DEAR MR. STRACHEY,—I have no difficulty in – replying to your letter
of the 14th inst. The words in my speech which you quote were certainly not intended to limit the action which Unionist Free-traders may think it right to take in any election, and still less to imply any disapproval of the appeal to the Unionist voters in the case of the Chertsey election, to which you refer. That appeal was made with my knowledge and assent, and I see no reason to change my opinion re- specting it. If I did not reiterate it at Rawtenstall, it was because I am unwilling to attempt to prescribe a general line of action which may not be equally applicable in all cases, and while I hold that under existing circumstances the opinion of a candidate on the Free-trade question should generally be the decisive consideration, I can easily conceive cases in which the antecedents or principles of a candidate professing Free-trade may make it impossible for a Unionist voter to give him active support.—I remain, yours sincerely, DEVONSHIRE.
Chatsworth, Chesterfield.
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