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190 December 21st, 1887.

—Many thanks for your letter. I am very pleased to hear that you stick together well....

Yes, I think that Champion is going all awry with his opportunism; but after all that is but natural, since it is after all the line that the S.D.F. has taken all along; only they have mixed it up with queer Anarchist or rather sham terrorist tactics, and frankly I think under the circumstances he is right to drop that; so that he is properly a consistent S.D.F. man, taking the lines upon which we split off from them. I cannot believe, however, that he is a self-seeker, and so hope that he will one day see the error of his ways.

Last Sunday, as you will see, went off well. I must say I expected a big shindy; but was very glad that I was disappointed, for it would have led to nothing. As it is, it was a victory, for it was the most enormous concourse of people I ever saw; the number incalculable; the crowd sympathetic and quite orderly.

However, I shall be glad to let the Pall Mall Gazette go on its ways now, and get to work harder on our special business which all this demonstrating has rather hindered; rather in the united action of the body in London, however, than in me. I mean ordinary meetings have been somewhat neglected for these bigger jobs.

I send herewith a photo; the artist has done his best in it, I do believe. But what would you have?

Let me know soon about what time you expect me to come down, that I may make arrangements for a regular tour. I may as well do as much as I can.

I think I am more likely to write an epic on your (spiritual) birth than on that of your namesake of Bannockburn; but I apologise to all Scotchmen for my irreverence that you twit me with.

By the way, I must say that Mrs. Besant has been acting like a brick. She really is a good woman; though, as you know, in theory tarred with the opportunist stick.

Greetings to all.