the whole thing this morning, as Mr. Trevelyan has
been here and persuaded John that it would be madness for me either
to remain in this house or go to Downing Street, both of which
would be _marks_ in case of a fight.

Mr. Trevelyan is very seriously alarmed, and talks of the effect
the sound of the _cannon_ might have upon me, and has
persuaded Lady Mary Wood to go to his house on Clapham Common. I do
not yet know what the other Ministers' wives are going to do, but I
_do_ know that I think Milton quite right in saying:

"The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks,
Safest and seemliest by her husband bides."

However, I must do as I am bid, or at least I must do what makes
_him_ easiest.

LONDON, _April_ 9, 1848

Hardly knew how much I had been thinking of to-morrow till I had to
read aloud the prayers for Queen, country, and Parliament.

_Lady John Russell to Lady Mary Abercromby_

DOWNING STREET, _Monday_, 3 _o'clock_

Well, here we are after all, Lady Grey, Lady Mary Wood, and I, with
much easier minds than we have had for many days.

Everything has ended quietly; the meeting has dispersed at the
persuasion of its leaders, who took fright. Fergus O'Connor
especially has shown himself the most abject blusterer, and came
pale and haggard and almost crying to speak to Sir George Grey--and
told him how anxious he was that all should come to a peaceable
end.

It seems too good to be true, after the various alarming reports
and conjectures. Of course there will still be _some_ anxiety
until the night is well over, and till we see whether the Chartist
spirit rises again after this failure. To begin at the beginning, I
ought to tell you that hearing a great clattering at six this
morning I got up, and looked out, and saw immense numbers of
Lancers ride from the West into Belgrave Square, which they left to
go to their destination somewhere about Portland Place, after
performing many pretty manoeuvres which I did not understand. Many
foot soldiers passed by. I admired the sight, but silently prayed
that their services might not be required. We packed the brougham
full of mattresses and blankets, as it seemed likely that we should
have to sleep here. Now we have little doubt of getting home.

_Lady John Russell to Lady Mary Abercromby_

LONDON,