London, April 8, 1864
We go on much as ever. I never worked harder at my despatches than I have done this week. At my table for nearly seven hours and a half yesterday with little intermission. Then out to dinner only once this week, with the customary receptions at Mrs. Gladstone’s and Lady Waldegrave’s. You know both places and can well comprehend our feelings.
The Ministry still hold on. The great campaign planned prior to Easter has failed even more lamentably then General Sherman’s. The object of attack, Mr. Stansfeld, very prudently resigned his post. Lord Palmerston was nobly heroic in his eulogy and equally philosophical in pocketing the advantage of the sacrifice. So the opposition must try again. As yet no programme has been substituted. But chance may favor them when strategy fails. The majority is ready. All that is needed is an occasion.
Meanwhile great efforts have been making to induce the Queen to come out of her solitude, and take her accustomed part at the head of society. The only effect has been to induce her to hold what one calls two “Courts,” at which she will receive first, the principal members of the Corps Diplomatique, and next, the chief of the nobility. This is a novelty indeed. Nobody knows what to make of it. The first of the two was fixed for Wednesday at three P.M. But late on Tuesday night I got a card from the Chamberlain announcing that a slight indisposition of Her Majesty had made a postponement necessary until tomorrow at the same hour. We are then to go — i.e., your mother and I. The Queen is to go round and speak to each of us, which will be a good deal more than she has ever been called to do before. Yet she thinks this easier than to hold Drawing rooms! Apropos to this a very curious article appeared in the Times on Wednesday, evidently from headquarters, announcing that the sooner the idea was dispelled that she should return to that sort of work, the better would it be for all parties. The conclusion is inevitable, that society is to do as well as it can without her. The field will be open for the Prince and Princess of Wales. . . .
