Part 31 (1/2)
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_