The late Earl of Selborne and Mr. Lecky were sufficiently interested in my task to place on record for the volume some personal and political reminiscences which speak for themselves, and do so with authority.
I am also under obligations of various kinds to the Marquis of Dufferin and Ava, the Earl of Durham, Lord Stanmore, Dr. Anderson of Richmond, and the Rev. James Andrews of Woburn. I desire also to acknowledge the courtesy of Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Andrew Lang, Mr. James Knowles, Mr. Percy Bunting, Mr. Edwin Hodder, Messrs. Longmans, and the proprietors of ‘Punch,’ for liberty to quote from published books and journals.
In Montaigne’s words, ‘The tales I borrow, I charge upon the consciences of those from whom I have them.’ I have gathered cues from all quarters, but in almost every case my indebtedness stands recorded on the passing page.
The portrait which forms the frontispiece is for the first time reproduced, with the sanction of the Countess Russell and Mr. G. F. Watts, from an original crayon drawing which hangs on the walls at Pembroke Lodge.
It may be as well to anticipate an obvious criticism by stating that the earlier title of the subject of this memoir is retained, not only in deference to the strongly expressed wish of the family at Pembroke Lodge, but also because it suggests nearly half a century spent in the House of Commons in pursuit of liberty. In the closing days of Earl Russell’s life his eye was accustomed to brighten, and his manner to relax, when some new acquaintance, in the eagerness of conversation, took the liberty of familiar friendship by addressing the old statesman as ‘Lord John.’
STUART J. REID.
Chislehurst: June 4, 1895.
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER I | |
| EARLY YEARS, EDUCATION, AND TRAVEL 1792-1813 | |
| Rise of the Russells under the Tudors—Childhood and early surroundingsof Lord John—Schooldays at Westminster—Firstjourney abroad with Lord Holland—Wellington and the Peninsularcampaign—Student days in Edinburgh and speeches atthe Speculative Society—Early leanings in politics and literature—Entersthe House of Commons as member for Tavistock | [1] |
| CHAPTER II | |
| IN PARLIAMENT AND FOR THE PEOPLE 1813-1826 | |
| The political outlook when Lord John entered the House ofCommons—The ‘Condition of England’ question—Thestruggle for Parliamentary Reform—Side-lights on NapoleonBonaparte—The Liverpool Administration in a panic—LordJohn comes to the aid of Sir Francis Burdett—Foreign travel—Firstmotion in favour of Reform—Making headway | [21] |
| CHAPTER III | |
| WINNING HIS SPURS 1826-1830 | |
| Defeated and out of harness—Journey to Italy—Back in Parliament—Canning’saccession to power—Bribery and corruption—Therepeal of the Test and Corporation Acts—The strugglebetween the Court and the Cabinet over Catholic Emancipation—Defeatof Wellington at the polls—Lord John appointedPaymaster-General | [47] |
| CHAPTER IV | |
| A FIGHT FOR LIBERTY 1830-1832 | |
| Lord Grey and the cause of Reform—Lord Durham’s share inthe Reform Bill—The voice of the people—Lord John introducesthe bill and explains its provisions—The surprise of theTories—Reform, ‘Aye’ or ‘No’—Lord John in the Cabinet—Thebill thrown out—The indignation of the country—Proposedcreation of Peers—Wellington and Sidmouth in despair—Thebill carried—Lord John’s tribute to Althorp | [63] |
| CHAPTER V | |
| THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA 1833-1838 | |
| The turn of the tide with the Whigs—The two voices in theCabinet—Lord John and Ireland—Althorp and the Poor Law—TheMelbourne Administration on the rocks—Peel in power—Thequestion of Irish tithes—Marriage of Lord John—Grievancesof Nonconformists—Lord Melbourne’s influenceover the Queen—Lord Durham’s mission to Canada—Personalsorrow | [88] |
| CHAPTER VI | |
| THE TWO FRONT BENCHES 1840-1845 | |
| Lord John’s position in the Cabinet and in the Commons—Hisservices to Education—Joseph Lancaster—Lord John’sColonial Policy—Mr. Gladstone’s opinion—Lord Stanmore’srecollections—The mistakes of the Melbourne Cabinet—TheDuke of Wellington’s opinion of Lord John—The agitationagainst the Corn Laws—Lord John’s view of Sir Robert Peel—TheEdinburgh letter—Peel’s dilemma—Lord John’s commenton the situation | [113] |
| CHAPTER VII | |
| FACTION AND FAMINE 1846-1847 | |
| Peel and Free Trade—Disraeli and Lord George Bentincklead the attack—Russell to the rescue—Fall of Peel—LordJohn summoned to power—Lord John’s position in theCommons and in the country—The Condition of Irelandquestion—Famine and its deadly work—The Russell Governmentand measures of relief—Crime and coercion—The Whigsand Education—Factory Bill—The case of Dr. Hampden | [136] |
