Lady John Russell Part 31

Ever, dearest Mary, your most affectionate sister,

F. RUSSELL

[70] Mr. Froude, in a talk with an Irish peasant on the grievances of his country, remarked that one cause of complaint was removed by Disestablishment of the Church. "Och, sure, your honour, that is worse than all. It was the best gravance we had, and ye've taken it away from us!"

_Lady Russell to Lady Dunfermline_

PEMBROKE LODGE, _December_ 3, 1868

MY DEAREST MARY,--Yesterday's _Pall Mall_ and Sir David Dundas, who dined with us, set us all agog with the news that the Ministry are to resign at once, probably have now resigned; certainly much the wisest course for themselves, and John rather thinks the best for everybody.... How different this change of Ministry is to us from any there has been before since we were married, and for John since long before! There is now only a keen and wholesome interest for the country's sake--none of the countless agitations which at all events on the formation of the three last Ministries, of which John was either the head or a prominent member, more than overpowered satisfaction and pride, perhaps not to himself, but to his wife in her secret heart. As to pride, I never was prouder of him in one position than in another, _in_ than _out_, applauded than condemned; and I had learned to know the risks, not to health only or chiefly, for that, precious as it was, seemed a trifle in comparison with other things, but to the power of serving his country, to friends.h.i.+p, to reputation in the highest sense, which are involved in the formation of a Government. These are matters of experience, and in 1846 I was inexperienced and consequently foresaw only good to the country and increase of fame to him from his acceptance of the Prime Ministers.h.i.+p. I now know that these seldom or never in such a state of parties as has existed for many years and still exists, can be the _only_ consequences of high office for him, although, thank G.o.d, they have always been _among_ the consequences, and my only reasonable and permanent regret (for I don't pretend to the absence of pa.s.sing and unreasonable regrets) is for the _cause_ of office being over for him. What a letter full of _John_, and just when I ought to be talking of everybody else except _John_; but you will guess that if he were not perfectly cheerful--and he is more, he is full of patriotic eagerness--I could not write all this.... Thanks for your sympathy about Johnny--we were _very_ sorry, I need not say[71].... I don't at all mind the beating, which has been a glorious one in every way, but I _immensely_ mind his not being in Parliament....

Your most affectionate sister, F.R.

[71] Lord Amberley was defeated in the General Election.

Mr. Charles d.i.c.kens to Lady Russell

GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT

Sat.u.r.day, December 26, 1868

MY DEAR LADY RUSSELL,--... I cannot tell you how highly I esteem your kind Christmas remembrances, or how earnestly I send all seasonable wishes to you and Lord Russell and all who are dearest to you. I am unselfishly glad that Lord Russell is out of the turmoil and worry of a new Administration, but I miss him from it sorely. I was saying only yesterday to Layard (who is staying here), that I could not get over the absence of that great Liberal name from a Liberal Government, and that I lost heart without it.

Ever faithfully yours,

CHARLES d.i.c.kENS

_Lady Russell to Lady Victoria Villiers_

PEMBROKE LODGE, _February_ 4, 1869

We have had such a gay time of it--that is, from Sat.u.r.day to Monday only; but we have had such a quiet life in general that that seems a great deal. The Gladstones with daughter Mary to dine. Gladstone was unanimously p.r.o.nounced to be most agreeable and delightful. I never saw him in such high spirits, and he was as ready to talk about anything and everything, small and great, as if he had no Ministerial weight on his shoulders. He carries such fire and eloquence into whatever he talks about that it seems for the moment the most important subject in the world.

_Lady Russell to Mr. Rollo Russell_

37 CHESHAM PLACE, _March_ 2, 1869

London is extremely agreeable now, not rackety, but sociable--at least to the like of us who do not attempt to mix in the very gay world....

Arthur Russell called last night after hearing Gladstone's great speech [on Irish Disestablishment], well pleased himself and expecting the country to be so--_the_ country, Ireland, more especially. _On_ the whole your father is satisfied, but not _with_ the whole; he does not approve of the churches being left to the Protestants for ever, as there is nothing granted to the Roman Catholics. Neither does he like the appropriation of national money to charities. [72]

[72] The Bill transferred to the new disestablished Episcopal Church all the churches, all endowments given since 1660, while the remaining funds were to be handed over to the Government for the relief of poverty and suffering.

Lord Russell had followed up his first letter to Mr. Chichester Fortescue by two more letters, in which he again advocated both the disestablishment and disendowment of the Irish Church. He warmly supported Gladstone's measure; though he again insisted that the funds of the Irish Church should be used to endow the other Churches. He was in constant attendance at the House of Lords, and during the same session he proposed, without success, a measure which would have added a limited number of life peers to the Second Chamber. These incursions into politics seem in no way to have taxed his strength.

