Protestant Exiles from France/Book Second - Chapter 3 - Section XVII
Sec. 17. — The Earl of Galway again in Retirement.
A pamphlet was published in defence of “The Earl of Galway’s conduct in Portugal and Spain,” but it was not by himself. It was a reprint of facts, as published in the periodical “Annals of Queen Anne,” and may have been edited by the annalist, Abel Boyer. Officers had probably corresponded with him during the war, and now assisted him in editing and prefacing his compilation. The preface represents Lord Galway as justifying his silence on the occasion by quoting a sentence from St. Evremond:—
“Those in whose power it is to do all they please are not so severe upon us as otherwise they might be, when they see us patiently submit to their decisions; opposition only inflames their resentment without lessening their power; but upon a change either of interest or of humour, a man is extolled to the skies for that very thing which occasioned his disgrace.”
Lord Galway again settled at Rookley. He now resigned his Colonelcy of the Dutch Guards. In March of this year, Louis XIV. gave the Ruvigny estate in France to Cardinal Polignac, but our hero had freely and finally surrendered it long ago.
His return to live among his affectionate relations was soon clouded by a severe bereavement. The Duke of Bedford, only son of Lady Russell, died on the 26th May (1711), in his thirty-first year. The fatal disease being small-pox, she had insisted upon being the only relative in attendance. As soon as possible she wrote to her cousin:—
“Alas! my dear Lord Galway, my thoughts are yet all disorder, confusion, and amazement; and I think I am very incapable of saying or doing what I should. I did not know the greatness of my love to his person, till I could see it no more. There was nothing uncomfortable in his death, but the losing him. His God was, I verily believe, ever in his thoughts. Towards his last hours he called upon Him, and complained he could not pray his prayers. To what I answered he said he wished for more time to make up his accounts with God. Then with remembrance to his sisters, and telling me how good and kind his wife had been to him, and that he should have been glad to have expressed himself to her, said something to me of my double kindness to his wife, and so died away.
“There seemed no reluctancy to leave this world, patient and easy the whole time, and, I believe, knew his danger; but loath to grieve those by him, delayed what he might have said. But why all this? The decree is past. I do not ask your prayers; I know you offer them with sincerity to our Almighty God for Your afflicted kinswoman,
“R. Russell.”
“June, 1711.”
The poor mother was, on the 31st October of the same year, bereaved of her daughter Catherine, Duchess of Rutland.”[1] The Duke having in the ensuing summer made an offer of marriage to the lady who became his second wife, Lady Russell felt some natural emotion, and confided it to her kinsman. From her letter dated 5th August 1712, I need extract only the preface, — “My Lord, I have been for some weeks often resolved, and as soon unresolved, if I would or would not 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.
- ↑ Lady Elizabeth Manners, one of the daughters of this Duchess, became Viscountess Galway in 1727, her husband, Joan Monckton, Esq., being then made a Peer with the title of Viscount Galway — from whom have descended a line of Viscounts, Peers of Ireland, and Members of the British House of Commons.