e has lost nothing, I
trust and believe, and I hope he has gained more than the
enthusiasm of a day. May God ever guide and bless him.

_Mr. George Moffatt, M.P., to Lady John Russell_

103 EATON SQUARE, _April_ 12, 1854

DEAR LADY JOHN RUSSELL,--Pardon my saying one word upon the
touching event of last evening. A parliamentary experience of nine
years has never shown me so striking an instance of respectful
homage and cordial sympathy as was then elicited. I know that the
unbidden tears gushed to my cheeks, and looking round I could see
scores of other careless, worldly men struck by the same
emotion--and even the Speaker (as he subsequently admitted to me)
was affected in precisely the same manner. The German-toy face of
the Caucasian was of course as immovable as usual, but Mr. Walpole
wept outright. I sincerely trust that the kindly enthusiasm of this
moment may have in some measure compensated for the vexations and
annoyances of the last two months.

Believe me, your faithful servant,

GEO. MOFFATT

_Mr. John Boileau to Lady Melgund_

LONDON, _April_ 12, 1854

I wish I could write you a long letter giving an account of last
night in the House of Commons.... I would not have missed last
night for the world. It was a melancholy instance of what a public
servant in these days may have to go through, at the same time such
a noble example of patriotism and self-sacrifice as I believe there
is not another man in England capable of giving--and though I
cannot yet resign my feeling that it would have been better in the
end both for Lord John and the Liberal party had he resigned, at
present I have nothing to do but to admire, love, and respect more
than ever the man who could, for the sake of his country and what
he believes in his judgment to be the best for her, go through as
painful a struggle as he has.... The scene in the House itself I
shall never forget--the sudden pause when he began to speak of
himself and his position--the sobs, and finally the burst of tears,
and the almost ineffectual attempt to finish the remaining
sentences, and at last obliged to give it up and sit down exhausted
with the protracted struggle and the strain of nerve. He was loudly
cheered from both sides of the House.

_Lord John Russell to Mr. John Abel Smith_ [42]