however, she had not
been always upon the best terms; and who, being ultra-_serious_ (as it
is comically called), had not unnaturally an occasional want of sympathy
with her very unserious mother. Lady Holland, however, desired much to
see her, and she crossed the Channel, having travelled in great haste,
and arrived just in time to fulfil her mother's wish and receive her
blessing.

Her will creates great astonishment--created, I should say; for she is
twice buried already, under the Corn Law question. She left her son only
L2000, and to Lord John Russell L1500 a year, which at his death reverts
to Lady L----'s children. To Rogers, strange to say, nothing; but he
professed to think it an honor to be left out. To my brother, strange to
say, something (Lord Holland's copy of the "British Essayists," in
thirty odd volumes); and to Lady Palmerston her collection of fans,
which, though it was a very valuable and curious one, seems to me a
little like making fun of that superfine fine lady.

I have just come back from church, dear Hal, where the Psalms for the
day made me sick. Is it not horrible that we should make Christian
prayers of Jewish imprecations? How can one utter, without shuddering,
such sentences as "Let them be confounded, and put to shame, that seek
after my soul. Let them be as the dust before the wind: and the angel of
the Lord scattering them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let
the angel of the Lord persecute them"? Is it not dreadful to think that
one must say, as I did, "God forbid!" while my eyes rested on the
terrible words contained in the appointed _worship_ of the day; or
utter, in God's holy house, that to which one attaches no signification;
or, worst of all, connect in any way such sentiments with one's own
feelings, and repeat, with lips that confess Christ, curses for which
His blessed command has substituted blessings?

We were speaking on this very subject at Milman's the other evening, and
when I asked Mrs. Milman if she joined in the repetition of such
passages, she answered with much simplicity, like a good woman and a
faithful clergywoman, "Oh yes! but then, you know, one never means what
one says,"--which, in spite of our company consisting chiefly of "witty
Churchmen," elicited from it a universal burst of laughter. I have not
space or time to enlarge more upon this, and you may be thankful for
it....

I will just give you two short extracts from conversations I have had
h