1866-70
During 1866 Lord Russell finished his "Life of Fox." In the autumn and
winter he and his family travelled in Italy, where they were often
_fêted_ by the people of the towns through which they passed. At the
close of the seven weeks' war Austria had ceded Venetia to Italy, and on
November 7th they witnessed the entry of Victor Emmanuel into Venice as
King of all Italy. It was a magnificent and most impressive sight. Lord
Russell was full of thankfulness and joy at the deliverance of Venetia from
foreign rule, and the triumph of a free and united Italy.
In the memoir of Count Pasolini by his son (translated by the Countess of
Dalhousie) the following passage occurs:
Lord John Russell was then in Venice, and came to view the pageant from our
windows in Palazzo Corner. When my mother saw this old friend appear with
the tricolor upon his breast, she said, "Fort bien, Milord! nos couleurs
italiennes sur votre coeur!" He shook her by the hand, and answered, "Pour
moi je les ai toujours portées, Comtesse. Je suis bien content de vous
trouver ici aujourd'hui; c'est un des plus beaux jours de notre siècle!"
Somebody then said to Lord Russell what a pity it was that the sun of Italy
did not shine more brightly to gild the historical solemnity. "As for
that," said he, "England shows her sympathy by sending you her beloved fog
from the Thames."
_Lady Russell to Lady Dunfermline_
VENICE, November 8, 1866
We are all enchanted with this enchanting place.... Thursday
(yesterday) was the grand and glorious sight--_how_ grand and
glorious nobody who has not been here and probably nobody who has
can conceive.... Newspapers will tell you of the countless gondolas
decorated with every variety of brilliant colours--alike only in
the tricolor flag waving from every one of them--and rowed by
gondoliers in every variety of brilliant and picturesque garb--and
they will tell you a great deal more; but they cannot describe the
_thrill_ of thousands and thousands of Italian hearts at the
moment when their King, "il sospirato nostro Re," appeared, the
winged Lion of St. Mark at one end of his magnificent gondola, a
statue of Italy crowned by Venice at the other. So spirit-stirring
a celebration of so great an event we shall never see again, and I
rejoice that our children were there.
_Lord Russell to Lady Minto_
VENICE, _November_ 11, 1866
... We have been delighted with this place, but especially with
being here to see the crowning of the edifice of Italian
Independence. The people have rather their hearts full than their
voices loud. When the Italian flag was first raised none of the
crowd could cheer for weeping and sobbing. It is a mighty
change.... We have seen many pictures. I am exceedingly struck with
the number of fine pictures, the magnificent colouring, and the
large conceptions of the Venetian painters--faulty in drawing very
often, as Michelangelo said long ago, but wonderfully satisfying to
the imagination.
They returned to England early in 1867.
It was a critical time in the history of the franchise. Neither Lord Derby
nor his followers liked Reform, but the workmen of England were at last set
upon it, and Disraeli realized that only a party prepared to enlarge the
franchise had any chance of power. Unlike his colleagues, he had no fear or
dislike of the people. His imagination enabled him to foresee what hardly
another statesman, Conservative or Radical, supposed possible, that the
power of the Democracy might be increased without kindling in the people
any desire to use it. He divined that the glamour which wealth and riches
have for the majority of voters would make it easy to put a hook in the
nose of Leviathan, and that the monster might be ultimately taken in tow by
the Conservative party. His first move in the process of "educating his
party" was to offer the House a series of Resolutions upon the principles
of representation. These were intended to foreshadow the nature of the
Government's proposals and also to prepare their way. By this device he
hoped to raise the Bill above party conflict, and to lead the more
Conservative of his followers up a gently graduated slope of generalities
till they found themselves committed to accepting a somewhat democratic
measure. His plan was frustrated by the determination of the Opposition to
force the Government to show their hand at once.
He consequently placed before his colleagues a measure which based the
franchise on the occupation of houses rated at £5, coupled with several
antidotes to the democratic tendencies of such a change in the shape of
"fancy franchises," which gave votes to men of certain educational and
financial qualifications. His proposals seem to have been accepted by the
Cabinet with reluctant and hesitating approval. On examining more carefully
the effects of the £5 franchise upon town constituencies Lord Cranborne
(afterwards Lord Salisbury) retracted his previous assent, and Lord
Carnarvon followed his lead.
