e they all
disappeared I have been called upon to help in a rehearsal for a
second representation of our "Three Golden Hairs," [50] which is to
take place to-morrow on purpose for Lady Normanby.... The gaiety
and noise of the rehearsals, the fun of the preparations, and the
shyness, which effectually prevents any good acting, all reminds me
of our dear old Minto plays. How very, very long ago all that
seems! Not long ago in time only, but the changes in everybody and
everything make the recollection almost like a dream. I was sorry
to say good-bye to poor old fifty-six, for though not invariably
amiable to us he has been a good friend on the whole, and one
learns to be more than grateful for each year that passes without
any positive sorrow, and leaves no blanks among our nearest and
dearest. God bless you, dearest Mary; pray attribute blots and
incoherences to my countless interruptions.

Yours ever affectionately,

F.R.

[50] A children's play written by herself.

On his return, Lord John continued to give independent support to the
Ministry until circumstances arose which forced him to oppose Palmerston's
foreign policy. In March Cobden brought forward a motion condemning the
violent measures resorted to against China. Palmerston had justified these
measures on the ground that the British flag had been insulted and our
treaty rights infringed by the Chinese authorities at Canton. A small
coasting vessel called _The Arrow_ (sailing under British colours, but
manned by Chinamen, and owned by a Chinaman) had been boarded while she lay
in the river, and her crew carried off by a party from a Chinese warship in
search of a pirate, who they had reason to think was then serving as a
seaman on board _The Arrow_. Sir John Bowring, Plenipotentiary at
Hong-Kong, demanded that the men should be instantly sent back. It was true
that _The Arrow_ had at the time of the seizure no right to fly the
British flag, for her licence to trade under British colours had expired
the year before; but he argued that since the Chinese could not have known
this when they raided the vessel, they had deliberately insulted the flag
in doing so, and afterwards infringed the extradition laws by refusing to
restore the crew immediately. Upon the British fleet proceeding to bombard
the forts, the men were released, but the apology and indemnity demanded in
addition were not forthcoming.