Lord William was the life and soul of Simla, and exceedingly popular with everybody. One of his most charming traits, and one which I admired much, was his gentle, polite manner to natives. Once young Englishmen arriving from home considered it fine and grand to be rude and rough to natives when they were stupid, and made mistakes, which very often arose from their own ignorance of the language, and therefore being unable to express themselves intelligibly; I have heard a young subaltern saying he had saddled his pony, when what he wished to say was the syce was to do so, the young man’s grammar being defective, for which the natives had to suffer. Lord William was most particular in giving his orders to see they were understood, and gave them in a clear polite way which was most refreshing; naturally the natives loved him, would do anything for “Lord Brasspot Sahib.”
Many of his friends said he was a great loss to the Service. Once when a great friend of his was walking round Jakko (the only decent road round on one side of Simla, a sort of continuation of the Mall) with General Sir George Chesney, who wrote that clever book The Battle of Dorking, Lord William rode by at a gallop, taking his hat off to Sir George in a way quite peculiar to himself; it always seemed to imply so much, respect, affection, compliment, pleasure at seeing you, and everything else of the kind, leaving each individual feeling comfortable and pleased. As he passed, Sir George, who was walking with one of the members of the staff and as already stated an old friend of Lord William’s, turned to his companion remarking, “There goes a leader of men. Instead of being Military Secretary to the Viceroy he ought to be commanding a cavalry brigade; he would be unequalled at that work, always supposing he was not turned out of the service for disobedience to orders.”
Another friend, a clever lady of that time at Simla, speaking of Lord William’s character generally, said, “It is not Bill’s cleverness or quickness to grasp the situation, but what he has got in an eminent degree is what Solomon had. I have always thought that Solomon’s great wisdom was much exaggerated, and that what he really had in pre-eminence, and Bill has too, is tact, doing the right thing at the right time. For instance ... it was not Solomon’s great knowledge that bamboozled the Queen of Sheba, but knowing when she wanted a foot-stool!”
CHAPTER VIII
LORD RIPON LEAVES INDIA
Arrangements for Entertaining Visitors—Lord de Grey’s Shooting—A Good-looking Staff—A Fancy Ball—The Baby cries—Lord William Feeds the Infant—Singing Quadrilles—Pig-sticking—The Tent Club and Its Members—A Case of Mistaken Identity—The Reputation Match—Lord William Resolves to Give Up Racing—Lord Ripon’s Farewell
During Lord Ripon’s time in India a number of people came out from home to stay with him, some wishing to combine a visit to their friends with shooting, pig-sticking and globe-trotting. This kept Lord William busy, as he had to make all the arrangements for their comfort, and where they were to stay, when the Viceregal Lodge was full, which was generally the case. Occasionally he turned out of his own house for guests, searched for suitable bungalows for others, making everybody comfortable and yet without the least apparent effort. Rajahs were communicated with, and shoots arranged; horses were found to suit the various riders, chosen in accordance to their prowess, programmes made out for each day, and printed instructions sent on ahead, so that all was in readiness at each halting place, carriages, horses, servants, food, sport and all the heart of man could desire.
The happy relations existing between Lord William and the Native Princes made this easier for him than it might have been for many.
The present Marquess of Ripon, then Lord de Grey, came to stay with his father, and was anxious to have some big game shooting. He is, as everybody knows, one of the best shots in England. His game card from 1867 to 1891 gives some idea of his skill and the sport provided. I think the years 1880 and 1882 were the years he was shooting in India.