On the very day that Lord Derby and Disraeli were pledged to define their
measure they found themselves threatened with the resignation of two most
important members of the Government. At a hasty Cabinet Council, held just
before they were to speak, it was agreed, after about twenty minutes'
discussion, that the borough rental should be raised to £6. The Opposition,
however, declared a £6 franchise to be still too high, and they were now
backed by a considerable section of the Conservative party itself, who felt
that when once they were committed to Reform it would at least be wise to
introduce a measure likely to win them popularity as reformers. Lord Derby
and Disraeli yielded to pressure from within their party, and Lord
Cranborne, Lord Carnarvon, and General Peel resigned. The subsequent
history of the Bill consisted in a series of surrenders on the part of
Disraeli. All the clauses and qualifications which had originally modified
its democratic character were dropped, and Gladstone succeeded in carrying
nearly all the amendments his first speech upon the Bill had suggested.
When the Bill finally passed Lord Salisbury described it as a measure based
upon the principles of Bright and dictated by Gladstone; and what many
Conservatives thought of Disraeli's conduct is reflected in the speeches of
their ally Lowe: "Never, never was tergiversation so complete. Such conduct
may fail or not; it may lead to the retention or loss of office; but it
merits alike the contempt of all honest men and the execration of
posterity." [64] Gladstone, writing to Dr. Pusey at the end of the year,
said: "We have been passing through a strange, eventful year: a deplorable
one, I think, for the character and conduct of the House of Commons; but
yet one of promise for the country, though of a promise not unmixed with
evils." The feeling of romantic Tories in the country is expressed in
Coventry Patmore's poem "1867," which begins:
In the year of the great crime,
When the false English Nobles and their Jew,
By God demented, slew
The Trust they stood twice pledged to keep from wrong.
[64] Morley's "Life of Gladstone," vol. ii, p. 235.
The last and longest struggle took place over the compound householder. On
May 17th Mr. Hodgkinson proposed and carried an amendment that in a
Parliamentary borough only the occupier should be rated, thus basing, in
effect, the franchise upon household suffrage, and forcing upon Disraeli a
principle which he had begun by announcing he would never accept. To make
the following letters intelligible it is only necessary to add that in 1866
Lord Amberley had been returned to Parliament as Radical member for
Nottingham:
_Lord Russell to Lady Georgiana Russell_ [65]
PEMBROKE LODGE, _January_ 22, 1867
MY DEAREST GEORGY,--I have been very negligent in not writing to
you before, as I meant to do, but laziness after exertion is very
pleasant. My exertion was not small, as, besides speaking at the
beginning of the evening, I sate up for the division, and did not
get home till near four in the morning. The triumph was very great;
Derby and Cairns and the foolish and wicked Tories were beat, and
the wise and honest Tories, like Salisbury and Carnarvon, helped
the Liberals to defeat them.... We shall have a great fight in
Committee; but I still trust in a reasonable majority for not
pushing amendments too far, and then the Bill will be a great
triumph of sense over nonsense.... We had Dickens Saturday and
Sunday--very agreeable and amiable....
Your affectionate father, R.
[65] This letter ought to be dated July 22, 1869, and addressed to
Lady Georgiana Peel. It refers to the debate on the Irish Church Bill.
_Lady Russell to Mr. Rollo Russell_
37 CHESHAM PLACE, BELGRAVE SQUARE, S.W.,
_February 21, 1867_
... Your Papa and I dined yesterday with Lord and Lady Cork. I
heard some funny stories of Mrs. Lowe.... Here's the best. Mr. Lowe
was talking of the marriage service, of the absurdity of making
everybody say, "With all my worldly goods I thee endow"--"For
instance, I had not a penny." _Mrs. L_.: "Oh, but Robert, you
had your brains!" _Mr. L. (sharply)_: "I'm sure I didn't endow
you with _them_." Very funny; but very cruel, too, in answer
to what was meant so affectionately.... Now, I must get ready to
walk with your Papa. He keeps well and strong, in spite of the
cloudy political atmosphere (hazy, perhaps, rather than
cloudy)--nobody thinking or feeling anything clearly or warmly,
except him and Gladstone and a score or two of others. He feels
that the Government has so discredited itself and the Tory party
generally, that the Whig party might be in a capital position if it
chose. But the general indifference of Whig M.P.'s to Reform, and
their selfish fear of dissolution, come in the way of public spirit
and combined action.
