to stop crime--and especially the crime of
murder. I should be loath to throw out a Bill which may have this
good effect; but I shall move a resolution which will pledge the
House to measures of remedy and conciliation. This may lead to a
great debate.... The little girls look very nice, but Toza [29] is,
if possible, thinner than ever. However, she laughs and dances like
a little fairy. I dined with Mrs. Drummond yesterday. Macaulay [30]
was there--entertaining, and not too much of a monopolist--I mean
of talk--which, like other monopolies, is very disagreeable.

[29] Victoria.

[30] Lord John had written to his wife in April, 1845: "Macaulay
made one of his splendid speeches again last night.... He is a
wonderful man, and must with the years before him be a great
leader."

_Lady John to Lord John Russell_

EDINBURGH, _March_ 19, 1846

After dinner we drove to Portobello sands and there got out and
walked for an hour; the sea was of the brightest blue, covered with
sails; Inchkeith and the opposite coast so clear that every
inequality of hill or rock was seen; Arthur's Seat, grand and
snowy, was behind us, and the glittering sands under our feet--the
whole beautiful far beyond description and beyond what I have yet
seen it in any weather; for the east wind and bright sun are what
it requires. How I did wish for you! I need not say that I only
half enjoyed it, as I only half enjoy anything without you. My
comfort in your absence is to think that you are not taken from me
for nothing, but for your country's service; and that even if we
could have foreseen four years ago all the various anxieties and
trials that awaited us, we should have married all the same. As it
was, we knew that ours could not be a life of quiet ease; and it
was for me to decide whether I was able to face the reverse--and I
_did_ decide, and I _am_ able--

"Io lo cercai, fui preso
Dall' alta indole sua, dal suo gran nome;
Pensai dapprima, oh pensai che incarco
E l'amor d'un uomo che a gli' altri e sopra!
Perche allor correr, solo io nol lasciai
La sua splendida via, s' io non potea
Seguire i passi suoi?"

Now I am sure you do not know where those lines are from. They are
a wee bit altered from Manzoni's "Carmagnola"; and they struck me
so much, when I read them to-day, as app