ar to my restoration. This opinion already operates
so much to my disadvantage and annoyance as to paralyze all my pursuits,
and will shortly compel me, unless your lordship spares me that
sacrifice, to quit a country of which I have never, by any act of my
life, rendered myself unworthy, and in the bosom of which, unless called
out again in her service, I would fain spend the remainder of my life in
tranquillity."

That letter was delivered by the Countess of Dundonald, who at this
time, as at all others, laboured with rare energy and tact to lighten
her husband's heavy load of suffering and to augment his scanty store of
joy. "Lady Dundonald," he wrote on the 6th of February, "has had a long
talk with Lord Grey on the subject of my affair, and it clearly appears
that there are two individuals in the Cabinet who will not give in. It
is now, however, determined that Lady Dundonald--I being out of
town--shall go to the King with a very proper memorial on her part,
praying that the stain on the family may be wiped away by a free pardon.
It is supposed that this will succeed; because in that case the King can
exercise his prerogative without other counsel than that of his Prime
Minister, who is favourable."

That term "free pardon" was galling to Lord Dundonald. He knew that he
had done nothing which needed forgiveness. It was justice, not pardon,
that he sought. He had suffered so much, however, from official
formalities, and his honest resentment of them, that he now reluctantly
consented to accept the virtual acquittal which was the great object of
his hopes and toils, though it might be couched in a phrase none the
less distasteful to him because it was the phrase that from time
immemorial had been used as a cloak for the withdrawal of official
wrong.

His concession was successful. "The King," he was able to write on the
4th of March, "has at last promised to do that which the late
Administration refused, and the present ministry had not the power or
courage to accomplish. For this I am indebted to the zealous exertions
of Lady Dundonald, who has been at Brighton, and has left Lord Grey and
others no rest until her object was accomplished. Thus, you see,
perseverance has done more than reason, right, and justice. The fact is
that great folks neither read nor trouble themselves with judging from
facts on subjects which do not immediately concern themselves. I have no
doubt that the 'Review' has never been looked int