Your Papa is writing to Mr. Gladstone, from whom he has just
received an account of the debate. Disraeli's clever and artful
speech appears to have had more effect on the House (and even on
our side of it) than is creditable.... Johnny has made a very good
impression--so we hear from Mr. Brand, Hastings, [66] Mr.
Huguesson, and Gladstone--by his maiden speech. All these, except
Gladstone, heard it, and concur in warm praise, both of matter and
manner. It is a great event in his life, and I am so thankful it is
well over.
[66] Afterwards Duke of Bedford.
_Lord Russell to Lady Minto_
LONDON, _May 21_, 1867
MY DEAR NINA,--As you have been so much bothered with the compound
householder, you will be glad to learn that he is dead and is to be
buried on Thursday. It was supposed he was the last and best
product of civilization; but it has been found out that he was a
son of Old Nick, and a valiant knight of the name of Hodgkinson has
run him through the body.
The Duke of Buccleuch, with whom Fanny and I have been having
luncheon, says that Dizzy is like a clever conjuror. "Is that the
card you wished for, sir?-and is that yours, and yours, and yours?"
But politics are rather disgusting than otherwise. ... Fanny and I
went yesterday to see the Queen lay the first stone of the Hall of
Science and Art. [67] It was a grand sight--great respect, but no
enthusiasm, nor occasion for it.
Lotty is going to give us dinner to-morrow. I call her and Mary,
L'Allegra e la Penserosa. _Fanny_: "And what am I?" "L'Allegra
e Penserosa." I have no more nonsense to tell you. I should like to
go to Paris in July or August, but can we? Let me know when you
will be there.
Your faithful
TRUSTY TOMKINS
[67] The Albert Hall.
A few weeks later he wrote again to Lady Minto: "Our Reform Bill is now
brought to that exact shape in which Bright put it in 1858, and which he
thought too large and democratic a change to be accepted by the moderate
Liberal party. However, nothing is too much for the swallow of our modern
Tories."
In August, 1867, Lord Russell's eldest daughter, Georgiana, married Mr.
Archibald Peel, [68] son of General Peel, and nephew of the statesman, Sir
Robert Peel.
[68] The marriage service was at Petersham, in the quaint old village
Church, hallowed by many sacred memories.
The daughters, who had now left the old home, were sadly missed, but
intimate and affectionate intercourse with them never ceased. Lady
Russell's own daughter, the youngest of three families--ten in all--thought
in her early childhood that they were all real brothers and sisters, a
striking proof of the harmonious happiness of the home. In November, 1867,
Lady Victoria Villiers wrote to Lady Russell: "How I long to make our home
as pure, as high in its tone and aims, as free from all that is low or even
useless for our children, as our dear home was to us."
On Lord Russell's birthday, August 18, 1867, Lady Russell wrote in her
diary:
My dear, dear husband's birthday. Each year, each day, makes me
feel more deeply all the wonderful goodness of God in giving me one
so noble, so gentle, so loving, to be my example, my happiness, my
stay. How often his strength makes me feel, but try to conquer, my
own weakness; how often his cheerfulness and calmness are a
reproach to my anxieties. Experience has not hardened but only
given him wisdom. Trials have taught him to feel for others; age
has deepened his religion of love. All that so often lowers
commoner natures has but raised his.
In February, 1868, Lord Derby resigned, owing to ill health. "With Lord
Derby [says Sir Spencer Walpole [69]] a whole race of statesmen
disappeared. He was the last of the Prime Ministers who had held high
office before the Reform Act of 1832; and power, on his fall, was to be
transferred to men not much younger in point of years, but whose characters
and opinions had been moulded by other influences. He was, moreover, the
last of the Tories. He had, indeed, by his own concluding action made
Toryism impossible; for, in 1867, he had thrown the ramparts of Toryism
into a heap, and had himself mounted the structure and fired the funeral
pile." Disraeli succeeded him as Prime Minister.
[69] "The History of Twenty-five Years," vol. ii, p. 287.
