David Carnegie Andrew Agnew

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”