up most dinner engagements in London, and we regretted the
consequent loss of society. At the same time he always felt the
need of those evenings and mornings of rest and change and country
air (besides those welcome and blessed Sundays) after Parliamentary
and official toil, rather than of heated and crowded rooms and late
hours; and he had the happy power of throwing off public cares and
giving his whole heart to the enjoyment of his strolls in the
garden, walks and rides in the park, and the little interests of
the children. [32]

[31] When Pembroke Lodge was offered to them they remembered--with surprise
and delight at its fulfilment--the wish of that day, known to themselves
alone.

[32] Appendix at end of chapter.

The short Whitsuntide holiday was spent in settling in at Pembroke Lodge.

_Lady John Russell to Lady Mary Abercromby_

PEMBROKE LODGE, _October_ 29, 1847

... You would not wonder so much at his [Lord John's] silence
lately, if you knew what nobody but English Ministers' wives
_can_ know or conceive, how incessantly either his mind or
body or both have been at work on financial affairs.

He has gone to town every morning early, Sunday included; worked
hard the whole day in Downing Street, writing long letters and
seeing one man and one deputation after another, on these most
difficult and most harassing subjects--only returning here for tea,
and with no time for any other correspondence but that between tea
and bed, when a little rest and amusement is almost necessary for
him--then waking in the night to think of bullion and Exchequer
Bills till time to get up. Now this great anxiety is partly over;
for when once he has taken a resolution, after all the reflection
and consideration he can give to a subject, he feels that he has
done his best, and awaits its success or failure with comparative
ease of mind.

The difficulties of this Ministry have been briefly stated at the close of
the last chapter; working with a precarious majority, they had to cope with
starvation and revolt in Ireland, Chartism in England, and disturbances
abroad.

In December, 1847, they passed their Irish Coercion Bill. [33] The passing
of this Bill was one of the few occasions on which Lady John could not
convince herself that her husband's policy was the wisest one.

[33] "The state of Ireland was chaotic, and Lord