a! CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BEQUEST OF JAMES McCALL Crass oF 1885 1944 DATE DUE PN’ 626/ B78 Pilko Ke Kora Manz SOCIAL GLEANINGS LONDON : PRINTED BY EPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE AND PARLIAMENT STREET SOCIAL GLEANINGS BY MARK BOYD ~ AUTHOR OF ‘REMINISCENCES OF FIFTY YEARS’ ‘Nihil est, Antipho, Quin male narrando possit depravarier’ = TERENTIUS LONDON LONGMANS, GREEN, AND OO. 1875 KS All rights reserved tha EA {2 1 Vv A7s2247 Go the Memory OF THE VERY REVEREND DEAN RAMSAY ‘SOCIAL GLEANINGS'’ ARE DEDICATED AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT, AND IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF THE ENCOURAGEMENT CONVEYED TO THE AUTHOR ON THE PUBLICATION IN 1871 OF ‘BOYD'S REMINISCENCES OF FIFTY YEARS’ NO. SO bow au Il, 12. 13. 14. 15. 16, 17. 18, 19. 20. 21. op ox . CONTENTS. A Forecast . : : : ; : A Forecast not cegiien ; bod The Author’s Introduction to ie Balewsilent, The Right Honourable George Canning dining at Manchester. ‘ The Premier, Sir Robert Peel, in Lis Biotnte Gilles. His Highness Mohammed Ali on the respective merits of the English and French Musket 3 His Highness Mohammed Ali and the Diving-Bell . How to make Good Soldiers . ‘i : Bi. 3 ‘Ob! Colonels before Deans ’ Robert Fulton, the Father of beeen Steam Navi: gation . The First Gtopmner’ on ie Gihames, Dining with the Dumfriesshire and Galloway? “Clab in London. i e The Author's frvtroduction to ‘Sir Walter Seis . Professor Wilson—‘ Christopher North’ General Sir Charles Napier, G.C.L., and Colonel James Outram, C.B.. The late Earl of Mayo, K.P., ‘Gaemuecancal of India . : : ie 5 One who Deserved the Vistowia Grass The Editor and Sub-Editor . . : A Galloway anda Rutlander . i : . Meeting a Scotchman in a Strange Region Why His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex was Buried at Kensal Green es e athe Ae Op ow ON rw] 12 13 13 15 17 20 21 22 23 23 vili NO. 22. 23 24. 25. 26, 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32: 33- 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39- 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48, 49. 50. Sr. 52. 53 CONTENTS, Doctor Wilberforce (then Bishop of Oxford) for once Meeting his Match ‘ 8 Napoleou the First and Prince Metternich Prince Metternich in Private Life . When the Author basked in the sunshine of Royalty. A Disagreeable Ten Minutes Green versus Talbot . j Emperor Maximilian of Mexico and Bipetos Nanslboe the Third . The late King of Winoyes ait Serjeant Goulboun, M.P., D.C.L. ; ‘Tl shave them, sir, that ’m Matster o’ ma ain eae The Imprisonment of the Duke of Wellington . A Royal Duchess’s Bon Mot . ‘So Abraham has arrived’ Daniel Whittle Harvey, M.P. A Dining-room turned into «a Law Court, or one sof the best after-dinner speeches ever made The Duke of Wellington and Buckingham Palace . The Right Reverend Samuel Cea Lord ue of Winchester : F Capturing a British Lion A Highland Sermon . A High Price of Wheat King Ernest of Hanover The Darwinian Theory . The Black Country The Kanitz Duel . Sir Colin Campbell (Lord Clyde) ante Fire at Chil- lianwallah i . Incidents at the Battle of Malianajpore: Your London Club, and how to make the most of cs. ‘It's naething like a perpetuity ’ Mr. Pitt’s Opinion of the Correspondence of ‘ite London Merchant . ‘ A Grave Imputation j ‘The Marquis of Breadalbane’s Sipe i: Another Piper worthy of Mention . His Royal Highness the Regent (King George the Fourth) and his Friend the Essex Baronet PAGE 24 25 30 39 4I 42 43 46 49 49 50 73 75 75 78 79 NO. 54. 56. 57: 59- 60. 61. 62. 63. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74 75. 76. 77° 78. 79: 80. 81. 82. CONTENTS. How to Forgive the Man you have Injured . A Curious Recent Anomaly in British Hodasinaical Legislation . a 5 3 . ‘ Sir George Rose 3 ‘i : : : oy ‘Tm Frae Dollar, my Lord’. : ‘ Chief Justice Story, of the United States e x ‘Old Fashions please me best’ . ; ; ‘ President Lincoln. . : The following I should like to have told Ween Ramsey Competitive Examination Ss vin e Sandy Brown Sandy Brown’s Master . Jeux desprit Théologiques ‘ Dr. Geldart of Trinity, and Dr. Wooa of ‘St. J huts, 8, Cambridge js : a An American Pigeon of Golden Plumage On Receiving Knighthood . . How a Scotch Baillie’s Vote was secured Legal Fortitude. é Henry Brougham, alias Mr. Broff: file ‘ La Principessa and her Beggar . Le Marquis de C Novels versus Biography . Lord Alvanley’s Alternative . The Good and the Bad How a Napoleonic Decree was Giremnvented A Highland Farmer sadly put about in his Devotions . Our Queen and the Swiss Herdsman 5 From the Banks of the Delaware . Ordination Morning . Dr. Mansel, Master of Trinity Chilton; Cenitvidge, subsequently Lord Bishop of Bristol ; ‘ Caught us Bathing, and ran away with our Clothes’ What puzzled the Dean, but not the Attaché M. Persigny (subsequently Duc de poe and the Padre Ventura ‘ M. Persigny (encore) ‘Also’ and ‘ Likewise’ ‘Scots wha hae wi’ Wallace bled , , oh Sir David Wilkie, R.A. . , ‘ el Se . 100 101t 102 103 103 104 105 105 106 107 109 109 ‘1TI0 IIo 112 1I4. 116 TI9 119 122 NO. go. gi. 92. 93. 94. 95 97- 98. 99. 100. Iol. Io2. 103. Io4. 105. 106, 107. 108, 109. Ilo. Ill. 112. 113. 114, 115. 116, 117. 118. 119. 120, 122, 123, 124. um? CONTENTS. A Legacy to the Kirk . : The Marquis of Dalhousie, BoramnalGaeal ‘of Tnilia Freemasonry in India i ‘Shall I not find a Woodcock foot 5° (Siatapeare) Prelatical Minuteness in Dates. , Amusing Incidents at the Mansion House . Sir Joseph Paxton, M.P. : The Advantage of knowing the tant ‘Depth of Fs Pool A Sheiiff of Londen Apacs by his own ‘Baill . A Scotch Farmer of the Olden Time, who did not keep a Diary Arranging the Boundaries of three Hitt in Scotland The Earl of Clarendon, K.G., Foreign Secretary The ‘De haut en bas’ with a Vengeance ‘Religion in Silver Slippers ’ ; Robert Downie of Appin, M.P. . A Southron meeting with more than is Match . Rather Awkward on the Eve of Marriage A Scotch Gardener's opinion of the English Comparisons are said to be ee but in this case Useful. An Old World Huhewopal Sonail in , Bootland ‘Hot Joints from 2 to 3 Daily’ Anticipating the Coroner . : The Cockaines of Ashbourne, Derbi Blindness . The Uncertainty of the Liaw, : Swall + versus 5 Atbwied? Second Thoughts are often the Best . An interesting Meeting between Two Sailors Scotch Assurance ‘Tl just tell ye hoo I differ fine the ea? A Good Appetite. “My dear Agneh; a glass 0” miy-odaly caslay angles Man o’ me’ : ‘ ; See Worth Knowing ‘ A Fairish Income Patrick Robertson, Dean of Faculty: Doctor Strachan, mae of Toronto, and the Soatel , Accent .. < -e « @ PAGE 123 124 124 125 127 128 129 131 131 133 133 133 134 135 137 139 139 140 140 143 145 146 147 148 148 I51 I51 152 153 153 154 155 155 155 NO. 125. 126. 127. 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135. 136. 137. 138. 139. 140. I4I. 142. 143. 144. 145. 146. 147. 148. 149. 150. I5t. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156. 157. CONTENTS. The late King of Sweden, the Grandson of Bernadotte Be carefu’ aboot leaving the Kirk A Salvo for the Conscience ‘But if I bow they'll say it was omy fear’ The (late) Honourable Edmund Byng London in the Olden Time: an Incident in Pave Eine Preaching and Ploughing . : Was the eminent Physician right P A Roland for an Oliver. A Bill after being read a first time ‘Admiral Sir Benjamin Hallowell and the Geass The Two Things best worth seeing in London ‘Have you been Sworn at Highgate § Rp? ‘ ‘By far the best Spache of the avening, out and sat , Sir Adam Fergusson, of Kilkerran, Baronet Seylla and Charybdis : Tale of a Teapot King Ludwig of Bavaria . : The Bishop’s laudable attempt to deni anil enpifort the Rural Dean An Irish High Juryman aie was te commntniteative to the Judge. Homeopathic Treatment abjectad fo Wandering Willie, the Blind Harpist Two worthy Scotch Matrons travelling Hatlway for the first time The Visit of their Royal Highness tiie: Plavonged Louise and Beatrice to Mrs. Macffrlane, Brig o’ Turk (September 1869) A Choice of Medicines A Difficult Question to hes aeade A Strange Place to find Stolen Property The Moon rising in the West Charles Pearson, M.P. for Lambeth, “nd “William Williams, M.P. for rac eae known as ‘ Punch’s Wiscount’ ‘ . ‘ The Bishop of Sierra Leone . Thomas Dibdin King George IIL’s Mmisution of the Seotch Reel « Making Everyone Useful ‘ : : ‘ A Funeral in a Metropolitan County . ao 8s xi PAGE 156 157 157 158 158 159 160 161 163 164. 