 8 May 1887

H. and I call on Huxleys — tea, pleasant talk — at Marks's. Alma Tadema's new house, Grove End Road — Mrs. Tadema friendly. The studio like a Byzantine church. Mrs. T.'s studio built and furnished like an old Netherlandish room.

Dine at Mr. Walter Besant's. Mr. B. thinks the Cloister and the Hearth the best historical novel in the world. He thinks a novelist can't be a dramatist. (But in France 'tis otherwise : e.g. V. Hugo, Dumas fils, and others.)

Eldon Road, Dr. Martineau comes to luncheon (82) — tall, thin, courteous, deliberate. Curiously modelled, deep-lined face ; close-shaven ; hair still bushy in effect, though thinned. He speaks with invariable readiness and gentle precision. ' Metaphysical Society, so called — -was there any result from it } ' ' Only in this way — it drew men together and made them judge each other and each other's opinions more fairly. I believe it modified Huxley's views, and perhaps Tyndall's.' Comte : Dr. Martineau admires his classification of the Sciences. Fisk — Frederic Harrison. All this time he was sitting to Clara, who is at work on a third life-size portrait of him, head and shoulders. After an hour he took out his watch, and soon departed, in a shower of rain. Said he should be ' most happy to have the honour ' of proposing me at the Athenaeum Club, if I thought of becoming a candidate, unless, I ' should select some fitter person.' Dr. Martineau spoke much of Gladstone — met him at dinner at Tennyson's, in London (about two years ago?) The lady beside Dr. Martineau asking his opinion on Irish affairs. Dr. M. said he thought Ireland of late had rather been petted than oppressed. Gladstone overheard this, and asked the Doctor to explain. Martineau thought that wherever any legislative difference was made between England and Ireland, it was in favour of Ireland. On this Gladstone took up the cudgels : ' but (said M.) I soon drew out of the discussion, and left my side of it in the hands of some politicians who were present. A day or two after I was with Tennyson ; he said, " Gladstone didn't like what you said about Ireland." " No — but it's true." " That's why he didn't like it," said Tennyson. The present Bishop of St. Andrews, Wordsworth, was tutor to Gladstone : he told me he was one day congratulating old Mr. Gladstone on his son's success at college : the old man replied, with a serious look, " I have no doubt of William's ability : I wish I were equally sure of his stability." '