1S64-65.] SECOND VISIT HOME. 339 



Roderick says that he is more intent on maintaining, his 

 policy on that than on any other thing. And so is she 

 — a wonderfully fine, matronly lady. Her daughters are 

 grown up. Lady Shaftesbury like her mother in beauty 

 and grace. Saw and spoke to Sir Charles Wood about 

 India, ' his Eastern Empire ' as he laughingly called it. 

 Spoke to Duke and Duchess of Somerset. All say very 

 polite things, and all wonderfully considerate." 



An invitation to dine with Lord Palmerston on the 

 29 th detained him for a few days from going down to 

 Scotland. 



"Monday, 25th July, — Went to Foreign Office. . . . 

 Got a dress suit at Nicol and Co.'s, and dined with Lord 

 and Lady Dunmore. Very clever and intelligent man, 

 and lady very sprightly. Thence to Duchess of Welling- 

 ton's reception. A grand company — magnificent rooms. 

 Met Lord and Lady Colchester, Mrs. F. Peel, Lady 

 Emily Peel, Lady de Redcliffe, Lord Broughton, Lord 

 Houghton, and many more whose names escaped me. 

 Ladies wonderfully beautiful — rich and rare were the 

 gems they wore. 



"26th July. — Go to Wimbledon with Mr. Murray, and 

 see Sir Bartle Frere's children. . . . See Lord Russell — 

 his manner is very cold, as all the Russells are. Saw Mr. 

 Layard too ; he is warm and frank. Received an invita- 

 tion from the Lord Mayor to dine with Her Majesty's 

 Ministers. 



"27th July. — Hear the sad news that Robert is in the 

 American army. . . . Went to Lord Mayor Lawrence's 

 to dinner. . . ." 



With reference to the "sad news" of Robert, which 

 made his father very heavy-hearted during the first part 

 of his visit home, it is right to state a few particulars, as 

 the painful subject found its way into print, and was 

 not always recorded accurately. Robert had some pro- 

 mising qualities, and those who knew and understood 



