[102] In the April of 1881 Gladstone gave notice of an Affirmation Bill, to enable men like Mr. Bradlaugh to become members of Parliament without taking an oath which implied a belief in a Supreme Being. But it was not till 1883 that the Bill was taken up. On April 26th Gladstone made one of his most lofty and fervid speeches in support of the Bill, which, however, was lost by a majority of three.
[104] Daughter of the Rev. F. C. Blyth, for many years curate at Petersham.
[105] Miss Bühler (who died some years ago) had been governess to Lady Russell's grandson Bertrand. She was Swiss, and only nineteen when she came, and Lady Russell gave her motherly care and affection.
[106] Arthur, son of Mr. Rollo Russell.
[107] "The Silence of Dean Maitland," by Maxwell Grey.
[108] Lady Russell often quoted a saying attributed to Fox, "Nothing which is morally wrong can ever be politically right."
[109] "Lonely--no, that am I not, for the spirits of my loved ones, they hover around me."
[111] Lady Russell had written in 1857 to her father about Minto: "I can well imagine the loveliness of that loveliest and dearest of places. There is now to us all a holy beauty in every tree and flower, in rock and river and hill that ought to do us good." Later, in a letter to her sister, Lady Elizabeth Romilly, she writes of "the Minto of old days, that happiest and most perfect home that children ever had."