[90] In 1874 he wrote that from Adrianople to Belgrade all government should be in the hands of the Christians.

MON ILLUSTRE AMI,—­En associant votre grand nom au bien-faiteurs des Chretiens opprimes par le Gouvernement Turc, vous avez ajoute un bien precieux bijou a la couronne humanitaire qui ceint votre noble front.  En 1860 votre parole sublime sonna en faveur des Rayahs Italiens, et l’Italie n’est plus une expression geographique.  Aujourd’hui vous plaidez la cause des Rayahs Turcs, plus malheureux encore.  C’est une cause qui vaincra comme la premiere, et Dieu benira vos vieux ans....  Je baise la main a votre precieuse epouse, et suis pour la vie votre devoue G. GARIBALDI. [91]

[91] “MY ILLUSTRIOUS FRIEND,—­In associating your great name with the benefactors of the Christians oppressed by the Turkish Government, you have added a most precious jewel to the crown of humanity which encircles your noble brow.  In 1860 your sublime word was spoken in favour of the Italian Rayahs, and Italy is no longer only a geographical expression.  To-day you plead the cause of the Turkish Rayahs, even more unhappy.  It is a cause which will conquer like the first, and God will bless your old age.  I kiss the hand of your dear wife, and remain for life your devoted G. GARIBALDI.”

About a year later Lady Russell writes:  “Great meetings at the Guildhall and Exeter Hall—­fine spirit-stirring speech of Fawcett at the last.  The feeling of the nation makes me proud, as it does to remember that John was the first to foresee the magnitude of the coming storm, when the first grumblings were heard in Herzegovina—­the first to feel sympathy with the insurgents....  Many a nation may be roused to a sense of its own wrongs, but to see a whole people fired with indignation for the wrongs of another and a remote country, with no selfish afterthought, no possible prospect of advantage to what are called ‘British Interests,’ is grand indeed.”

The last entry calls to mind a passage by Mr. Froude in the Life of Lord Beaconsfield [92]: 

“The spirit of a great nation called into energy on a grand occasion is one of the noblest of human phenomena.  The pseudo-national spirit of Jingoism is the meanest and the most dangerous.”

[92] “Life of the Earl of Beaconsfield,” J.A.  Froude, p. 251.

At the beginning of 1876 Lord Russell still retained so much health and vigour that his doctor spoke of him as being in some respects “like a man in the prime of life.”  But another great sorrow now befell them.  Their eldest son, Lord Amberley, died on January 9th.  He was only thirty-three.  In his short life he had shown great independence of mind and unusual ability.  His two boys [93] now came to live permanently at Pembroke Lodge.  Something of his character may be gathered from the following letter from Dr. Jowett, who had known him well at Oxford.

    Professor Jowett to Lady Russell