164 166 166 171 172 173 175 176 176 177 177 179 180 182 183 183 185 186 188 189 191 193 193 xii NO. 158. 159. 160. 161, 162. 163. 164. 165. 166. 167. 168. 169. 170, 171, 172, 173. 174. 175. 176. 177. 178. 179. 180. 181, 182, 183. 184, 185. CONTENTS. ‘Young Man, be an Attentive Listener’ The Rev. Walter Dunlop, of Dumfries . Beautifully conceived and elegantly expressed . John Ramsay MacCulloch, Mat: -, the Political Economist : ‘ : gj Battues ‘Bedad, yer Honus, il se lave T a ins da stick by the Coffee’. . : Tommy Hill, ‘I hope I aoe t catia Sometimes the greatest Wits are at once silenced . A School Examination in Scotland conducted under difficulties “ Too often the Case , , ‘ , é A Check to Sanitary Retort Being asked to meet a ‘ Wonderfully Cleves Man? The Retort Courteous—The First Lord of the Admiralty and a British Admiral ; ‘Please, sir, did you ever know a woman who never said a std thing but once in all her life?’ . ‘And as for you, Julius Cesar, I shall at once ait you to bed, so come along’ What to avoid Mr. Ward’s American Borttolia, digatine neat can ie done, but has yet to be done, in ee minutes Church Preferment ‘ Beelzebub here, Beelzebub there? A fair Inference for a Scotchman to draw Field-Marshal Lord Clyde ‘ Queen Charlotte’s Arrival at St. James’s ‘Patios on her Marriage Day, September 8, 1761 ‘ Scotland and the United States nearly on an equality according to Paddy é ; a Sympathy My first experience of Rally iia? William Sprot Boyd, Political Commissioner fa Guzerat, and the Resident at the Court of Baroda, and his friend Jemmy Outram, the ‘Bayard of the East’ ‘ A Judge’s Dinaeei in the Modern Athens A First Impression of Croquet PAGE 194 195 197 197 198 199 200 203 204 205 206 208 208 210 211 213 213 221 222 223 223 224 225 226 227 229 232 233 NO. 186, 187. 188. 189. 190. IQI. 192. 193. 194. 195. 196. 197. 198, 199. 201. 202. 203. 204. 205. 206, 207. 208, 209. CONTENTS. The Recorder of London and a City Alderman . Charles Lever M. Soyer, Chef de Gaidine at de Bafoen Club . The Marquis of Anglesey, of Waterloo celebrity . Beware of a‘ House-Hunter’ . : ‘ F Sherry versus Madeira : ‘ Mr. Joseph Hume, M.P. and his Dronifex ; A French bequest to Scotland. em ‘ An Election at Liverpool . A Political Reminiscence, previous # the Betbnm Bill of 1832 —. 7 : ‘ ‘i ‘ Another Political Reminiscence : A Suggestion made to a Lord Advocate of Scotland so as to get him out of a Scrape How the Gond Opinion of a Gorasior Caner! of Tada was Won . A Fearful Dilemma for a Song Lady ti be pina . but how she ably extricated herself ; Richard Martin, M.P. for the County of Gaiginy (Humanity Martin), and his son Thomas Martin, M.P. ‘ Rather abrupt, ond ee too oud. A Broad Hint to a Pluralist . Mr, Samuel Anderson (Registrar of Affidavits to ‘ths Court of Chancery); his Téte-i-téte outside the London and Harrow Stage Coach Stage Coach travelling in England in 1800 ‘The Fellow knows me’ How to Answer an Inquisitive Man Excellent Advice The Danger of going out ts Dimer aithault ate Wife and of using the Latch-key 5 3 ¢ Gentleman Jones’ (Mr. Richard J — the Professor of Elocution . : ‘What can you possibly ‘now of Military Matters £ 2, Was Willie fairly dealt by in saa sent to a Gini Reformatory ? i ‘i , I The old Mail Coach. , The late Sir William fiinxwell, Bart., MP. tes Wigtonshire. : . : ; xiii PAGE 233 234 237 237 238 240 241 242 243 245 248 249 250 252 254 255 256 257 262 263 264 264 264, 267 268 269 273 275 xiv NO. 214. 215. 216, 217. 218. 219. 220. 221. 222, 2233 224. 225. 226. 227, 228. 229. 230. 231. 232. 233. 234. 235: 236. 237% 238. 239. 240, 241, 242. 243. CONTENTS. “Why, good gracious, Graham, the muzzle is as thin as a sixpence ’ An Incident connected with the Buen. German W ar in 1870,—a striking instance of Nationality ‘T have lost all I possessed ’ A Lady’s Grievance . . At what Age should a Child be hss to hunches P A Midshipman’s Experiences of the British ee in entering the Service 97 years ago ; A Fair Start The Rev. Dr. Duncan, the distinguished Professor of Hebrew in Glasgow University Church Music My First and most dharmatig Cigarette : Donald's Grammar ‘Madame, pray sit off the dear : Two Linlithgow Baillies returning home fiona a symposium of Whisky-toddy The Rev. Dr. Croly Alarming Intelligence on the uaa oe he 12th of Auganh Roger Rock : ij : < Sir Jonathan Trelawny, Bart, “Tard Bishop of Winchester ‘Don’t interfere with the bank of ee Subjent An unusual Place in which to carry out an Exchange operation When there was no levine oe Ait ‘What struck you most in Scotland § ee The Meeting of the Waters The Biter Bit The danger of wearing Hessian Boats in Hot Wesitce A Charity Sermon cribbed under peculiar cir- cumstances s Some of us have hensd of Donalds Mariage) eo some may not Cleopatra’s Pariialtty. for the inna Both Parties suited ‘Pray, ma’am,do younot give your Survivin no Blevens! > Jack at St. Paul! 8 . PAGE 277 278 279 281 283 286 292 293 295 296 297 297 304 304 306 307 308 310 311 312 313 315 315 317 317 318 NO. 244. 245. 246. 247. 248, 249. 250. 251. 252. 253. 254. 255. CONTENTS. The worthy old Colonel ‘Div ye no ken that ye’re dede 2’ . Mr. Stirling of Keir, N.B., and his Butler Something like a Fright Jock Brodie the Poacher . Why he disliked Pork Dash, the Marlborough Spaniel, siiag the Life fa a poor little Chimney-Sweeper : 3 How to be understood in Belgium immutability Asking a Blessing before Meat, as we jenn ig in Scotland ; Scotch Economy ; Watch as well as ae Appendix . xv PAGE 318 318 319 320 321 324 325 329 329 330 330 330 332 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. 1. A Forecast. In 1828, ata party in London, I was introduced by the host to his two nephews, then pursuing their studies at Christ Church, Oxford. In the course of the evening my friend, pointing to one of them, remarked, ‘ Boyd, I am an old man, but you may live to see that youth either a Lord Chancellor or an Archbishop.’ I have lived to see him the patron of both. 2. A Forecast not Realized. In 1848 I was honoured by the visit of a gentleman holding a foremost rank amongst British statesmen. The day was what even in humid Scotland might fairly be stigmatised as ‘saft,’ but that circumstance gave me four hours of the society of one of the most intellectual and companionable of men. My only other visitor was Alfred Forrester, better known as ‘ Alfred Crowquill.’ The politician and the humourist knew each other, and a moiety of the time B 2 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. was given up entirely to facetiw; after which we merged into politics, and I ventured to say that, in the opinion of all the mercantile men on ’Change with whom I had conversed on the subject, the speech delivered by my distinguished visitor in the House of Commons the previous day was the most brilliant of his many brilliant orations. I now begged leave to ask whether the mercantile estimate of that speech was correct. He smiled, and, addressing ‘Crowquill,’ said it was only a Scotchman who would ask a man for an opinion of his own speech. I, nevertheless, persevered, and elicited from the gifted orator an answer to what ‘Crowquill’ characterised as my ‘irrepressible question.’ But I shall probably not be accused of overstepping the limits of a privileged com- munication in remarking, that although the space between ‘the Bank and Paddington’ was compared to that between ‘ William Pitt and Addington,’ there was no such hiatus on this occasion between the collected opinions of British importers and exporters and the judgment arrived at by that man who, even more than the fourth of a century ago, had already evinced his transcendent power of understanding a high-mettled and occasionally restive aristocracy. However, quoad this point cadit questio. Amongst other public men who came on the tapis was Lord George Bentinck, who had now re- nounced the attractions of the turf for the serious responsibilities of the Senate. I recollect his distin- guished friend saying to ‘Crowquill’ and myself that we should see that noble lord one day Prime Minister. INTRODUCTION TO LORD PALMERSTON. 3 ‘What vainer thought than man’s presumption on the morrow’s dawn!” The observation was made on the Saturday, and on the following Tuesday Lord George Bentinck had passed away. The political wheel revolves, and I may now (1875) address the illustrious statesman to whom I allude in these words: ‘ Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur, 3. My Introduction to Lord Palmerston. It was on the last occasion of his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex being present at a public dinner. He was supported by Lord Melbourne, then Premier, Lords Lansdowne, Palmerston, and other distinguished members of the corps politique. We had reached the drawing-room, and I was sipping my coffee and listening at some little distance to the chit-chat of the distinguished circle after the departure of the illustrious duke, when Mr. Bannerman, M.P. for Aberdeen, one of the Lords of the Treasury, asked me if I had ever been introduced to Lord Palmerston. I replied, ‘Never.’ ‘Then come along.’ Lord Palmerston shook me cordially by the hand, and after a few obser- vations on home politics (for the Liberals were in critical position), said, ‘ Mr. Boyd, we are in a somewhat shaky condition. Bannerman,’ added Lord P., ‘Iallude to the members of the Treasury Bench collectively, not individually’ This made the Scotch lord of that august body—who still held my arm firmly—laugh heartily. ‘Bannerman, I am about to tell Mr. Boyd B2 4 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. that one section of our party say we are not going fast enough, while the other that we are going too fast, and ““’atween twa stules we'll fa’ to the grun.”’ ‘ Boyd,’ said Bannerman, ‘isn’t that good Scotch?’ ‘So good that we might have taken his lordship for our countryman.’ To which Lord Palmerston rejoined, ‘ Recollect, I was three years in Edinburgh.’ His lordship then asked me if I was married. ‘I am not, my lord.’ ‘Had you been I should have told you that all respectable married men, when the affairs of state do not interfere, should ’—looking at the clock— ‘go home to their wives at twenty minutes past eleven.’ ‘Bannerman, do you hear what I say? Mr. Boyd, look after him, as I am off. Good night.’ 4. The Right Honorable George Canning Dining at Manchester. An esteemed friend of mine tells an excellent story he had from his father, the late Mr. Robert Garnett, of Wyvreside, Lancashire, of some amusing circum- stances that occurred at a banquet, where he was pre- sent, given at Manchester to Mr. Canning. During different periods of the evening the gifted orator and statesman found himself a good deal puzzled, it being a case where— To laugh were want of goodness and of grace, But to be grave exceeds all powers of face. The Borough-reeve in those days was the Magnus Apollo of the municipality, and as chairman on this CANNING DINING AT MANCHESTER. 5 occasion proved himself an accomplished President Malaprop. He was neither an alwmnus of Oxford nor of Cam~- bridge, and in his opening speech of loyalty to the Crown he at once soared into so lofty a region that Mr. Canning’s assistance was needed to enable him to descend. ‘Our glorious Constitution !’ exclaimed the Borough- reeve, ‘may it never be repaired (impaired).’ To which Mr. Canning expressed a fervent hope that it would never require to be repaired. Later in the evening, the Worshipful Chairman, in one of his magniloquent addresses, described Mr. Canning as ‘the successful advocate (assailant) of disaffection.’ I forget how the Right Honorable gentleman cleared himself of this charge. The toast of the evening had now to be given, the health of the illustrious guest, and this, by previous arrangement, had been entrusted to a colleague of the Borough-reeve—a prominent speaker in all affairs mu- nicipal—who had prepared a great oration, which was to be worthy of the Municipality of Manchester, and would compensate for all omissions and ‘ stravaganze of their Chairman, by leading up to those points on which Mr. Canning in his reply would naturally desire to enlarge. The proposer of the toast commenced as follows: ‘My Lords and Gentlemen,—Mr. Canning, the power of whose genius—the power of whose genius, I repeat——’ And then a full stop. A friend of the speaker rose and explained to the Chairman that his worthy friend would sit down for a moment, as the heat of the room had 6 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. somewhat overcome him. He again rose. ‘Mr. Bo- rough-reeve, my Lords and Gentlemen,—Mr. Canning, the power of whose genius——’ Another full stop; but beyond this he could get no further; so that Mr. Canning was left to dilate on the power of his own genius, as there was no Manchester genius to do so. 5. The late Sir Robert Peel in his Picture Gallery at Whitehall. The sale in 1871—and, as reported, under highly advantageous circumstances for the nation—of the late Sir Robert Peel’s pictures reminds me of an incident mentioned to me the day after its occurrence by the late Mr. James Stuart of Dunearn, N.B., then residing in London. When Mr. Stuart, or, as he was usually designated, ‘ Jemmy Stuart’ of Dunearn, broke up his establishment in Scotland, more than forty years ago, the sale of his pictures attracted the attention of the cognoscenti, he being looked upon in the modern Athens as a leading connoisseur and patron of the fine arts. He then visited the United States, and wrote his three years’ experiences and travels in the Western World. Years rolled on, and one day, in a committee-room at the House of Commons, Sir Robert Peel, then Premier, meeting Mr. Stuart, asked him if he had ever seen his pictures ; and as he had not an appointment was made for the following day. Sir Robert Peel, observing Mr. Stuart’s attention particularly fixed on one picture, said, ‘I thought you knew something about it.’ ‘Yes, Sir MOHAMMED ALI, VICEROY OF EGYPT. 7 Robert, and I hope you were the original purchaser.’ “I am afraid I was not. May I ask ‘you, Mr. Stuart, what it sold for?’ ‘For fifty pounds, Sir Robert.’ ‘Well, it says very little for your friends in Scotland to have allowed such a picture to come South; but it may partly be‘accounted for, as I paid sixteen times that sum for it’—t.e. 80o0l. 6. His Highness Mohammed Ali, the Viceroy and Regenerator of Egypt, listening to a Discussion on the respective Merits of the English and French Musket. I recently heard my friend Mr. R. H. Galloway describe an amusing incident in connection with that great and remarkable man Mohammed Ali, who ruled Egypt so successfully for nearly fifty years. In the year 1834, when his Highness had a large army in Egypt and Syria (upwards of one hundred thou- sand men), commanded by his son, Ibraham Pacha— who visited London some years afterwards, and whom the cockneys designated ‘Abraham Parker ’—Moham- med Ali had also an extensive fleet, consisting of liners, corvettes, brigs, and steamers, several European officers being in his service, amongst them Monsieur Ceresy, a French ship-builder. One day the latter happened to be present when his Highness Mohammed Ali was comparing the French with the English musket, and Ceresy, who detested the English, was trying hard to persuade his Highness that the English musket was too short, and very inferior to the French. Colonel 8 SOCIAL GLEANINGS, Campbell, the British Consul-General in Egypt, an old Peninsular and Waterloo officer, one of the party, was appealed to by his Highness for his opinion. The gallant colonel being extremely deaf, the dragoman had to repeat Monsieur Ceresy’s observation in a loud and distinct tone to the colonel, and the instant he understood it his Scotch blood was at boiling-point. ‘What does Monsieur Ceresy say? for I can tell him that the French found the English muskets a deal too long for them at Waterloo.’ On this being interpreted his Highness was convulsed with laughter at the brave old Highlander’s explosion, and Monsieur Ceresy was thoroughly chopfallen, and attempted no rejoinder. 7. His Highness Mohammed Ali and the Diving-bell. In the year 1838 Messrs. Galloway sent out from England for the harbour works of Alexandria a large diving-bell, with its crane, air-pumps, and apparatus. This was erected in a boat, and his Highness went on board to see it worked. He was accompanied by Colonel Campbell, our Consul-General, and Doctor (afterward Sir John) Bowring, who was sent by Lord Palmerston to make a commercial report on Egypt and Syria. Mr. R. H. Galloway, who superintended the working of the bell, invited the colonel and the doctor to go under water with him; and as a fourth person was wanted (the bel being roomy), Mr. G. requested his HOW TO MAKE GOOD SOLDIERS. 9 dragoman, a cowardly Levantine, to be the fourth. On receiving this invitation the frightened creature threw himself at Mohammed Ali’s feet, and implored his High- ness to excuse him, declaring that those who went into that iron box would be drowned like dogs. Mohammed Ali then said that he would take the fourth place, as he felt confident Galloway had no intention either of drowning himself or his two friends. It ended in his Highness ordering Latiff Bey, superintendent of the Arsenal, to take the fourth place in the bell, which was lowered into the sea, and after remaining some time under water was raised up again, with its four inmates none the worse for their descent. Mohammed Ali was highly pleased with the opera- tion, and joked the frightened dragoman on his cowardly behaviour. In 1838 Mohammed Ali saw a locomotive for the first time, Mr. Galloway having laid down a temporary line outside Alexandria, in accordance with his High- ness’s instructions. Its performance astonished him, and he exclaimed, ‘Well, I have often heard of the devil, and at last have seen him!’ 8. How to Make Good Soldiers. The present Emperor of Germany, then Prince William of Prussia, visited London in 1814, and had frequent interviews with the Duke of Wellington. On one occasion he took the opportunity of asking his Grace what was the best mode of making good soldiers. ‘A very proper question, Prince,’ said the 10 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. Duke: ‘for although you are now a young man, you may have yet to command an army. Feed them well and house them well, and you will make good soldiers.’ The Emperor said to the gentleman who mentioned the incident to me, ‘I never forgot what the Duke told me.’ 9. ‘Oh! Colonels before Deans.’ King William the Fourth’s eye and ear caught a little matter of precedency one day as dinner was announced at Windsor Castle between a Dean and a Colonel. ‘Oh!’ exclaimed his Majesty, ‘come, come, Colonels before Deans.’ Next day the Dean remarked to a friend of mine, a field-officer, ‘Oh, but His Majesty was after all wrong, for my social position entitled me to go first.’ The Dean was a younger son of a noble earl. To the above story I may venture to append a Northern parallel. A hospitable and most successful compatriot of mine was entertaining among other local celebrities two friends who had in their respective callings risen to considerable distinction. On the an- nouncement of dinner the recently-created knight considered himself warranted in taking the pas. On perceiving this the host hurried up to him, and with a curt allusion to less brilliant days, accompanied by a most familiar slap on the shoulders, said, ‘Na, na, Alick, warriors aye before wabsters.’ THE FIRST STEAMER ON THE THAMES. It 10. Robert Fulton, the Father of Steam Navigation on the American Seas and Rivers. My father knew Fulton intimately in London until his return to America, in 1806, and frequently had him a guest at his house in Surrey. I have heard him say how truly melancholy it was to see that gifted man— too often in faded attire—endeavouring to make a body of opaque-minded British merchants understand to what practical account the powers of steam might be turned. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, poor Robert Fulton was to be met with on the Royal Exchange prosecuting this hopeless mis- sion. Had the system of education existed which gives the student, pari passu, with Greek and Latin an op- portunity of gaining an insight into practical science, Fulton would not have been compelled to waste years of his short life in fruitless attempts to win support from the merchant-princes of England. He returned to America in 1806, and in 1807 launched his first steamer on the Hudson. My father described him to me as a tall, gentle- manly-looking man, amiable and sociable in private life; but after dinner, when he mounted his hobby of steam, he was treated as an enthusiast, and a look was usually exchanged amongst the guests, as much as to say, ‘Oh, poor man! let him go on; he is quite harm- less.” 11. The First Steamer on the Thames. Talking lately to a worthy Hertfordshire magis- trate of Robert Fulton, Boulton, Watt, &c., he men- I2 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. tioned an amusing excursion he made in 1815 from the Tower Stairs in a Margate hoy. They met the first little steamer practising on the Thames, and the observations of a gruff old sea-dog who commanded the hoy were of a character most discouraging for this new arm in navigation: ‘Vell! there be fools hever since the vorld vos, but this beats hall: Hi only vish hit would blow a bit.’ 12. Dining with the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Club in London. At this dinner, usually held at Freemasons’ Tavern, we had present three out of the four gallant Knights of Liddesdale—General Sir John Malcolm, G.C.B., Admiral Sir Pulteney Maleolm, G.C.B., and Rear- Admiral Sir Charles Malcolm, K.C.B. The fourth brother, General Sir James Malcolm, K.C.B., was absent. Our chairman on this occasion was the Right Ho- norable Robert Cutlar Fergusson, of Craigdarroch, M.P. for Kirkcudbrightshire, who, as usual, related some interesting anecdotes. One I now recall. As a young man he had passed nine months in Paris, his companion being his friend William Huskisson, sub- sequently a member of the Cabinet, and known as ‘Free Trade Huskisson.’ They dined generally at a particular café or restaurant, in the Palais Royal, and had, during this period, usually the same waiter, an exceedingly active and obliging young man. That waiter was Murat, afterwards King of Naples, and brother-in-law to the great Napoleon. ‘CHRISTOPHER NORTH? 13 13. My Introduction to Sir Walter Scott. I was on a visit to some of my relations residing at ‘Riddell’s fair demesne’— so described by Sir Walter—in Roxburghshire, and it was arranged that I should be driven next day to Abbotsford, to see the place and its illustrious owner. We had got half way when we met Sir Walter, his daughter, Mrs. Lockhart, his unmarried daughter, and his second son, driving in an Irish jaunting-car. The party were on their way to Riddell to pay my friends a visit, which this meeting prevented. We had, how- ever, a quarter of an houw’s agreeable conversation, during which Sir Walter told me that his late wife and himself, just after their marriage, had spent two days with my father and mother, at their residence: in Surrey. To which I remarked, ‘Sir Walter, that visit is often alluded to in our family.” He smiled, and then said, addressing my cousins, ‘You must now continue your drive and show Mr., Boyd Abbotsford.’ This was done, and I returned home with my friends happy, and flattered at having been introduced to the great novelist and poet, in addition to the pleasant hour’s inspection I had of his loved Abbotsford. 14. Professor Wilson (‘ Christopher North’). I was lately asked if I had ever met ‘Christopher North.” This reminded me of a visit he paid my father in Wigtonshire when I was a lad, which com- menced under somewhat laughable circumstances. He 14 SOCIAL GLEANINGS, was accompanied by one of Scotland’s greatest prac- tical agriculturists, Mr. Rennie of Phantassie, in the East Lothians. Mr. Wilson had a note of introduc- tion for himself and friend to my father, and drove up to our house in a most unattractive one-horse carriage. My father and mother had that day a large party of county friends, and had just sat down to dinner, when a servant told my father he was urgently wanted. He made his apology to his guests on the plea of magisterial duty, and hurried from the room, but not in a composed state of mind. Assuming it to be the district. constable, and being extremely short-sighted, as well as at the moment irate, he opened thus: ‘Constable, what an extraor- dinary thing it is, after the numerous warnings I have given you, that you should bring a prisoner just as I am sitting down to dinner with a large party of friends!’ ‘Oh, said avery tall, imposing-looking man, in the act of descending from the vehicle, ‘there are two prisoners, Mr. Rennie of Phantassie and myself, handing to my father the note of introduction. A hearty laugh followed; and a request being made to the guests for five minutes’ law, the travellers were denuded of some portion of the dust they had acquired during their drive, and, after a hurried ablution, joined the party. I was too young fully to appreciate the wit of the great ‘Christopher North,’ but this I do recollect, that my father, exercising his magisterial functions, made him and his companion prisoners, not for one, but for four days, and a most charming im- prisonment it proved, as ‘Christopher North’ made them ‘ Dies’ as well as ‘ Noctes ambrosianz.’ GEN. SIR C. NAPIER AND COL. JAMES OUTRAM. 15 15. General Sir Charles Napier, G.C.B., and Colonel James Outram, C.B. In perusing to-day (August 17, 1871) the interest- ing articles in our leading journals on the unveiling of the statue of Sir James Outram I was reminded of the anomalous post I had once assigned to me in con- nection with this distinguished soldier. I must prelude what I have to say by explaining that my late brother and myself had the pleasure of occasionally meeting in society, and of seeing at our own table, the highly accomplished and nearest rela- tive, non-military, of General Sir Charles Napier. Sir Charles had returned to this country from fighting his battles of Meeanee and Hydrabad, and was in London—so was Colonel Outram. The latter, as we knew, had attracted the admiration of a large section of the members of the combined services in India for his protection of the rights of the Ameers of Scinde against what he deemed an injudicious and persecuting interference from British rule. On this point Sir Charles Napier and Colonel Outram seriously differed. Sir Charles looked upon the Ameers as a selfish, voluptuous, and exclusive class, who wielded from their castles and forest-fastnesses a despotic rule over their dependents. He acknow- ledged their hospitality, their restrictive game-laws, their battues amongst tigers, wild boars, &c., all which commanded, in a marked degree, a host of admirers from the youthful civil and military servants of the Honorable East India Company. 16 SOCIAL GLEANINGS, ! Colonel Outram was the staunch defender of the vested rights, 2s he considered them, of those moun- tain chieftains; whereas Sir Charles Napier was dia- metrically opposed to this, and resolved to eject them ; hence the differences that arose between one of the greatest. generals and the chivalrous and popular Outram. Sir Charles’s relative, finding that I was on terms of intimacy with Colonel Outram, and conceiving, as many then did, in regard to India, that the period had arrived to beat the sword into a ploughshare and the spear into a pruning-hook, thought it a favourable moment to see all Napier-Outram differ- ences healed. I was therefore commissioned to sound the Bayard of the East, and I accordingly wrote him a jocular note, intimating that an affair of state had been placed in my hands, which, without his assist- ance, I should be unable to elucidate, and that, as time pressed, would he oblige me by coming next day to luncheon? He wrote me an amusing reply, expressive of his doubts of being of any service in the matter, having been all his life outside European politics, but that any aid he could render me I might command. He came to luncheon, after which we retired, when I opened my small but important budget. I never shall forget his hearty laugh, on recover- ing from which he spoke of Sir Charles Napier as a military commander in such terms of admiration that I thought my negotiation would be easily carried through. But, seeing I was jumping to my con- clusions too fast, he said, ‘Boyd, the first thing I THE LATE EARL OF MAYO. 17 shall require of you is a material guarantee that, for the first quarter of an hour after Sir Charles and myself meet, the words Scinde, and the Ameers of Scinde, shall not be mentioned. Everything else will be very simple; but, without this, an explosion will immediately follow—from which side I do not pretend to say.’ JI now saw that my hopes as a negotiator had already exploded, and I told my gal- lant friend that, had he allowed the meeting to take place, there was no doubt it would have been a glorious success, and that I should thenceforth have become a prominent person in society, as the re- cementer of friendly relations between Charles Napier and James Outram. 16. The lute Earl of Mayo, K.P., Governar-General of India. The appalling intelligence received in Downing Street (February 12, 1872) of the death of the Governor- General of India at the hands of an assassin, brought to my remembrance those admirable traits in the public character of the Earl of Mayo coming under my own observation, and which were, I believe, equally conspicuous in private life. I had the honour of knowing him as Lord Naas, M.P., and considered him one of the most popular and accessible public men J was ever thrown into communication with. I refer to the period when I was associated with Hon. Francis Scott, M.P., Mr. Wm. Fane De Salis, Mr. George Duncan, M.P., and others, then conducting a c 18 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. firm and resolute agitation in promotion of Australian interests. I was originally introduced to his lordship by Mr. John Boyd, M.P., and at once observed an anxious desire on his part to gain information and master details in connection with Australian require- ments. Nothing was deemed a trouble by Lord Naas; and I well recollect, when he was nominated by a Conservative Government to be the Viceroy of India, that a loud opposition to the appointment sprang up among different sections of both political parties. I ventured in my own circle to express an opinion, founded on some years’ experience, that the Earl of Mayo would prove an able Governor-General. We have now a full confirmation of this in the mournful requiem passed on the deceased by his Grace the Duke of Argyll, the Secretary of State for India in the House’ of Lords, and by Mr. Gladstone, the Prime Minister, in the House of Commons. From Mr. Wm. Fane De Salis, who knew the lamented noble- man intimately, he having given his lordship his first political brief, I received an interesting letter. He wrote to me as follows :— ‘ He took a warm interest in Australian affairs, and no one knew better than he did the value to our colo- nies of the exertions of the committee of which