TC-HMS, [23 May?]. MS: Strouse. Hitherto unpbd. Conjecturally dated after the govt.'s defeat, 18 May (see TC to MAC, 21 May); Lord John Russell announced, 20 May, that the govt. would not resign, and that the promised debate on the Corn Laws would now be on 4 June. The letter might also be dated, 6 June; after the govt.'s defeat on a vote of confidence, 4 June, Russell told the House of Commons that he would announce on Mon., 7 June, what course they would now take on the Corn Laws. Then, on 7 June, he declared that there would be no discussion of the govt.'s change of policy but that parliament was to be dissolved. But since TC mentions on 21 May that he is refusing all invitations, as he implies that he is doing in this letter, Sun., 23 May, seems the more probable.