to anybody else’s, or rather pretending so to fetter it, for a mind will make itself heard, and there’s much false modesty in the disclaimer of all power or right to judge—­that very disclaimer being in fact, as you say, an exercise of private judgment and a rebellion or protest against thousands of wise and good and learned men.

    Lady Russell to Lady Dunfermline

    SAN REMO, March 23, 1870

You must take John’s second letter to Forster, [78] which will appear in the Times and Daily News, as my letter to you for to-day, as I had already not left myself much time for you, so that copying them, although they are not long, has left me hardly any.  I think you will agree with him that now, when the moment seems come for a really national system of education, it would be a great pity not to put an end to the teaching of catechisms in rate-supported schools.  People may of course always have their little pet, privately supported sectarian schools, but surely, surely, it’s enough that the weary catechism should be repeated and yawned over every Sunday of the year, where there are Sunday schools.  I wonder whether you are in favour of compulsory attendance.  I don’t like it, but I do like compulsory rating, and I wish the Bill made it general and not local, and I also want the education to be gratis.

[78] In February Mr. Forster introduced the Elementary Education Act.  It passed the second reading without a division.  In Committee the Cowper-Temple Clause was admitted by the Government.

    Lady Russell to Lady Dunfermline

    SAN REMO, April 6, 1870

We go on discussing the Education Bill and all that is written about it with immense interest, but oh, the clergy! they seem resolved to fulfil the prophecy that Christ came not to bring peace on earth, but a sword....  How true what you say of want of earnestness in London society and Parliament!

On April 7th they left San Remo, “servants [79] all in tears,” she writes, “and all, high and low, showering blessings on us, and praying for our welfare in their lovely language.”  At Paris they stayed with Lord Lyons at the British Embassy.  The Emperor Napoleon and Empress Eugenie showed them much kindness during their visit to Paris.  One evening Lord and Lady Russell and their daughter dined at the Tuileries, Lady Russell sitting next the Emperor and Lord Russell next the Empress.  It has been told since that at this dinner the Emperor mentioned a riddle which he had put to the Empress, and her reply.

Emperor. Quelle est la difference entre toi et un miroir? Empress. Je ne sais pas. Emperor. Le miroir reflechit; tu ne reflechis pas. Empress. Et quelle est la difference entre toi et un miroir? Emperor. Je ne sais pas. Empress. Le miroir est poli, et tu ne l’es pas.

[79] Their Italian servants.