engage upon a subject I cannot speak to without some emotion, but I cannot suffer your being a stranger to any that very near concerns me.”
Lord Galway wrote to congratulate the Duke of Marlborough in the autumn of 1711 on the surrender of Bouchain, and received the following answer, dated 5th October 1711:—
“My Lord, I have received fresh satisfaction from our success here, since it has afforded me an opportunity of knowing that your lordship is in health, and that I am in your remembrance: the continuance of both is what I shall always earnestly desire. I have received a paper from our old friend, St. Victor, which was brought me by a servant of his two days ago, but being unwilling to venture it by post, I shall keep it till we meet, which I hope may be by the end of the next month. I am, with great truth, my Lord, &c.
“Marlborough.”
During the remainder of Queen Anne’s reign, we meet with Lord Galway chiefly in Lady Russell’s letters. In 1712 she wrote to him in these terms :
“I can thankfully reflect I have felt many (I may say, many) years of pure and (I trust) innocent content, and happy enjoyments as this world can afford, particularly that biggest blessing of loving and being loved by those I loved and respected : on earth no enjoyment certainly to be put in balance with it. All other are like wine, intoxicates for a time, but the end is bitterness, at least not profitable. Mr Waller (whose picture you look upon) has, I long remember, these words:—
All we know they do above,
Is that they sing and that they love.
The best news I have heard is, you have two good companions with you, which, I trust, will contribute to divert you this sharp season, when after so sore a fit as I apprehend you have felt, the air even of your improving pleasant garden cannot be enjoyed without hazard.”
Lord Galway, having lost his right hand at Badajoz, employed a secretary to write to his dictation. He had formed the habit of writing his private memoranda with his left hand. And in sportive mood he executed an autograph letter to his venerable female cousin. This memento of his hardships and sufferings drew tears from the dear lady as well as smiles, and also the following note:—
“Having scribbled a great deal but last post, there is reason I should be quiet this; but the letter I have read under your own hand affects me so much, I cannot forbear to say your right hand was not more easy to be read. However, the chief errand of this is to require of you not to make a custom of it to me; for if you will but take care, in case you are not well, that I hear by any hand how you are, in a line or two, I shall be best content; and when I do not hear, believe your health pretty good at least. But your lordship is so puffed up with the honours you receive from our sex, you must brag! The more serious of your papers I shall say no more to than that, as it is written in a fair character, so I do with much ease read the words; but, as you rightly observe, the difficulty lies in the practice. Yet neither you nor myself have the smiles of fortune too lavishly bestowed on us or to abide by us, as to draw our hearts or minds, as to choose and be fond of what the world at present affords us. But if, with the length of our days here, we can feel our desires and wills docible, willing to submit as to improve our best thoughts and performances, then our lives are granted as a blessing, as we may assure ourselves.
*******
“Lord Galway’s truly affectionate cousin,
“& humble servant,
“R. Russell.”
As to Lord Galway’s handwriting, collectors of autographs can observe that after 1705 his signature is legible but feeble.
I shall, in another part of this work, speak of the release from the French galleys of Protestant martyrs, on the intercession of Queen Anne. A letter from Lord Galway to Reverend Monsieur De la Mothe (which is in my possession), dated “Stratton, 13 July [1713],” proves that some of them were then on their way from Marseilles to Geneva, and the rest were expected to get their liberty soon. For the comfort in Geneva of those exiles, whom he calls “nos confesseurs,” “nos pauvres frères,” and “ces pauvres confesseurs,” Lord Galway gave a donation of £100.
Early in October 1714, Lieutenant-General Stanhope (who had been made a principal Secretary of State on September 27th) introduced the Earl of Galway to King George I., as the bearer of an address from the French Protestant Refugees of London. His lordship having presented it, His Majesty was pleased to return the following answer:— “I thank you for the zeal which you have shown for the Protestant succession, and you may depend upon my protection.” At the same time the Earl of Galway presented to His Majesty a humble address of the Protestants released from the galleys of France, which His Majesty received very graciously.
