The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-03-10

England. This triumph made Lord
John Russell, for time, one of the
most popular men in England, and he
was received wherever he went with
great enthusiasm. From this time,
whenever the Wings have. been in
power, he has always been either the
head, or an important member, dfthe
administration. 80 fslff
1t cannot be said, 1 believe, that he
has originated any of the great mea-
sures by which the work of Reform
has been continued in England since
the Reform Bill of 1882 but he has
generally, sooner or later, given them
his suppefts8He favored, from the
beginning, the repeal of the laws
which excluded Catholics, Jews, and
pi-enters from their proper share in
the government of their country and
if, for time, he opposed the abolition
of the Corn Laws, his understanding
was not closed to the arguments of
Golden and Bright, and he voted for
the repeal at last. After long service
IN the Cabinet and in the House of
Commons, he retired to the House of
Peers in 1861 with the curious title
Of earl Russell of Kingston-Russell." /"
Kingston-Russell is the name of an ex-
ceedingly small parish in Dorsetshire,
which boasts of a population Of eigh-
ty-four persons. He has. I suppose,
a country residence in this parish,
and hence chose this title to distingu-
ish himself from the other Lords Rus
sell of history. He USUALLY lives in a
mansion of nSo great size, called Penn
broke Lodge, in Richmond Park,
twelves miles from London. He has
also handsome town house in Bel
gravia. 7r F. @ ,
Earl Russell has lived Busy, and
even a laborfous life. Besides his
political 1abors, which have! been
severe and continuous for more than
half century, he has written or edit
ed formidable list of works. In ad-
ditlon to the play of Don Carlos just
mentioned, he has written the Life of
his ancestor, William Lord Russell,
History of the British Constitution,
and History of the Affairs of Eu-
rope since the Peace of Utrecht. He
has also edited dozen or more vol
umes of memoirs and correspondence.
Twice married, he has several child
rem. His eldest son, Kord Amberley,
now twenty-eight years of age, spent
some months of last year in the Uni
ted States, with his wife, Lady Am
berley, lady Of noted good sense and
social courage.
The career of Earl Russell presents
many points for remark, and some for
censdTe. one Of the best things that
can be said of him is, that he has
shown himself capable of receiving in.
struction, as well as strong enough
confess having been in the wrong
When our war broke out, for example,
he jumped to the conclusion, with
most of his countrymen, that the
American Republic had fallen to
pieces, never again to be reunited. In
his official correspondence with the
American Minister and Secretary of
State, in 1861, there was tone of ar
rogance, and occasionally of down
right insolence, which plainly betray-
ed his belief that the United States
was no longer a power in sthe world.
He evidently thought that we were
doubly wrong-wrong in wishing to
relnite the country, and wrong in
having undertaken tin impossible task.
He lived to see his error, and he had
the magnanimity to acknowledge it at
public dinner in London a few
months ago. '..
In the course of his long life he has
done many things respectfully, but
nothing greatly. His intentions have
been always excellent, but his abilities
are moderate, and he has frequently
undertaken tasks for which he had
neither the time nor the talent. But
then, being the son ola wealthy house,
he might have passed his whole exis
tence in luxurious idleness, corrupting
the class to which he has done so much
honor, and to which he has set SO ex-
cellent an example. He might have
spent his days and nights reveling in
the dainties of literature, which are
beneficial only to those who take plen
ty of the palmer nutriment of knowl-
edge. He has not done any of these
things. With such abilities as were
given him, he has been a laborious
servant of his Country and England is
to-day better from his having lived