Victorian Books, The Life of Lord John Russell

Aug 1851. When Parliament adjourned in the middle of August 1851, the family at Pembroke Lodge was in some anxiety. Lord John's second step-daughter, who afterwards became Mrs. Warburton, had for many months shown symptoms of great delicacy, and her medical advisers insisted on her leaving England and on passing the winter in a warmer climate. She and her sister (Lady Melvill) and a French lady, engaged as their companion, sailed in September, and were ultimately joined by their brother, Lord Ribblesdale (age 23), in Italy. During the sixteen years which had elapsed since his first marriage, Lord John had known no such parting from his first wife's children. The reason which had necessitated it made it the more painful; and perhaps on this account, as well as for the sake of the change which he sorely needed, he carried his wife and four of his own children with him to North Wales. Lady John shall tell the story:—

15 Sep 1851. We, and four of our children, set out for a little tour in Wales. First day to Bangor: after which our resting-places were Llanberis, Beddgelert, Tan-y-bwlch, and Capel Curig, a few days being spent at each, then [Sept. 30] beautiful drive to Llanrwst, where we changed horses: there found great crowd, bells ringing, and loud hurrahs, which gave me a good opinion of the Llanrwstians. Got here [Rhyl] at six; found an evergreen arch erected for us at the inn gate. Next day we drove to Penywern to call on Lord Mostyn, one of John's staunchest supporters; stopping on the way to see Rhuddlan Castle; also saw the remains of the house in which Edward I. passed the Statute of Rhuddlan, securing to the Welsh their judicial rights and independence. Lord Mostyn and about twenty gentlemen came with addresses to John from Rhyl and St. Asaph. Next day we went to St. Asaph to lunch with the Bishop [Short], who took us a lovely drive to Denbigh, where we got out to see the castle, and John was received with ringing of bells and loud cheers. Oct. 11 we arrived at Pembroke Lodge. So happy to be here again, with all our old interests and the new one of the school, that I no longer regret Snowdon and the sea.

May 1853. The months through which the session of 1853 was protracted left deep impressions on Lord John's (age 60) domestic life. In February his step-mother, the Dowager-Duchess of Bedford, died, somewhat suddenly, at Nice; in July his mother-in-law, Lady Minto, died, after a long illness, at Nervi. If, however, older faces were dropping out of the family circle, fresh and younger additions were being made to it. In May his stepson, Lord Ribblesdale (age 25), was married to Miss Mure of Caldwell (age 20)¹.

Note 1. Lord Ribblesdale had been educated at Eton and Oxford. He caused Lord John some anxiety in 1851 by purchasing Colonel (better known as General Jonathan) Peel's racehorses. To Lord John's remonstrance he wrote, ‘Every man, say I, his own métier. We are all good for something, as your friend Horace justly remarks to Mæcenas in his first ode: "Sunt quos curriculo pulverem Olympicum," &c. And again, "Hunc si nobilium turba Quiritium," &c. We of the nineteenth century remain the same as in Horace's time. I should take as much interest in a race in which I had a horse running, as you in the issue of an election for a Government borough.'

Jun 1853. In June his step-daughter, Isabel, was married to Mr. Warburton. Three out of his four step-children had thus taken their flight from the nest where they had been so long sheltered; but in March another child (Lady Agatha Russell) was added to its inmates. This child, their parents' first and only daughter, was born during the Easter recess, and its birth ‘made the Easter holiday at Pembroke Lodge even happier than usual.'