any march upon this house or any other disagreeable demonstration against the Prime Minister, we have arranged that I am to go to Downing Street with him in the morning and remain all day there, as that is the place he will most easily come to from the House of Commons.  My spirits have been much lowered about the whole thing this morning, as Mr. Trevelyan has been here and persuaded John that it would be madness for me either to remain in this house or go to Downing Street, both of which would be marks in case of a fight.

Mr. Trevelyan is very seriously alarmed, and talks of the effect the sound of the cannon might have upon me, and has persuaded Lady Mary Wood to go to his house on Clapham Common.  I do not yet know what the other Ministers’ wives are going to do, but I do know that I think Milton quite right in saying: 

      “The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks,
      Safest and seemliest by her husband bides.”

    However, I must do as I am bid, or at least I must do what makes
    him easiest.

    LONDON, April 9, 1848

    Hardly knew how much I had been thinking of to-morrow till I had to
    read aloud the prayers for Queen, country, and Parliament.

    Lady John Russell to Lady Mary Abercromby

    DOWNING STREET, Monday, 3 o’clock

    Well, here we are after all, Lady Grey, Lady Mary Wood, and I, with
    much easier minds than we have had for many days.

Everything has ended quietly; the meeting has dispersed at the persuasion of its leaders, who took fright.  Fergus O’Connor especially has shown himself the most abject blusterer, and came pale and haggard and almost crying to speak to Sir George Grey—­and told him how anxious he was that all should come to a peaceable end.

It seems too good to be true, after the various alarming reports and conjectures.  Of course there will still be some anxiety until the night is well over, and till we see whether the Chartist spirit rises again after this failure.  To begin at the beginning, I ought to tell you that hearing a great clattering at six this morning I got up, and looked out, and saw immense numbers of Lancers ride from the West into Belgrave Square, which they left to go to their destination somewhere about Portland Place, after performing many pretty manoeuvres which I did not understand.  Many foot soldiers passed by.  I admired the sight, but silently prayed that their services might not be required.  We packed the brougham full of mattresses and blankets, as it seemed likely that we should have to sleep here.  Now we have little doubt of getting home.

    Lady John Russell to Lady Mary Abercromby

    LONDON, April 12, 1848

Yesterday was chiefly spent in receiving visits and congratulations without end, and very welcome they were.  John and I had also a good long walk to freshen him up for a hard day in the House of Commons....

    April 13, 1848