His popularity in his own house depended on his fighting their battles, and he must do it now.

So he wrote a reply to Yorke.
"Dear Yorke,--I do not agree with you about the fifteen.

I consider the men on our side whom you have omitted are better than the three I have marked on your list.

If we are to make the clubs a success, we ought to pull together, and let there be no suspicion, however groundless, of favouritism.
"Yours truly, Geo.

Clapperton." To this letter, which he sent over by another junior, more expeditious than his last, he received the following reply:-- "Dear Clapperton,--Sides have nothing to do with it.