I wrote also fully to a similar effect, adding, “I am ashamed to trouble you on a personal matter, but I am more ashamed of the War Office’s interminable delays.” Mr. Childers was prompt, and long before he got my letter, had a telegram sent to me, “Amount claimed paid to your account at Cox’s.”
Later, I told Mr. Childers I had addressed his office three times without any result, and without his help I should never have got it, unless, perhaps, my refusal to pay some stoppage accruing in January 1882, on the grounds that I could not pay something out of nothing, brought the case to the notice of a higher placed civilian than he who at that time generally decided such questions, even in the case of claims made by Generals.
[236] Vide [page 491].
[237] From the Secretary of State for the Home Department to Sir Evelyn Wood:—
“London, 16th March 1882.
“Sir,—Though I have not the honour of your personal acquaintance, the great esteem and admiration which I entertain for the service rendered by you in the course of recent events in South Africa induce me to make to you a proposal for which I have received the sanction of the Commander-in-Chief, and the Secretary of State for War.
“The post of Governor of the Isle of Man is vacant, and if it were agreeable to you, I should be happy to submit your name to the Queen to fill that office. I should not have thought of proposing to so distinguished a soldier as yourself a civil office if I had not ascertained from the Military authorities that the temporary discharge of its duties would form no impediment in the future to your military career.
“Of course, if any considerable command offered itself to you, you would be at liberty to accept it, to cancel it, and rejoin the Government when you pleased.
“(Signed) W. V. Harcourt.”
[238] Now Lieutenant-General H. L. Smith-Dorrien, commanding the Quetta District.
[239] I took the opportunity which Mr. Childers had given me of corresponding with him direct to tell this story, and to urge for an increased expenditure in the training of Mounted Infantry. I pointed out also that in spite of my remonstrances, we had only a Brigade Signaller, and thus when the Divisional Signalling Officer moved off with the General, the 4th Brigade was left without any signalling apparatus, as lamps, heliographs, were all taken away. The sailors put an electric light on the top of a fort on the extreme left of our position, which lit up at night the most vulnerable portion of the approach to the city.
[240] Lord Granville to Sir Evelyn Wood:—
“Foreign Office, 28th November 1882.
“It is most important to get the best possible man to be the first of the English officers in the Egyptian service. Everything depends upon it. Should you be willing that I should tell Dufferin you would be available for the post....—Yours sincerely,
Granville.”
[241] Vide [page 483].