Lord John to Lady John Russell

    April 19, 1853

Gladstone’s speech was magnificent, and I think his plan will do....  I think we shall carry this Budget, as Gladstone has put it so clearly that hardly a Liberal can vote with Disraeli to put him in our place.  It rejoices me to be party to a large plan, and to have to do with a man who seeks to benefit the country rather than to carry a majority by concessions to fear.

    Lady John to Lord John Russell

    PEMBROKE LODGE, April 20, 1853

I am delighted with Gladstone’s Budget.  I don’t pretend to judge of all its details, but such of its proposals as I understand are all to my mind, and the spirit and temper of the whole speech admirable; so bold, so benevolent, so mild, so uncompromising.  I read it aloud to Lizzy and the girls, and we were in the middle of it when your letter came telling us how fine it had been....  Surely you will carry it?  I feel no fear, except of your allowing it to be damaged in the carrying.

    Mrs. Gladstone to Lady John Russell

    April, 1853

    MY DEAR LADY JOHN,—­I thank you heartily for your very kind note. 
    You know well from your own experience how happy I must be now.

We have indeed great reason to be thankful:  the approbation of such men as your husband is no slight encouragement and no slight happiness.  I assure you we have felt this deeply.  After great anxiety one feels more as if in a happy dream than in real life and you will not laugh at the relief to me of seeing him well after such an effort and after such labour as it has been for weeks....

    We have often thought of you in your illness and heard of your
    well-doing with sincere pleasure.

    Once more thanking you, believe me, dear Lady John,

    Yours sincerely,

    CATHERINE GLADSTONE

    I must tell you with what comfort and interest I watched Lord
    John’s countenance during the speech.

On March 28, 1853, Lady John’s daughter, Mary Agatha, was born at Pembroke Lodge.  Lady Minto was well enough to write a bright and happy letter of congratulation on the birth of her granddaughter, but her health was gradually failing, and on July 21st she died at Nervi, in Italy.

    PEMBROKE LODGE, August 3, 1853

The world is changed to me for ever since I last wrote.  My dear, dear Mama has left it, and I shall never again see that face so long and deeply loved.  Tuesday, July 26th, was the day we heard.  Thursday, July 21st, the day her angel spirit was summoned to that happy home where tears are wiped from all eyes.  I pray to think more of her, glorious, happy and at rest, than of ourselves.  But it is hard, very, very hard to part.  O Mama, Mama, I call and you do not come.  I dream of you, I wake, and you are not there.

    Lord John to Lady John Russell