_Lady Russell to Mr. William Russell_

_June_ 3, 1869

It is a great misfortune that we have so few really eminent men among the clergy of England, Scotland, or Ireland--in any of the various communities. Such men are greatly needed to take the lead in what I cannot but look upon as a n.o.ble march of the progress of mankind, the a.s.sertion of the right to think and speak with unbounded freedom on that which concerns us all more deeply than anything else--religion. I believe that by the exercise of such unbounded freedom we shall reach to a knowledge of G.o.d and a comprehension of the all-perfect spirit of Christianity such as no Established Church has ever taught by Creeds or Articles, though individuals of all such Churches have forgotten Creeds and Articles, and taught "true religion and undefiled" out of the real Word of G.o.d and their own high and holy thoughts.

PEMBROKE LODGE, _August_ 18, 1869

My dear husband seventy-seven this day. G.o.d be thanked for all that has made it a calm and bright and blessed one to us.

Our happiness now is chiefly in the past and present as to this world, in memory more than hope. But the best joys of the past and present are linked to that future beyond the grave to which we are hastening.... Bright and beautiful day. We sat long together in bowling-green and talked of the stir in men's minds on Christianity, on all religions and religion, our own thoughts, our hope, our trust.

_Lord Russell to Lady Georgiana Peel_

PEMBROKE LODGE, RICHMOND PARK, _August_ 18, 1869

MY DEAREST GEORGY,--... Your very kind and warm congratulations delight me. It is sad that the years pa.s.s and make one older and weaker and sillier, but as they will pa.s.s all the same, it is well to have one bright day in each year when one's children can recall all the past, and feel once again grat.i.tude to the Giver of all good.

Your affectionate Father, RUSSELL

_To Mr. Archibald Peel_

MY DEAR ARCHIE,--Thanks for your good wishes. Happy returns I always find them, as my children are so affectionate and loving--many I cannot expect--but I have played my part, and think the rest will be far easier than my task has been.

Your affectionate F.I.L. (Father-in-Law)

RUSSELL

On October 26th they left home for Italy, travelling across France in deep snow. They reached the Villa Garbarino, at San Remo, on November 3rd, and remained there till April, 1870. "The five months," Lady Russell writes, "were among the very happiest of our lives, and we reckon it among the three earthly paradises to which our wanderings have taken us--La Roche, St. Fillans, and San Remo. It was a very quiet life, but with a pleasant amount of society, many people we much liked pa.s.sing through, or staying awhile, or, like ourselves, all the winter."

They also became friendly with several of the Italians of San Remo, whom they welcomed at little evening gatherings at their villa. Their landlord, the Marchese Garbarino, was an ardent patriot. He it was who had decorated the ceiling of his drawing-room with the four portraits: Cavour, Garibaldi, Mazzini, and Lord John Russell, so it was to him a delightful surprise to have Lord John as his tenant.

_Lord Russell to Lady Minto_

SAN REMO, _November_ 23, 1869

I am very sorry that headache and neuralgia should have been added to illness and dislike of writing, as your reason for not inquiring how we were going on. We sit here in the receipt of news without any means of reciprocity, but we can speculate on France, Italy, and Ireland. Of those, the country which most interests and most concerns me, is Ireland.... I have heard much of Lady and Lord Byron, and from good sources. I can only conclude that he was half mad and loved to frighten her, and that she believed in the stories she circulated. [73] The Duke of Wellington said of George IV's story that he was at the Battle of Waterloo, "At first it was a lie, than a strong delusion, and at last downright madness."

Brougham's conversation with William IV on the dissolution was another delusion, and so on in perverse, wicked, contradictory human nature. Those who like to probe such systems may do so--the only wise conclusion is Swift's, "If you want to confute a lie, tell another in the opposite direction." Madame de Sevigne tells of a curate who put up a clock on his church. His paris.h.i.+oners collected stones to break it, saying it was the Gabelle. "No, my friends," he said, "it was the Jubilee," on which they all hurrahed and went away. If he had said it was a machine to mark the hour, his clock would have been broken and himself pelted.

I hope your second volume is coming out soon. [74] There are no lies in it, and therefore you must not expect a great sale. I must stop or you will think me grown a misanthrope. f.a.n.n.y and Agatha are well. If the day had been fine the Crown Princess and her sister would have come here to tea, and you would have had no letter from me. Do send me a return, when your mankind is gone a-hunting.

[73] The publication of "Astarte," by the late Lord Lovelace, containing the doc.u.ments and letters relating to Byron's separation from his wife, has now made it quite clear that the grounds for separation were real.

[74] The second volume of "Life and Letters of Sir Gilbert Elliot, First Earl of Minto."