PEMBROKE LODGE, November 2, 1892

Oh, Lotty, how is it that, standing as I am on the very brink of the known, with the unknown about to sweep me into its depths, how is it that there is still such intense interest in the course of this wondrous world, in all the problems now floating about unsolved, in all the social, moral, political work going on around us.  It is true that these things are of eternal moment, and therefore links between earth and heaven.  Yet it often seems to me foolish to care about them very much when the solution of all enigmas is so near at hand.

    Lady Russell to Mrs. Rollo Russell

    PEMBROKE LODGE, March 17, 1893

...  The chief Pembroke Lodge event since I wrote is that I went on Monday to Windsor Castle to luncheon; after which morning meal with the household, almost all strangers to me, I saw the Queen alone and had a good long and most easy and pleasant conversation with her.  She was as cordial as possible, and I am very glad to have seen her again; although there was much sadness mingled with the gladness in a meeting after a period of many, many years, which had brought their full number of changes to me—­and some to her.

    Lady Russell to Mr. Rollo Russell

    PEMBROKE LODGE, RICHMOND, SURREY, July 7, 1893

I feel intensely all you say about laying aside, if it were possible, one’s own personality and seeing the silent growth of all truth and goodness, without the disturbance of names and parties; but the world being as it is for the present, we can only keep our minds fixed on the good and the true, with whomsoever and with whatsoever party we may find it, and follow it with honest conviction.  If I could, I would put an end to Party Government to-morrow, and my great wish for M.P.’s is that each one should, upon each subject, vote exactly according to his opinion, and no Ministry be turned out except upon a vote of want of confidence.  I honour and love Mr. Gladstone, and while ardently sympathetic with him on Home Rule and all other Liberal measures, I am no less antipathetic on Church matters.  Happily, however, they have become with him matters chiefly of personal attachment to Anglicanism, and no longer (I believe) likely to affect his legislation.  “Gladstonian” is a word he does not admit, nor do those of whom it is used.

July 9, 1893.—­Well, to go on with our politics:  “a new policy” Home Rule undoubtedly is, a new departure from the “tradition” of any English party; but not a departure from Liberal principles, only a new application of old ones, and I think it is a pity to speak of it as being against Liberal principles, for is there anybody of average intelligence who would not have predicted that if it should ever be adopted by any party it would be by the Liberals?  Exactly the same thing was said about Turkey: