[172] Colley’s friends allege that Kruger’s letter of reply to him was delayed so long that he thought he might usefully expedite matters by attacking.
[173] It was said that the late Mrs. Brydges-Williams, an eccentric Cornish lady of Jewish extraction, had left Mr. Disraeli a legacy on condition that she should be buried with him, and on this condition the legacy was accepted. Perhaps the executors were afraid that claims might be made on them if the condition were violated.
[174] Speech at Kettering, Times, 5th May, 1881.
[175] Her Majesty sent two wreaths to be placed on the bier. One was composed of primroses, and carried the inscription: “His favourite flowers, from Osborne, a tribute of affection from Queen Victoria.” The other was made up of bay-leaves and everlasting flowers, and bore these words in golden letters: “A mark of true affection, friendship, and respect from the Queen.”
[176] After Lord Beaconsfield’s death the Tory Party fell under the “Dual Control” of Lord Salisbury who led it in the House of Lords, and Sir Stafford Northcote who led it in the House of Commons, when Lord Randolph Churchill let him.
[177] Mr. (afterwards Sir) Edward Clarke, Q.C. and Tory Solicitor-General, though he approved of widening summary jurisdiction, objected to the Bill because it made the Irish Viceroy a despot. Mr. Ritchie (afterwards President of the Local Government Board in Lord Salisbury’s Administration) declined to support the Bill because he had no confidence in the Government. Sir J. D. Hay complained of the excessive power placed in the hands of the Irish Viceroy. But Sir Stafford Northcote interfered, and, generously exerting his authority on behalf of the Ministry, silenced the factious Tories, who were apparently desirous of embarrassing the Government by obstructing the Bill. Public opinion was not in a state to tolerate obstructive tactics at the time.
[178] This loan was raised to wipe out the floating debt then amounting to £28,000,000. But the money-brokers who floated it imposed such usurious conditions, that they never really paid Ismail more than £20,740,077, of which they made him take £9,000,000 in bonds of the floating debt which the loan was raised to pay off. These they held themselves, having bought them at 65 per cent. They made the Khedive, however, take over the £9,000,000 worth which they thrust on him as part of the loan at 93 per cent.—See Mr. Stephen Cave’s Report on the Financial Condition of Egypt, and McCoan’s Egypt as It Is (Cassell and Co.), Appendix 9, p. 396.
[179] This land belonging to the Khedive’s personal estate is referred to in the report as Daira land.
[180] A search expedition under Colonel (afterwards Sir Charles) Warren, R.E., brought back their remains, which were buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral, close by the tomb of Nelson. See Life of Edward Henry Palmer, by Walter Besant. London: John Murray, 1883, pp. 296-329.
[181] The vote was for an addition of £10,000 a year to the Prince’s income, which was already £15,000, and a separate income of £6,000 a year to the Princess during her widowhood.