_Lady Russell to Mr. Rollo Russell_
CHESHAM PLACE, _February_ 18, 1868
...Lord Derby is supposed to be dying, I am sorry to say. It is
horrible to hear the street criers bawling out in their catchpenny
voices, "Serious illness of Lord Derby." I feel for his wife and
all belonging to him without any of the flutter and anxiety about
your father which a probable change of Ministry would have caused a
few years ago. He will never accept office again. This is right, I
know, and I am thankful that on the conviction of its being so he
has calmly made up his mind--yet there is deep sadness in it. The
newspapers are not favourable to his pamphlets on Ireland [three
pamphlets published together afterwards under the title, "A letter
to the Right Hon. Chichester Fortescue"]. He does not care much
about this, provided men in Parliament adopt his views or something
like them.
We find London very sociable and pleasant ... people all looking
glad to meet, and fresh and pleasant from their country life, quite
different from what they will be in July....
Lady Russell, as well as her husband, was always anxious to encourage
perfect freedom and independence of thought in her children. The following
passages are from a letter to her daughter on her fifteenth birthday:
37 CHESHAM PLACE, _March_ 28, 1868
... Every day will now bring you more independence of mind, more
capacity to understand, not merely to adopt the thoughts of others,
to reason and to form opinions of your own. I am the more sure of
this, that yours is a thoughtful and reflective mind. The voice of
God may sometimes sound differently to you from what it sounds even
to your father or to me; if so, never be afraid to say so--never
close your mind against any but bad thoughts; for although we are
all one in as far as we all partake of God's spirit, which is the
breath of life, still the communion of each soul with Him is, and
must be, for that soul alone.... Nothing great is easy, and the
greatest and most difficult of all things is to overcome
ourselves.... Life is short, and we do well to remember it, but
each moment is eternal, and we do still better to remember that....
Heaven bless you and guide you through the pleasures and
perplexities, the sorrows and the joys, of this strange and
beautiful world, to the source of all light, and life, and
goodness, to that Being whose highest name is Love.
The everlasting Irish question had been coming again to the front. During
1867 the Fenians had attempted to get the grievances of Ireland redressed
by adopting violent measures. There had been an attempt upon the arsenal at
Chester, numerous outrages in Ireland, an attack at Manchester upon the
prison van, in which two Fenian leaders were being taken to prison, and a
subsequent attempt to blow up Clerkenwell jail. The crisis had been met by
suspending the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland. Lord Russell, when Prime
Minister, had replaced Sir Robert Peel, as Chief Secretary, by Mr.
Chichester Fortescue, who later received the same office from Mr.
Gladstone. In February, 1868, Lord Russell published his letter to Mr.
Fortescue advocating Disestablishment in Ireland, but declaring himself in
favour of endowing the Catholic Church with part of the revenues of the
disestablished Church. In April Gladstone succeeded in carrying three
Resolutions against the Government on the Irish Church question, and though
Disraeli tendered his resignation, dissolution was postponed until the
autumn. The same month Lord Russell presided at a meeting in St. James's
Hall in support of Disestablishment. At the general election in the autumn
the Liberals came in with a large majority; Gladstone became Prime
Minister, and in the following year carried his Bill for the
Disestablishment of the Irish Church. [70] Lady Russell's views on the
question of Church and State are shown in the following letter:
_Lady Russell to Lady Dunfermline_
PEMBROKE LODGE, _May_ 20, 1868
MY DEAREST MARY,--...How can one write letters in such weather as
we have had? A fine May is surely the loveliest of lovely things,
and the most enjoyable, at least to lucky mortals like ourselves
who are not obliged to be "in populous city pent"--and those who
have never seen Pemmy Lodge in its May garments of lilac, laburnum,
wild hyacinth, hawthorn, and the tender greens of countless shades
on trees and shrubs, are not really acquainted with it.... I have
been going through the contrary change from you as regards Church
and State. I thought _I_ was strongly for the connection (at
least of _a_ Church with the State, certainly not _the_
Church of England as it now is), but reflection on what the history
of our State Churches has been, the speeches in St. James's Hall of
the Bishops fostered by the State, and Arthur Stanley's pamphlet,
which says the best that _can_ be said for connection, and yet
seems to open my eyes to the fallacy of that best, and the
conversations I hear, have opened my eyes to the bad principle at
the very root of a State Church. If _all_ who call themselves
teachers of religion could be paid, it might be very well, best of
all perhaps; but I'm afraid there are difficulties not to be got
over, and the objections to the voluntary system diminish on
reflection.... This new political crisis raises John's hopes a
little; but he has small faith in the public spirit of the Liberal
party, and even now fears some manoeuvre to keep Dizzy in.
