overnment of Ireland--Lord Selborne's estimate
of Lord John's public career--Frank admissions--As his
private secretaries saw him 334

CHAPTER XVIII

PEMBROKE LODGE

1847-1878

Looking back--Society at Pembroke Lodge--Home life--The house
and its memories--Charles Dickens's speech at Liverpool--Literary
friendships--Lady Russell's description of her husband--A packet
of letters--His children's recollections--A glimpse of
Carlyle--A witty impromptu--Closing days--Mr. and Mrs.
Gladstone--The jubilee of the Repeal of the Test and Corporation
Acts--'Punch' on the 'Golden Wedding'--Death--The Queen's
letter--Lord Shaftesbury's estimate of Lord John's career--His
great qualities 349

INDEX 371

LORD JOHN RUSSELL

CHAPTER I

EARLY YEARS, EDUCATION, AND TRAVEL

1792-1813

Rise of the Russells under the Tudors--Childhood and early
surroundings of Lord John--Schooldays at Westminster--First journey
abroad with Lord Holland--Wellington and the Peninsular
campaign--Student days in Edinburgh and speeches at the Speculative
Society--Early leanings in Politics and Literature--Enters the
House of Commons as member for Tavistock.

GOVERNMENT by great families was once a reality in England, and when
Lord John Russell's long career began the old tradition had not yet lost
its ascendency. The ranks of privilege can at least claim to have given
at more than one great crisis in the national annals leaders to the
cause of progress. It is not necessary in this connection to seek
examples outside the House of Bedford, since the name of Lord William
Russell in the seventeenth century and that of Lord John in the
nineteenth stand foremost amongst the champions of civil and religious
liberty. Hugh du Rozel, according to the Battle Roll, crossed from
Normandy in the train of the Conqueror. In the reign of Henry III. the
first John Russell of note was a small landed proprietor in Dorset, and
held the post of Constable of Corfe Castle. William Russell, in the year
of Edward II.'s accession, was returned to Parliament, and his lineal
descendant, Sir John Russell, was Speaker of the House of Commons in the
days of Henry VI. The real founder, however, of the fortunes of the
family was the third John Russell who is known