word), and I look upon it as an advantage to a public man to have the fact made patent. Therefore I see nothing to regret beyond the loss of your services to the public, a loss which I am sure will be materially felt. Yours sincerely, LANSDOWNE. Lady L. desires to be most kindly remembered to you, and wishes me to tell you that she thinks you were quite right. George Grote to the Right Hon. R. Lowe. Savile Row: Tuesday afternoon. Dear Mr. Lowe,-I am mortified to the last degree to have missed you this morning by my duties at the British Museum. Mrs. Grote has told me what you said to her to-day, and I rejoice to learn that your own feelings were satisfied with that which took place in the House last night. I myself read the description in the Times with the strongest interest, and with emotions as well of sympathy for you as of indignation against others, not merely opponents but also lukewarm supporters. I thought your statement of the case was as good as could be; and in a tone of full dignity, without wrath or invective. The more I think upon it, the more I am of opinion that the event, in spite of accompanying mortification, has terminated favourably for your political prospects. The leading article in the Times to-day must have been written, I presume, under the inspiration of Walter ! With esteem and friendship unabated, and with sympathy much intensified by the recent injustice, and where to find you, I should have called in person to give a warmer expression of sympathy vivá voce. Nothing can well be more characteristic than the letter which Robert Lowe wrote to his brother announcing that the select committee had exonerated him from all blame. He had, indeed, fought a lone hand, but the result completely justified him in the independent course he had adopted. The letter is as follows. Robert Lowe to Henry Sherbrooke of Oxton. My dear Henry,―They have run into me at last, but upon the whole I have no great reason to be unhappy. Relictis impedimentis salvo honore is my present motto. I made a success with my explanation in the House and melted the hearts even of the Tories. It was an ugly business though and one which rarely happens. A man seldom gets into a scrape without having done what he is charged with or something else very like it. But in this case, after the most careful review of my conduct, I seem to have been absolutely blameless. I have not had too much support from the Government, but part on perfectly good terms with them. When the thing first came upon me I said, 'Out of this nettle danger we pluck the flower safety and so I hope it has proved. Give my love to Louisa, and believe me, Your affectionate, R. LOWE. There was one far-off friend at the Antipodes who had watched the issues of the battle with grave anxiety. By the first mail boat that could have brought it, Robert Lowe received the following letter-also eminently characteristic of its writer-from William Sharpe Macleay, who was then fast nearing the grave. W. S. Macleay to the Right Hon. R. Lowe, M.P. Elizabeth Bay: 21 September, 1864. My dear Lowe, -I congratulate you and Mrs. Lowe from the very bottom of my heart on the very satisfactory way in which the affair in the House of Commons has terminated. It is not every day that a vote of this kind is rescinded, and if we consider the usual tenacity of that assembly, and that the rescission of this vote is the result of deliberate inquiry, it is far more honourable to you than if this vote, now rescinded, had never been passed. I trust that Mrs. Lowe is now quite satisfied. I am only sorry to learn that on account of her health she and you were obliged to go to Germany-a residence in which country, however temporary, being according to accounts just received anything but agreeable for English people. . . . As to my health, it remains in statu quo; although I think that I am getting on the whole weaker. At times I am quite prostrated, and at times I am again more lively. си Apul 20 104 34 Lounder Square My den Henry They have run into me at lust but upon the Whole I have no great reason to be unhastig Relichs impedimentis Sabo honora is my present Imach a success with motto. A my explanation in the House and melted the hearts Even of the Dores - It was an |