d Louis Philippe and his
family as near neighbours at the Star and Garter for some weeks,
and we have seen him several times, to thank us for our inquiries
after the poor Queen and Princes while they were so ill. Only think
how strange to see this great King, this busy plotter for the glory
of his own family and the degradation of England, taking refuge in
that very England, and sitting in the house of one of those very
Ministers whom he had been so proud of outwitting, giving the
history of "ma chute." This he did with great bitterness;
representing the whole French nation as a mass of place-hunters,
without patriotism and without gratitude, and with no tenderness to
Guizot. There is nothing noble and touching in his manner or
conversation, or I am sure he would have inspired me with more pity
in his fallen state, in spite of many faults as a King. [34]

[34] In later years Lord and Lady John had much friendly intercourse with
the Due d'Aumale, son of Louis Philippe, and with the Comte de Paris and
the Due de Chartres (grandsons of the King), who were neighbours and
welcome visitors at Pembroke Lodge.

During the earlier part of 1849, Lord John suffered from the effects of
overwork, and like most tired statesmen he began to think of taking a
peerage. On July 11th their third son, Francis Albert Rollo Russell, was
born at Pembroke Lodge. The parliamentary recess was an easier period than
they had known since taking office, and they had time to attend to other
projects, although the difficulties with Palmerston at the Foreign Office
were meanwhile coming to a climax.

In August Lord and Lady John founded a school at Petersham, over which she
watched with unflagging interest till her death. They were amused by the
remark of an old gentleman in the neighbourhood, who said that to have a
school at Petersham "would ruin the aristocratic character of the
village"--education and aristocracy being evidently, in his eyes, opposing
forces.

The classes were held at first in a room in the village; the present
building was not erected till 1852.

On August 32nd Lady John wrote in her diary:

Our little school, which had long been planned, was opened in a
room in the village the day before Baby's birthday, July 10th, and
goes on well. We celebrated John's birthday last Saturday by giving
the school-children a tea under the cedar, and a dance on the lawn
a