at such a crisis he chose the
lesser evil of abandoning his Bill. But by yielding to the urgent appeals
of his colleagues and continuing in office, his position became from day to
day increasingly difficult. Finally, he resigned abruptly, for reasons
which have been interpreted unfavourably by almost every historian who has
written upon this period.

_Lady John Russell to Lady Mary Abercromby_

LONDON, _February_ 14, 1854

I remember almost crying in Minto days, when you were twelve,
because I thought it past the prime of life. What shall I do now
that you are striking forty-three? I believe you have long ago made
up your mind to the changing and fading and ending of all things
here below, joys as well as sorrows, childhood, youth and age, hope
and fear and doubt, and that you have learnt to look forward rather
than back; but to me this is often a struggle still; and when the
struggle ends the wrong way, how much there is to make my heart
sink within me! Chiefly, as you may guess, the deepening lines on
the face of the dearest husband that ever blessed a home, and the
comparison of him as he now is with him as he was when we married.

Yesterday was a great day to us; the Reform Bill was brought in. I
suppose I should be better pleased if there was more enthusiasm. I
should certainly have a better opinion of human nature, if those
who have cried out most loudly for Reform did not set their
cowardly faces against it now; but at the same time there is a
happy pride in seeing John's honest and patriotic perseverance in
what he is convinced is right, through evil report and good report,
in season and out of season.

_Lady John Russell to Lady Elizabeth Romilly_

_February_ 28, 1854

DEAREST LIZZY,--To get out of my difficulty as to which of my other
three correspondents to write to, I give my half-hour to you this
morning. I must begin by thanking you all with all my heart for
your most welcome congratulations on all that John has said and
done since Parliament met, and especially his great speech in
answer to Layard. It is indeed a happiness to hear such praise from
people whose praise is worth having; but I have now learned, if I
had not long ago, how worthless many of the congratulations are,
which I receive after a good speech which has set the Ministers
firmer in their seats. It