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 friendship, 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 Ministership. 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 God, they have always been _among_ the
consequences, and my only reasonable and permanent regret (for I
don't pretend to the absence of passing 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 Dickens to Lady Russell
GAD'S HILL PLACE, HIGHAM BY ROCHESTER, KENT
Saturday, 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 DICKENS
_Lady Russell to Lady Victoria Villiers_
PEMBROKE LODGE, _February_ 4, 1869
We have had such a gay time of it--that is, from Saturday 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 pronounced 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 noble march of the progress of
mankind, the assertion 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 God 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 God and their own high and holy thoughts.
PEMBROKE LODGE, _August_ 18, 1869
My dear husband seventy-seven this day. God 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 pass and make one older and
weaker and sillier, but as they will pass 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 gratitude 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 passing 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 Sévigné tells of
a curate who put up a clock on his church. His parishioners
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. Fanny 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 documents 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."
_Lady Russell to Lady Dunfermline_
SAN REMO, _December_ 1, 1869
Your letter of November 24th found the Amberleys here.... They were
preceded by the Crown Princess of Prussia and Princess Louis of
Hesse, announced by telegram in the morning, and a young Prince
Albert of Prussia, son of the Prince Albert of our Berlin days, and
a suite of two gentlemen and a lady, who came from Cannes, where
they are living, on Friday, to pay us a visit, dined with us, slept
at the nearest hotel, and were off again Saturday morning, we going
With them as far as Bordighera; and on Monday arrived the Odos [75]
for one night only, sleeping at an hotel. You see that our usual
quiet life was for a while exchanged for one of--... Well, I beg
pardon for this interruption and go back to our illustrious and
non-illustrious visitors. The illustrious were as merry as if they
had no royalty about them, and as simple, too, dining in their
travelling garments, brushing and washing in my room and John's,
enjoying their dinner, of which happily there was enough (although
the suite was unexpected owing to my not having received a letter
giving details), chatting and laughing afterwards till half-past
eight, when they walked in darkness, and strange to say, mud! but
with glorious stars overhead, the five minute' distance to their
hotel, accompanied by Agatha and me. The drive to Bordighera next
morning was the pleasantest part of the visit to us all--John,
Princess Louis, and Prince Albert in their carriage, Crown
Princess, Agatha, and I in ours. It is wonderful to hear Princesses
express such widely liberal opinions and feelings on education,
religion, nationality, and if we had talked politics I dare-say I
should add that too. Their strong love for their Vaterland in spite
of their early transplantation is also very agreeable.
The Amberleys had been ten days with Mill at Avignon--a good
fortification, I should imagine, against the wiles and
blandishments of priests of all degree to which they will be
exposed at Rome.... Little Rachel [76]is as sweet a little
bright-eyed lassie as I ever saw, hardly saying anything yet, but
expressing a vast deal.
[75] Mr. Odo Russell (afterwards Lord Ampthill) and his wife.
[76] Daughter of Lord and Lady Amberley, born in February, 1868.
_Lord Russell to Colonel Romilly_
SAN REMO, _December_ 4, 1869
MY DEAR FREDERICK,--I had understood from you that you wished to
propose some alterations in my Introduction to the Speeches, and I
was much obliged to you for so kind a thought. But it appears by a
letter from Lizzy that she and you think that all discussions of
the future (which are announced in my preface) ought to be omitted.
In logical and literary aspects you are quite right; but I must
tell you that since 1832 Ireland has been a main object of all my
political career.... I am not without hope that the House of
Commons will pass a reasonable Land Bill, and adhere to the plan of
national education, which has been in force now for nearly forty
years. At all events, the present government of Ireland gives no
proofs of the infallibility of our rulers. Tell Lizzy that it is
not a plate of salted cherries, but cherries ripe, without any
salt, which I propose to lay before the Irish.