| CHAPTER VIII | |
| IN ROUGH WATERS 1848-1852 | |
| The People’s Charter—Feargus O’Connor and the crowd—LordPalmerston strikes from his own bat—Lord John’s view of thepolitical situation—Death of Peel—Palmerston and the Court—‘NoPopery’—The Durham Letter—The invasion scare—LordJohn’s remark about Palmerston—Fall of the RussellAdministration | [163] |
| CHAPTER IX | |
| COALITION BUT NOT UNION 1852-1853 | |
| The Aberdeen Ministry—Warring elements—Mr. Gladstone’sposition—Lord John at the Foreign Office and Leader of theHouse—Lady Russell’s criticisms of Lord Macaulay’s statement—Asmall cloud in the East—Lord Shaftesbury has hisdoubts | [199] |
| CHAPTER X | |
| DOWNING STREET AND CONSTANTINOPLE 1853 | |
| Causes of the Crimean War—Nicholas seizes his opportunity—TheSecret Memorandum—Napoleon and the susceptibilitiesof the Vatican—Lord Stratford de Redcliffe and the Porte—PrinceMenschikoff shows his hand—Lord Aberdeen hopesagainst hope—Lord Palmerston’s opinion of the crisis—TheVienna Note—Lord John grows restive—Sinope arousesEngland—The deadlock in the Cabinet | [213] |
| CHAPTER XI | |
| WAR HINDERS REFORM 1854-1855 | |
| A Scheme of Reform—Palmerston’s attitude—Lord John sore letand hindered—Lord Stratford’s diplomatic triumph—TheDuke of Newcastle and the War Office—The dash for Sebastopol—Procrastinationand its deadly work—The Alma—Inkerman—TheDuke’s blunder—Famine and frost in thetrenches | [236] |
| CHAPTER XII | |
| THE VIENNA DIFFICULTY 1855 | |
| Blunders at home and abroad—Roebuck’s motion—‘GeneralFévrier’ turns traitor—France and the Crimea—Lord John atVienna—The pride of the nation is touched—Napoleon’s visitto Windsor—Lord John’s retirement—The fall of Sebastopol—Thetreaty of Paris | [254] |
| CHAPTER XIII | |
| LITERATURE AND EDUCATION | |
| Lord John’s position in 1855—His constituency in the City—Surveyof his work in literature—As man of letters—Hishistorical writings—Hero-worship of Fox—Friendship withMoore—Writes the biography of the poet—‘Don Carlos’—Abook wrongly attributed to him—Publishes his ‘Recollectionsand Suggestions’—An opinion of Kinglake’s—Lord John onhis own career—Lord John and National Schools—JosephLancaster’s tentative efforts—The formation of the Council ofEducation—Prejudice blocks the way—Mr. Forster’s tribute | [270] |
| CHAPTER XIV | |
| COMING BACK TO POWER 1857-1861 | |
| Lord John as an Independent Member—His chance in the City—TheIndian Mutiny—Orsini’s attempt on the life ofNapoleon—The Conspiracy Bill—Lord John and the JewishRelief Act—Palmerston in power—Lord John at the ForeignOffice—Cobden and Bright—Quits the Commons with aPeerage | [286] |
| CHAPTER XV | |
| UNITED ITALY AND THE DIS-UNITED STATES 1861-1865 | |
| Lord John at the Foreign Office—Austria and Italy—VictorEmmanuel and Mazzini—Cavour and Napoleon III.—LordJohn’s energetic protest—His sympathy with Garibaldi andthe struggle for freedom—The gratitude of the Italians—Deathof the Prince Consort—The ‘Trent’ affair—LordJohn’s remonstrance—The ‘Alabama’ difficulty—Lord Selborne’sstatement—The Cotton Famine | [299] |
| CHAPTER XVI | |
| SECOND PREMIERSHIP 1865-1866 | |
| The Polish Revolt—Bismarck’s bid for power—The Schleswig-Holsteindifficulty—Death of Lord Palmerston—The Queensummons Lord John—The second Russell Administration—LordJohn’s tribute to Palmerston—Mr. Gladstone introducesReform—The ‘Cave of Adullam’—Defeat of the RussellGovernment—The people accept Lowe’s challenge—Thefeeling in the country | [320] |
| CHAPTER XVII | |
| OUT OF HARNESS 1867-1874 | |
| Speeches in the House of Lords—Leisured years—Mr. Lecky’sreminiscences—The question of the Irish Church—TheIndependence of Belgium—Lord John on the claims of theVatican—Letters to Mr. Chichester Fortescue—His schemefor the better government of Ireland—Lord Selborne’s estimateof Lord John’s public career—Frank admissions—As hisprivate secretaries saw him | [334] |
| CHAPTER XVIII | |
| PEMBROKE LODGE 1847-1878 | |
| Looking back—Society at Pembroke Lodge—Home life—Thehouse and its memories—Charles Dickens’s speech at Liverpool—Literaryfriendships—Lady Russell’s description of herhusband—A packet of letters—His children’s recollections—Aglimpse of Carlyle—A witty impromptu—Closing days—Mr.and Mrs. Gladstone—The jubilee of the Repeal of theTest and Corporation Acts—‘Punch’ on the ‘Golden Wedding’—Death—TheQueen’s letter—Lord Shaftesbury’sestimate of Lord John’s career—His great qualities | [349] |
INDEX | [371] |