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Correspondence of Lord Rendel. Unless otherwise stated the letters in this section are addressed to Lord Rendel. The collection also includes holograph letters and copies written by Rendel himself to various correspondents. There are also items relating to the correspondence of Lady Rendel and other members of the family and a few miscellaneous letters which passed between other persons.

Refers to differences of opinion as to the respective merits of the Grogythan and Nanteos sites for laboratories; pays a tribute to Rendel's public work and sounds him as to the possibility of inviting John Morley to address the students at Aberystwyth at the time of his visit to Bala to unveil a statue to T. E. Ellis.

Arranging to meet in London and asking him to go to see an exhibition of the drawings of Miss Pughe, daughter of Dr John Pughe of Aberdovey.

Regrets his inability to be at the Pontypridd meeting, but affirms his strong support of the Disestablishment Campaign Committee.

Arrangements for visiting Cannes.

Thinks that Gladstone would be pleased to know the interest the Empress was taking in his condition; report that McColl was writing Gladstone's life.

Concerning her plans to travel out to Cannes with the Duke of Cambridge.

Arrangements for visiting Hatchlands.

Requesting a loan of £1,000 to relieve financial anxieties caused by her husband's long and expensive illness.

Regretting his inability to accede to her request (see 1004).

Details proposals of the War Minister to form County Regiments of two battalions of the line combined with the militia and to recognise the principle of selection for promotion of officers, with some improvement in the pay and position of NCOs, period of service with the colours to be slightly lengthened to provide for Indian and Colonial duties and corporal punishment to be abolished; he is pleased that Rendel had been chosen to move the address.

Refutes views expressed by Rendel in a pamphlet in which he appears to advocate a complete cessation of manufacture in Government workshops of armaments and munitions of war, also the abolition of the Committee on Ordnance; thinks the pamphlet too bitter and would have carried more weight if more coldly written.

States that Rendel was one of the few MPs who understood armaments, and did not think they differed on principles; defends the Ordnance committee and considers the recent failure of guns would be a warning; asks that if the introduction of naval officers and civil engineers had not answered expectations, what other more satisfactory committee could be formed; public opinion and naval opinion had to be satisfied; mentions that Sir William Armstrong and other authorities had been heard by the committee and that the presence of Rendel's brother at the Admiralty was reassuring.

Does not think there was much danger of war with Russia over Afghanistan, having regard to the strength of Britain in the East, at sea and financially, but concedes that there were aggressive military parties in both Russia and England; claims that the Government was backed by the whole nation, the Colonies and India.

Appealing for a contribution to the £50,000 election fund he was raising. Draft reply stating that he had begun his political expenditure with £8,000 in 1880 and had devoted 20% of his expenditure to politics ever since and so feels that he has done enough.

Comments that Conservatives seemed to be falling to pieces 'the farthing rushlight of Lord Randolph Churchill having gone out, their dreary caverns are dark'; thinks Goschen too superior a person; has great hopes for success of the conference of leading Liberals; had expressed the view before Sir James Stephens's Commission on the Ordnance that exclusive reliance should not be placed on the Government Departments for the supply of war materials and had praised the services of Sir William Armstrong and Capt. Noble in placing their knowledge at the disposal of the Government; believes that the present arrangements as to the Surveyor General of the Ordnance performing many of the functions of the old Master General of the Ordnance, but without his military experience, were unsatisfactory; there had been no less than 4 Surveyor Generals since he had left 4 years ago.

Is glad that Rendel agreed with views expressed by him in a letter to the Times; considers that many minor distant wars were fomented by interested persons on the spot, who found profit in them; hopes for Liberal reunion and thinks that the Conservatives would never be able to carry coercive measures in Ireland; believes. Home Rule, with certain modifications, the only remedy.

Discusses the possibility of his standing for Parliament, but has reservations on grounds of expense; states that he had been examined by the Sir James Stephens and the Sir Matthew Ridley Commissions; believes that the Supply Departments of the War Office were getting into a weak and disorganised state, there having been 5 Ministers of War and 4 Surveyor Generals in 4 years, most of the latter weak men; maintains that it was difficult to reconcile efficient army administration with adequate representation in Parliament; strictures on the Government coercion policy in Ireland and in virtually abolishing trial by jury and in ignoring views of Irish members they were disregarding two vital principles of the Constitution; believes Home Rule in some form inevitable; is pleased that Rendel liked his article on the Army in the Fortnightly.

States that the editor of the Fortnightly had cut out several pages of his article on the Army; arrangements for a visit.

Arrangements for a visit and social engagements; remarks that Tories were getting more violent and rancorous than ever.