Yours affectionately,
RUSSELL
In the closing passage of the "Introduction" referred to in the above
letter Lord Russell gives a modest estimate of his own career: "My capacity
I always felt was very inferior to that of the men who have attained in
past times the foremost place in our Parliament, and in the Councils of our
Sovereign. I have committed many errors, some of them very gross blunders.
But the generous people of England are always forbearing and forgiving to
those statesmen who have the good of their country at heart; like my
betters, I have been misrepresented and slandered by those who knew nothing
of me, but I have been more than compensated by the confidence and the
friendship of the best men of my own political connection, and by the
regard and favourable interpretation of my motives which I have heard
expressed by my generous opponents, from the days of Lord Castlereagh to
those of Mr. Disraeli."
_Lady Russell to Mr. Rollo Russell_
SAN REMO, _February_ 17, 1870
How awful Paris will be after the easy, natural, unconventional
life of San Remo, one delight of which is the absence of all
thought about dress! Whatever may be and are the delights of
Paris--and I fully intend that we should all three enjoy
them--_that_ burden is heavier there than in all the world
beside--and why? oh, why? What is there to prevent human nature
from finding out and rejoicing in the blessings of civilization and
society without encumbering them with petty etiquettes and fashions
and forms which deprive them of half their value? Human nature is a
very provoking compound. It strives and struggles and gives life
itself for political freedom, while it forges social chains and
fetters for itself and wears them with a foolish smile. And with
this fruitless lamentation I must end.
_Lady Russell to Lady Dunfermline_
SAN REMO, _February_ 23, 1870
I don't know a bit whether we shall be much in London during the
session--it will be session, not season, that takes us there....
The longer I live the more I condemn and deplore a rackety life for
_any_ girl, and therefore if I do what I myself think right by
her and not what others may think right, she shall never be a
London butterfly. Would that we could give our girls the ideal
society which I suppose we all dream for them--that of the wise and
the good of all ages, of the young and merry of their own. No
barbarous crowds, no despotic fashions, no senseless omnipotence of
custom (see "Childe Harold," somewhere).[77] I wonder in this age
of revolution, which has dethroned so many monarchs and upset so
many time-honoured systems of Government and broken so many chains,
that Queen Fashion is left unmolested on her throne, ruling the
civilized world with her rod of iron, and binding us hand and foot
in her fetters.
[77] A favourite stanza of Lady Russell's in "Childe Harold":--
What from this barren being do we reap?
Our senses narrow, and our reason frail,
Life short, and truth a gem which loves the deep,
And all things weighed in custom's falsest scale;
Opinion an omnipotence, whose veil
Mantles the earth with darkness, until right
And wrong are accidents, and men grow pale
Lest their own judgments should become too bright,
And their free thoughts be crimes, and earth have too much light.
BYRON.
_Lady Russell to Lady Dunfermline_
SAN REMO, _March_ 2, 1870
I am writing in my pretty bedroom, at an east window which is wide
open, letting in the balmiest of airs, and the spring twittering of
chaffinches and larks and other little birds, and the gentle music
of the waves. Below the window I look at a very untidy bit of
nondescript ground, with a few white-armed fig-trees and a number
of flaunting Italian daisies--a little farther an enclosure of
glossy green orange-trees laden with fruit; then an olive
plantation, soft and feathery; then a bare, brownish, pleasant
hill, crowned by the "Madonna della Guardia," and stretching to the
sea, which I should like to call blue, but which is a dull grey. Oh
dear, how sorry we shall be to leave it all! You, I know,
understand the sort of shrinking there is after so quiet, so
spoiling, so natural and unconventional a life (not to mention
climate and beauty) from the thought of the overpowering quantity
of people and business of all sorts and the artificial habits of
our own country, in spite of the immense pleasure of looking
forward to brothers and sisters and children and friends.