you formed so prominent a member. I am happy to testify to this fact, as I was the means of introducing Lord Mayo to the committee, and persuaded him to place © his Parliamentary services at their disposal, when he undertook, at their request, to move in the House of Commons an address praying for the establishment of THE LATE EARL OF MAYO. 19 steam communication with Australia—a measure up to that date frequently promised to the colonies by suc- cessive Governments, and as frequently postponed, I might add, ad kalendas Grecas. “Now that Lord Mayo has passed away from among us it will, no doubt, be as pleasing to you as it is to me to reflect how well he fulfilled the task confided by us on this occasion to his care. *‘ His speech was one of his first, if not his very first essay at continuous oratory in the House. It occupied upwards of an hour and a half in delivery, and was most carefully prepared, dealing fully with Australian statistics—a matter at that time quite new to the House—and pointing out the deep importance to the mother country, as well as her colonies, of the measures he advocated. ‘It is not too much to say that he quite astonished many, who until then had classed him asa person of ordinary abilities. ‘I had myself furnished him with many of the facts of the case, and remained, at his request, in the Speaker’s Gallery the whole evening, to be able to communicate with him if need arose. ‘During the debate several of our Parliamentary friends came up to me and said they had no idea there was so much in him. Certainly, from the date of his motion—which occupied a whole Parliamentary even- ing—he took rank among the rising statesmen of the day ; and as it is not generally known that he first came out on an Australian question, I think, if you ever add c2 20 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. to your “Reminiscences,” you might take an oppor- tunity of naming the fact.’ 17. One who Deserved the Victoria Cross, had such a distinction then ewisted. I was lately chatting with Colonel Thomas Smith, C.B., the survivor of three distinguished brothers, General Sir Harry Smith and Colonel Charles Smith, all Peninsular and Waterloo officers, and having on their medals, in all, thirty-four clasps—of that number Sir Harry had fourteen. Our conversation turned to that brave man General the Hon. Sir William Stewart, at the Battle of Albuera; and I ventured to express an opinion that it was a cruel oversight to have left it so long as the reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty to create a distinction for individual heroism such as the Victoria Cross. Colonel Smith related to me a moving incident he witnessed on the field of Waterloo the night previous to the battle (June 17, 1815). Lieutenant MacLachlan, of the Rifle Brigade, to which Colonel Smith belonged, had always suffered more or less from heart-disease—so much so that on ordinary service, when quick movements were required, he was usually requested to fall out. MacLachlan said to some of his brother officers: ‘If I am not bled to-night, and that copiously, I shall drop early to- morrow.’ The surgeon was sent for, who at first hesi- tated. ‘ Doctor,’ said MacLachlan, ‘I am resolved to be bled, for if I drop to-morrow in advancing I shall be called a “shirker.” Death is preferable.’ He was, THE EDITOR AND SUB-EDITOR. 21 therefore, copiously bled; and went through his duties next day as a brave man. He still lives—I believe in one of our Southern colonies. It is true he is decorated with his Peninsular and Waterloo medals, the former with six or eight clasps, but with no Victoria Cross. 18. The Editor and Sub-Editor. My father had an amusing story anent the late Mr. Samuel Hunter (in military circles Colonel Hunter), the popular and able editor of the Glasgow Herald. Mr. Hunter had gone to Rothesay, in the Island of Bute, to inhale the sea-breeze, leaving his coadjutor under promise that his holiday would not extend beyond three weeks; but at the end of five he found that his friend made no allusion to his return. He, therefore, in a short leader (in one copy of the’ paper only) announced that Mr. Hunter’s health was quite re-established from his five weeks’ residence at the seaside, and—as his numerous friends would, no doubt, he happy to learn—he was about to resume his editorial duties. There was no steamboat, no railway, no electric telegraph in those days, but the moment poor Hunter read the paragraph his portmanteau was packed and a boat ordered to carry him to the main- land, where a post-chaise was immediately in requisi- tion. In the course of the afternoon he presented himself in the editorial room, when, to his immense relief, he discovered the trick played upon him to ensure his immediate return. Hunter was made a colonel of a Volunteer corps 22 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. before he had learned to ride. The regiment was being reviewed by a general officer, and during the evolutions the Colonel, who was a tall and rather cor- pulent man, was dislodged over the neck of his charger on to the ground. He was twitted for the manner in which he had reached terra firma. ‘Well,’ said Hunter, ‘it was not of much consequence, as I was very soon going to dismount.’ 19. A Galloway and a Rutlander. Towards the end of last century the members of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Club resident in London gave a grand ball, in the success of which her Grace Jane, the celebrated Duchess of Gordon, as a daughter of Sir William Maxwell, the third Baronet of Monreith, in Galloway, took much interest. Her Grace had already achieved aduchess’s coronet for two of her daughters, and on this occasion it was alleged she was about to gain a third in the person of. his Grace John Henry, fifth Duke of Rutland, then a youth of nineteen or twenty. My father, one of the stewards, whom the Duchess had known as a youth in Wigtonshire, was chatting with her Grace, and jocularly remarked—alluding to the numerous dances her daughter was having with the young Duke as her partner—‘ Ah, Duchess, I see what will shortly come off!’ ‘ Not improbable, Edward ; and dou’t you agree with me that a Galloway and.a Rut- lander is the right thing ?’ As her Grace put it in language better suited for an Agricultural Hall and exhibition of live stock than a MEETING A SCOTCHMAN. 23 ballroom I do not give her rejoinder textually. How- ever, the amalgamation thus coveted by her Grace failed, as the youthful head of the ducal family of Manners blended, at the age of twenty-one, with a member of the noble house of Howard. 20. Meeting a Scotchman in a Strange Region. That gallant old veteran and Scotchman, Major George Ross, who lies in Brompton Cemetery, had seen much fighting and hard service in the West Indies, having medals and clasps for Martinique, Guadaloupe, &c. Late in life he succeeded by the death of a brother to a handsome fortune; and he he used to tell us in our family circle, ‘Ah! had I possessed one-tenth of this money when I entered the service I should now be a general officer.’ He was full of good stories, one of which was a description of an excursion he and a brother officer made amongst the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. They were sitting on a rocky peak, and found themselves enveloped in clouds, when to their great surprise they heard a human voice above them. ‘ Who are you, up there ?’ exclaimed Ross, ‘ for I cannot see you?’ *‘ What’s that to you?’ ‘Well, never mind,’ said Ross, ‘I know you to be a Scotchman; and although Scotchmen are to be met with .everywhere, I never expected to meet with one in the clouds.’ 