te of parties was such that no rival coalition was possible. Lord
Stanley was for widening the franchise, but being a Protectionist he could
not work with the Peelites; while Lord Aberdeen would not consent to the
Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, and was impossible as a leader so long as the
anti-Catholic hubble-bubble continued. Lord John was therefore compelled to
resume office.

_Lady John Russell to Lady Mary Abercromby_

PEMBROKE LODGE, _November_ 22, 1850

I am very glad you and Ralph liked John's letter to the Bishop of
Durham. It was necessary for him to speak out, and having all his
life defended the claims of the Roman Catholics to perfect
toleration and equality of civil rights with the other subjects of
the Queen, I should hardly have expected that they would take
offence because he declares himself a Protestant and a despiser of
the superstitious imitation of Roman Catholic ceremonies by
clergymen of the Church of England. Such, however, has not been the
case: and Ireland especially, excited by her priests, has taken
fire at the whole letter, and most of all at the word "mummeries."
The wisest and most moderate of them, however, here, and in Ireland
with Archbishop Murray I hope at their head, will do what they can
to put out the flame. No amount of dislike to any creed can,
happily, for a moment shake one's conviction that complete
toleration to every creed and conviction, and complete charity to
each one of its professors, is the only right and safe rule--the
only one which can make consistency in religious matters possible
at all times and on all occasions. Otherwise it _might_ be
shaken by the new proofs of the insidious, corrupting,
anti-truthful nature and effects of the Roman Catholic belief.

They have shown themselves for ages past in the character and
conditions of the countries where it reigns, and now the Pope's
foolish Bull is the signal for double-dealing and ingratitude among
his spiritual subjects--and consequently for anger and intolerance
among Protestants--wrong, but not quite inexcusable.

_Lady John Russell to Lady Mary Abercromby_

PEMBROKE LODGE, _November_ 29, 1850

Far from wondering at your vacillations of opinion about John's
letter, both he and I felt, on the first appearance of Wiseman's
pastoral letter, that the whole scheme was so ridiculous, the