Page:Wives of the prime ministers, 1844-1906.djvu/111

LADY JOHN RUSSELL spent in town, and some social functions had to be attended. All the more enjoyable, then, were the evenings spent quietly in the domestic circle. Reading aloud—they would each read in turn—was then their chief recreation. Among the books they read were Lamartine's History of the Girondins, Mackintosh's History of the Revolution, Prescott's History of Peru, Cowper's Task, Wordsworth's Excursion—reading that nowadays would scarcely come under the head of relaxation; so it is satisfactory to know that they cried over David Copperfield until they were ashamed.

Lord John's Premiership was not lacking in excitement. The Irish famine gave natural cause for anxiety throughout 1847. In February 1848 came the news of the deposition of Louis-Philippe, The Chartist movement was gaining ground in England, and fears of a serious outbreak were entertained. The Chartists were preparing a great demonstration for 10th April, when, after assembling on Kennington Common, they were to march to the House of Commons to present a petition. There was much discussion as to where the Prime Minister's wife would be safest on the fateful Monday (10th April 1848). It was finally decided that Downing Street would 81