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3, Temple Gardens, Temple.
May : 17 : 06
Dear Miss Markham
I have no comfort to give you, for I think the thing is about as bad as could be. The Milner dinner has been turned into a vulgar Chamberlainist demonstration. People like the Duke of Devonshire & Lord Balfour of
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Burleigh, who wanted to go, find it impossible. Either Lord Rosebery or the Duke should have been in the chair, and this was what the Committee wanted, when a certain Lady upset the apple-cart. I attribute the Albert Hall fiasco to the same person. I am sure Bartle Frere is incapable of it. I wish the whole thing
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were over & done with.
We are entertaining H.E. [His Excellency: Lord Milner] on Saturday week at the annual Canning Club dinner at Oxford - a select little Tory club with Ampthill in the chair. I expect ours will be the better dinner of the two.
H.E. is very well & has taken to going to every dance. I wonder what is up.
Yours ever
J.B.
