le we much liked passing through, or staying
awhile, or, like ourselves, all the winter."

They also became friendly with several of the Italians of San Remo, whom
they welcomed at little evening gatherings at their villa. Their landlord,
the Marchese Garbarino, was an ardent patriot. He it was who had decorated
the ceiling of his drawing-room with the four portraits: Cavour, Garibaldi,
Mazzini, and Lord John Russell, so it was to him a delightful surprise to
have Lord John as his tenant.

_Lord Russell to Lady Minto_

SAN REMO, _November_ 23, 1869

I am very sorry that headache and neuralgia should have been added
to illness and dislike of writing, as your reason for not inquiring
how we were going on. We sit here in the receipt of news without
any means of reciprocity, but we can speculate on France, Italy,
and Ireland. Of those, the country which most interests and most
concerns me, is Ireland.... I have heard much of Lady and Lord
Byron, and from good sources. I can only conclude that he was half
mad and loved to frighten her, and that she believed in the stories
she circulated. [73] The Duke of Wellington said of George IV's
story that he was at the Battle of Waterloo, "At first it was a
lie, than a strong delusion, and at last downright madness."

Brougham's conversation with William IV on the dissolution was
another delusion, and so on in perverse, wicked, contradictory
human nature. Those who like to probe such systems may do so--the
only wise conclusion is Swift's, "If you want to confute a lie,
tell another in the opposite direction." Madame de Sevigne tells of
a curate who put up a clock on his church. His parishioners
collected stones to break it, saying it was the Gabelle. "No, my
friends," he said, "it was the Jubilee," on which they all hurrahed
and went away. If he had said it was a machine to mark the hour,
his clock would have been broken and himself pelted.

I hope your second volume is coming out soon. [74] There are no
lies in it, and therefore you must not expect a great sale. I must
stop or you will think me grown a misanthrope. Fanny and Agatha are
well. If the day had been fine the Crown Princess and her sister
would have come here to tea, and you would have had no letter from
me. Do send me a return, when your mankind is gone a-hunting.

[73] The publication of "Astarte," b