rs were blameless; but there
was a sneering, exulting tone in many of them after the military
disasters of the North which was likely to irritate. Mr. Motley
said long ago that the _Times_ would, if possible, work up a
war between the two countries, and though I can't speak from my own
knowledge, as I have seldom looked at its articles, I have no doubt
from what John and others say that he was right.... There can be no
doubt that we have done deeds very like that of Captain Wilks--not
exactly like, because no two cases ever are so--but I wish we had
not done them, and I suppose and hope we shall admit they were very
wrong. It is all terrible and awful, and I hope and pray war may be
averted--and whatever may have been the first natural burst of
indignation in this country, I believe it would be ready to
execrate the Ministry if all right and honourable means were not
taken to prevent so fearful a calamity.

[56] Her husband, Mr. Ralph Abercromby, was now Lord Dunfermline.

_December_ 19, 1861

John to town to see Mr. Adams [57].... John's interview with Mr.
Adams encouraging. Mr. Adams showed him a dispatch from Mr. Seward
declaring Government to be quite uncommitted as to opinion on
seizure of Commissioners.

[57] American Minister in London.

In December the Prince Consort died. Almost his last public act was to
modify the dispatch sent in reply to the vote in Congress, so that it
offered the North an opportunity of relaxing with dignity their
uncompromising attitude.

_Lady Russell to Lady Charlotte Portal_

PEMBROKE LODGE, _December_ 24, 1861

I know you, like everybody, must have been thinking much of our
poor desolate Queen. Her anguish, her loneliness of heart on that
pinnacle of human greatness, must weigh on all who have known how
happy she was; but to us who have often seen that lost happiness,
it is almost like a grief of our own. I don't believe I have ever
seen her take his arm without the thought crossing my mind: "There
is the real blessing of your life--that which alone makes you as
happy a woman as others in spite of your crown." Everybody must
have been full of dread of the effect upon her, but she has borne
up nobly--or rather, she has bowed humbly to God's will, and takes
comfort in her children. It must be soothing to her that his rare
worth is now fully ack