Many  tears  relieved  me  somewhat ;  came  home  and  found  a  de
lightful  letter  from  dear ;  my  heart  overflowed  with  thankful
ness  to  God.  Rode  with  A.  Gordon  to  Zoological,  and  walked
round  them.  Dined  at  Duke  of  Argyll's  ;  Lord  Ellesmere,  Lord
Aberdeen,  and  Arthur  Gordon  the  whole  party.  Lord  Ellesmere
— of  Lady  Morley's  bans  mots — of  Lady  Jersey  going  out  in  mourn
ing  ;  one  said,  'she  looked  so  grand,  it  was  like  night.'  'Like
minuit  pass^  my  dear.'  The  other  of  a  woman  who  was  put  into
a  bath  of  spirits  of  wine.  '  Dear,  what  a  spirited  woman.'

June  1 5. — Up  early,  and  at  work  about  sermons.  Preached,
morning,  at  Curzon  Chapel,  on  children  of  Israel  desiring  a  king  ;
afternoon  at  St.  James's  on  '  the  sandy  foundation.'  Very  much
tired.  Great  fears  about  the  Bishopric  of  Gloucester.  Dean  Elliott
pressed  on  Palmerston.  Alas  !  alas  !  This  would  be  an  evil  in
fliction.  To  dine  with  Lord  Aberdeen  ;  Sir  H.  Holland,  self-invited,
came  and  spoiled  my  tete-d-tete  with  Lord  A.  Lord  Aberdeen  as
always,  all  kind  to  me,  but  seeming  out  of  sorts  to-night.  Dear
Arthur  walked  home  with  me.  Lord  Aberdeen,  driving  home  last
night  said  to  him,  '  I  am  heartily  glad  to  be  out  of  office,  but  I
should  like  to  have  made  the  Bishop  of  Oxford,  Archbishop  of  York.'


LIFE  OF  BISHOP  WILBERFORCE  201

June  16. — Letters,  &c.  Then  off:  dear  Mrs.  Sargent  going
with  me  to  the  station  for  Lavington.  Met  R.  Randall  at  Godal-
ming  ;  a  charming  drive  to  Lavington  in  his  carriage.  Stayed  there
alone  two  hours,  visited  my  two  great  graves.  An  unspeakable
sadness  oppressed  me  ;  yet  an  interest  inconceivable  in  that  dear
place,  and  a  love  for  the  warbler  which  had  built  and  hatched  out
four  young  ones  just  over  my  blessed  wife's  grave.