_Lady Russell to Mr. Rollo Russell_
SAN REMO, _March_ 17, 1870
... No doubt we must always in the last resort trust to our own
reason upon all subjects on which our reason is capable of helping
us. On a question of _language_, Hebrew for instance, if we
don't know it and somebody else does, we cannot of course dispute
his translation, but where nobody questions the words, everybody
has a right--it is indeed everybody's duty--to reflect upon their
meaning and bearing and come to their own conclusions; listening to
others wiser or not wiser than themselves, eagerly seeking help,
but never, oh never fettering their minds by an unconditional and
premeditated submission to _anybody_ else's, or rather
_pretending_ so to fetter it, for a mind will make itself
heard, and there's much false modesty in the disclaimer of all
power or right to judge--that very disclaimer being in fact, as you
say, an exercise of private judgment and a rebellion or protest
against thousands of wise and good and learned men.
_Lady Russell to Lady Dunfermline_
SAN REMO, _March_ 23, 1870
You must take John's second letter to Forster, [78] which will
appear in the _Times_ and _Daily News_, as my letter to
you for to-day, as I had already not left myself much time for you,
so that copying them, although they are not long, has left me
hardly any. I think you will agree with him that now, when the
moment seems come for a really national system of education, it
would be a great pity not to put an end to the teaching of
catechisms in rate-supported schools. People may of course always
have their little pet, privately supported sectarian schools, but
surely, surely, it's enough that the weary catechism should be
repeated and yawned over every Sunday of the year, where there are
Sunday schools. I wonder whether you are in favour of compulsory
attendance. I don't like it, but I do like compulsory rating, and I
wish the Bill made it general and not local, and I also want the
education to be gratis.
[78] In February Mr. Forster introduced the Elementary Education
Act. It passed the second reading without a division. In Committee
the Cowper-Temple Clause was admitted by the Government.
_Lady Russell to Lady Dunfermline_
SAN REMO, _April_ 6, 1870
We go on discussing the Education Bill and all that is written
about it with immense interest, but oh, the clergy! they seem
resolved to fulfil the prophecy that Christ came not to bring peace
on earth, but a sword.... How true what you say of want of
earnestness in London society and Parliament!
On April 7th they left San Remo, "servants [79] all in tears," she writes,
"and all, high and low, showering blessings on us, and praying for our
welfare in their lovely language." At Paris they stayed with Lord Lyons at
the British Embassy. The Emperor Napoleon and Empress Eugénie showed them
much kindness during their visit to Paris. One evening Lord and Lady
Russell and their daughter dined at the Tuileries, Lady Russell sitting
next the Emperor and Lord Russell next the Empress. It has been told since
that at this dinner the Emperor mentioned a riddle which he had put to the
Empress, and her reply.
_Emperor._ Quelle est la différence entre toi et un miroir?
_Empress._ Je ne sais pas.
_Emperor._ Le miroir réfléchit; tu ne réfléchis pas.
_Empress._ Et quelle est la différence entre toi et un miroir?
_Emperor._ Je ne sais pas.
_Empress._ Le miroir est poli, et tu ne l'es pas.
[79] Their Italian servants.
On April 27th, after six months' absence, Lord and Lady Russell were once
more at Pembroke Lodge.
_Lady Russell to Mr. Rollo Russell_
37 CHESHAM PLACE, _May_ 26, 1870
... We came up, your father and I, on Tuesday to dine with
Clarendons, and stayed all yesterday to dine with Salisburys. Many
things strike me on returning to England and English society: the
superiority of its best to those of any other nation; the larger
proportion of vulgarity in all classes; ostentatious vulgarity,
aristocratic vulgarity, coarse vulgarity; the stir and activity of
mind on religion, politics, morals, all that is most worthy of
thought. What is to come of it all? Will goodness and truth
prevail? Is a great regeneration coming? I believe it in spite of
many discouraging symptoms. I believe that a coming generation will
try to be and not only call itself Christian. God grant that each
of my children may add some little ray of light by thought, word,
and deed to help in dispelling the darkness of error, sin, and
crime in this and all other lands.
_Lady Russell to Mr. Rollo Russell_
_June_ 2, 1870
I wish most earnestly for legal and social equality for women, but
I cannot shut my eyes to what woman has already been--the equal, if
not the superior, of man in all that is highest and noblest and
loveliest. I don't at all approve of any appearance of setting one
against the other. Let equal justice be done to both, without any
spirit of antagonism.... I can well believe in all the delights of
Oxford, and envy men that portion of their life.