After that there remained nothing but disappointment of earlier visions and hopes.

Sometimes there was something almost fearful in the gloom, and utter disbelief, and defiance of his mind."* -- * Butler's Life of Colley, p.

145.
-- The picture is a sombre one.

But it must be remembered that the death of his wife was still weighing heavily upon Froude.
A few days after his return to London Froude wrote a long and interesting Report to the Secretary of State, which was laid before Parliament in due course.

Few documents more thoroughly unofficial have ever appeared in a Blue Book.