Once already in his career he had chosen to be in advance of his party, and the consequences had been disastrous to him.

On that occasion his feelings had been strong in regard to the measure upon which he broke away from his party; but, when he first thought of it, he did not care much about Church disendowment.
But he found that he must needs go as he was driven or else depart out of the place.

He wrote a line to his friend Erle, not to ask advice, but to explain the circumstances.

"My only possible chance of success will lie in attacking the Church endowments.

Of course I think they are bad, and of course I think that they must go.