shall ascertain whether peace can be made on honourable terms, and
having done this, shall return home.

The office I have accepted is the Colonial; but as I do _not_
lead in the Commons, it will not be at all too much for my health.

_Mr. John Abel Smith to Lady John Russell

February_ 24, 1855

I received this morning, to my great surprise, a letter from Lord
John announcing his acceptance of the Seals of the Colonial
Department.... I believe it to be unquestionably the fact that by
this remarkable act of self-sacrifice he has saved Lord
Palmerston's Government and preserved to the Liberal party the
tenure of power.... I never saw Brooks's more thoroughly excited
than this evening, and some old hard-hearted stagers talking of
Lord John's conduct with tears in their eyes.

_Lord John to Lady John Russell_

BRUSSELS, _February 25,_ 1855

The wish to support a Whig Government under difficulties, the
desire to be reunited to my friends, with whom when separated by
two benches I could have had no intimate alliance, the perilous
state of the country with none but a pure Derby Government in
prospect, have induced me to take this step. No doubt my own
position was better and safer as an independent man; but I have
thrown all such considerations to the winds.... I am very much
afraid of Vienna for the children; but if you can arrive and keep
well, it will be to me a great delight to see you all.... I have
just seen the King, who is very gracious and kind. He thinks I may
make peace.

_Lady John to Lord John Russell_

PEMBROKE LODGE, _February 26,_ 1855

Mr. West called yesterday, and was full of admiration of the
magnanimity of your conduct, but not of its wisdom. J.A. Smith
writes me a kind letter telling me of the delight of your late
calumniators at Brooks's. Frederick Romilly says London society is
charmed. He touched me very much. He spoke with tears in his eyes
of the generosity of your motives, and of the irreparable blow to
yourself and the country from your abandonment of an honourable and
independent position for a renewal of official ties.... Papa is
very grave and unhappy, doing justice of course to your motives,
but fearing that in sacrificing yourself you sacrifice the best
interests of the country.

_Lord John to Lady John Russe