21. Why his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex was Buried at Kensal Green. The same gallant officer to whom I am indebted for 24 SOCIAL ‘'GLEANINGS. the incident at Windsor Castle (the question of pre. eedency between a Colonel and a Dean), solved the above question for me, from his own personal know- ledge, having been present. At the funeral of King William IV. there was not only much delay and confusion, but questions of etiquette, precedence, &c., broke out, and great bad taste was exhibited—so much so that his Royal High- ness the Duke of Sussex the next day remarked to of Datchet, ‘It was intolerable; and now recollect what I say to you: if I die before I return to Kensington, you see Iam not buried at Windsor, as I am resolved not to be buried there.’ 22. Dr. Wilberforce (then Bishop of Oxford) for once meeting his Match. In the county of Aberdeen there lived, not many years ago, a Scotch lady of the true old grande dame type. She is remembered by many not more on this account than for her keen shrewdness and mother-wit. A staunch Episcopalian, she was always ready to expend a fair share of her easy means in support of the religious interests to which she was attached. On the occasion of the foundation of a church to- wards the erection of which she was mainly insttumental, she entertained in her own house the presiding genius of the day’s ceremony, who happened to be no less a celebrity than the Right Reverend Doctor Samuel Wilberforce, then Lord Bishop of Oxford. In the course of a post-prandial speech, characterised by his NAPOLEON AND PRINCE METTERNICH. 25 usual diplomatic suavity of expression, he took occasion to congratulate the company (with special reference to their hostess) on the good work that day initiated. ‘It is a matter,’ said he, ‘of no light moment to Churchmen that such a building as the one at present contemplated should be erected in so remote a corner of these islands ; indeed, I may be permitted to designate it as a church in the wilderness.’ ‘Church in the wilderness!’ ex- claimed Miss Hay. ‘It is a church in Fyvie, my lord, and Fyvie’s the pick of God’s earth.’ 23. Napoleon the First and Prince Metternich. An esteemed friend of mine was ona visit at Johan- nisberg, and afterwards accompanied the Prince and his family party to Vienna. During the journey the Prince pointed out the precise positions of the two armies at the culminating Battle of Leipsic, fought October 18, 1813, Metternich being present, with other distinguished members of European cabinets. While my friend was at Johannisberg an illustrious visitor arrived—no less a personage than M. Thiers— whose amiability and delightful conversation charmed the whole circle; and the easy, natural manner of the witty French statesman specially attracted the Prince. He was then a busy gleaner on the historic field, and came to consult and hear from Prince Metternich as much as he could furnish him with of his own know- ledge in regard to the conqueror at Marengo and the conquered at Leipsic. The data he sought for his forthcoming History of the Empire were freely given. 26 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. But his chief desire was to cull the particulars of the celebrated interview of Napoleon with the Minister of Austria, at Dresden. The meeting of those celebrities took place on June 28, 1813, exactly two months prior to Napoleon defeating the Austrians, Russians, and Prussians before Dresden. My friend, who had frequently heard the Prince dilate on a favourite theme—the character and achieve- ments of Bonaparte—considered it a singular piece of good fortune to be present as an attentive listener to what flowed from the lips of the great Austrian states- man into the ears of the great French statesman; and I may add that the impression which this remarkable conversation or conference made on my friend’s mind has never been effaced. a: M. Thiers having given the world the facts as they reached him on this occasion at Johannisberg, I venture as a humble gleaner to follow suit; for, having long since known that ‘ grapes were made to eat and lips to open,’ I have been permitted to ask my obliging friend to grant me a réchauffage of that mental repast—at least some portion of it—placed before M. Thiers by the gifted and enlightened Metternich. The Prince described to his distinguished visitor and the family circle that Napoleon broke ground at the interview in a mighty rage, twitting the Austrian Minister bitterly for the treatment he was receiving at the hands of the Emperor of Austria, telling him that thrice he had saved the Austrian throne for his Imperial Master; and, as a proof of his NAPOLEON AND PRINCE METTERNICH. 27 desire to be on terms of lasting friendship with him, he had married his daughter, which had proved a great mistake; nay, further, had concluded a treaty of alliance with him. Andif this did not suit the Austrian Emperor why did he not say so, as he should not then have engaged in the war with Russia? ‘ But,’ continued Napoleon, ‘the treaty is signed, and after a single campaign, which the elements rendered unfortunate, behold who totters? If Austria did not wish to retain the French alliance, why did the Emperor not say so, as it would not have been insisted upon? Therefore, under pretext of peace—a humiliating peace—you, as Minister of Austria, now interpose your mediation, you presuming to dictate terms which are those of my enemies. Explain yourself. Is it war you wish to have with me? The Russians and Prussians, pre- sumptuous on the success of last winter, came to meet me, and I have beaten them. You wish, then, to have your turn? Well, be it so; I shall be with you at Vienna in October.’ Napoleon had not sufficiently studied the idiosyn- cracy of the redoubtable Metternich, otherwise he would not have followed the example of Warwick, ‘ to rage like a chafed bull,’ whereas the Austrian states- man, who well understood human character, knew the caution that must be observed to prevent the passions interfering in so serious a discussion, and was ‘as calm as virtue.’ ‘Sire,’ replied Metternich, ‘ Austria does not wish you to declare war, but Austria desires an end to be put to a state of things that has become intolerable 28 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. for Europe; and your Majesty is as much interested as we are, for fortune may one day desert you.’ ‘ What is it, then,’ exclaimed Napoleon, ‘you come here to demand of me?’ ‘ Peace, Sire, which is indispensable, and is as much required by you as by us.’ The Emperor, as the Prince described it, now assumed an attitude and manner of ungovernable rage; nevertheless, Metternich proceeded to sketch out to him the conditions that were to follow peace. Here Napoleon interrupted him at every sentence, wishing him.to suppose that he did not hear him. The Prince, however, knew better, and that he had not lost one word of what he had addressed to him. ‘Oh,’ said he, ‘I understand—you Austrians wish the whole of Italy to yourselves; your friends the Russians, Poland; the Prussians, Saxony; the English, Holland and Belgium; and I am to-day to consent to gratify those ardent desires. But I must tell you that before all this shall be accomplished the blood of many gene- rations must flow, and then you will have to come to France as suppliants on the heights of Montmartre.’ Most men—Metternich was an exception—would have said that Napoleon, to use a Scotch expression, ‘had gone clean daft.’ The Prince here adopted a soothing course; and the Emperor, although apparently slightly appeased, haughtily declared, ‘You sovereigns born upon the throne cannot understand the sentiments which animate me. They, beaten, re-enter their capitals, and for them it is neither more nor less: I am a soldier, and cannot reappear among my people lessened. No, I am the NAPOLEON AND PRINCE METTERNICH. 29 more generous to a brave nation that obeys my voice and spills its blood,’ ‘Sire,’ replied Metternich, ‘your brave nation, whose courage commands the admiration of the world, requires repose. I come and pass through your regi- ments. Your soldiers are children. You have called up a generation scarcely formed—this once destroyed, you will have to call forth one still feebler.’ These words wounded him to the quick. He became pallid with rage, and threw or allowed his chapeau to fall to the ground; but Metternich did not pick. it up. Then, addressing the Austrian Minister: ‘You are not, as I am, a soldier; you have not learned to despise the life of another or your own when it. is required. What are 200,000 men to me?’ These words moved Metternich profoundly. ‘Let us open,’ said the Prince, ‘the doors, the windows, that all Europe may hear you and the cause I have come to defend.’ Napoleon, becoming slightly tranquillised, said: ‘ After all, France has not much to complain of. True, I lost 200,000 men in Russia. Of that number 100,000 were French, and I regret their loss deeply. As to the others they were Italians, Poles, but princi- pally Germans.’ The last he mentioned with a shrug of the shoulders, as their loss did not seem to affect him in the least. He then endeavoured at great length to convince Metternich that he was accidentally conquered in Russia by the frost and snows of winter. After this he was desirous to bring the Austrian statesman back to that point in the discussion which bore on his own prestige and invincibility. During this 30 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. burst of excitement he was walking up, down, and across the room, and kicked his fallen hat into the corner. Metternich was too astute not to discover that there was much of counterfeited passion in all this, and his calmness provoked the Emperor. The firm Minister of Austria, of whom in private life it could be said in truth that, whether to prince or peasant, his ‘ manhood was melted into courtesies, allowed the Imperial chapeau to remain where it was. The discussion pro- ceeded, and the Emperor, finding he had no longer his hat ‘to wave with scorn,’ stooped and repossessed himself of it, but without any proffered assistance from the great Minister of the Hapsburgs. Norr.—Prince Metternich told my friend that it was the longest interview he ever had as a public man. Smiling, he said, ‘I believe I wound up my watch, and am satisfied, as we had an adjourned interview next day, that it lasted not less than twenty-seven hours; and I am doubtful whether the Emperor and I during all this time slept.’ 24. Prince Metiernich in Private Life. ‘ My dear old Prince,’ said my friend, ‘ was personally so simple and unpretending that people were apt to overlook the exquisite dignity of his manner. He wore his rank, if one may so express it, gracefully, like a garment. The man was ever superior to his station. He would lift those about him to his own level, and put the most humble at their ease. He PRINCE METTERNICH IN PRIVATE LIFE. 31 could draw them out and make them feel they were possessed of qualities and attainments they never suspected in themselves. The only persons he could not get on with were those with pretensions. ‘Never,’ as he said, ‘having learnt to dance on the tight-rope (of vanity or affectation), they gave him no ground to stand on.’ His own natural bent would have been philosophical investigation and study, but his father made him enter public life, and he was early initiated into the affairs of state by his father-in-law, Comte Kaunitz. Still there was much philosophy in his nature, and in judging persons or events he constantly looked above and beyond them for the causes of their conduct or existence. Some of his bitterest political opponents visited him in after-years, and were invariably received with the courtesy and kindness he bestowed on all. The Princess was often indignant. ‘ How unnatural!’ would she exclaim. ‘Why so?’ answered the Prince. ‘ Are not opinions free? When conscientious, are they not deserving of the highest respect? How can I tell whether in the same position I might not have acted in the same manner? When opinions become crystal- lised into principle one must fight, and if necessary sacrifice others, or die to defend them; but still grant to your opponent that esteem which your own cause ' deserves.’ In features the Prince resembled the Duke of Wellington, and he said they had acted together for years without one single misunderstanding or difference. To the great Napoleon he rendered entire justice, 32 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. and liked to dwell on the intimate relations which had existed between himself and the Sovereign of France. Before victory had intoxicated the mighty conqueror and ambition turned his brain nothing could have been more valuable than this intercourse. The power- _ ful qualities of the Emperor’s mind were dazzling in \ the extreme; and with all he looked upon him as the very genius of that most rare of qualities—common sense. During my friend’s stay at Johannisberg they had frequent opportunities of seeing how much the Prince was beloved by his dependents, and of admiring the respectful familiarity which existed between the states- man and his trusty old servants. On one occasion, when dressed for dinner, he fell. All were thankful to see that he had not hurt himself. Only his valet received him with an aggrieved look, exclaiming, with cold severity, ‘Schade am den pantalon!’ (A pity for the trousers !) The Prince's amiability never belied itself. On one occasion, just as he was going out for his daily walk, his daughter, who accompanied him, saw a small party of peasants from the Black Forest gathered in a knot at the end of the terrace, evidently not liking to advance, for fear of disturbing the Prince. She said to her friend, ‘Pray do not notice those people, as my father will be sure to go in, and his walk is so essential to his health.’ They proceeded a few steps, when the Prince himself noticed them, and advancing, in spite of his daughter’s remonstrance, said, ‘ Pray, gentlemen, do not withdraw, as I must go in to write,’ adding, to his PRINCE METTERNICH IN PRIVATE LIFE. 33 friend, ‘Those poor people must have come miles to see the view which we may enjoy at any moment.’ His steward was allowed to supply travellers with wine, which they liked to drink in a small arbour at the end of the terrace (so as to enjoy the Johannisberger and the view at the same time). One afternoon the privacy of the Prince with his family circle was unexpectedly broken into by his steward entering the drawing-room to ask his Highness’s advice. ‘What is it?’ ‘Why, Prince, three travellers arrived early this morning, and are asking for more wine ’—the potency of which the steward understood— ‘and they have already drank eight bottles each, and have now ordered three more.’ ‘Who are they?’ in- quired the Prince. ‘They are Englishmen, your Highness.’ ‘Hight bottles each,’ repeated the Prince, giving his English friends a sly look; ‘and how did they come?’ ‘In a carriage.’ ‘Oh, then, you had better let them have the three bottles, as you will know what to do with them.’ The Prince possessed a MSS. yclept ‘ Bétisiana,’ in which he noted down all the stupid or amusing anec- dotes that occurred to him. He had a valet who was particularly distinguished in his historical collection so well known to his friends. We are told that no man, however great, is a hero in the eyes of his valet de chambre. How Prince Metternich fared in this respect with his, we are not informed, but of this there is no question, that in the eyes of the Austrian Chancellor, his valet, from the D 34. SOCIAL GLEANINGS. numerous acts of stupidity he had chronicled of him, held a foremost rank. One morning the Prince remarked to the functionary in question that he looked very ill. ‘No wonder, your Highness, as I have had no sleep.’ ‘No sleep—how did this happen?’ ‘All owing to my wife.’ ‘There is nothing unusual,’ said the Prince, ‘in a wife pre- venting her husband sleeping.’ ‘Ah, Prince, it was something very bad.’ ‘Let me hear the whole affair.’ ‘We had just retired, as I supposed to rest, when she clasped me in her arms and said I was an angel, and that she loved me most affectionately.’ ‘What did you say to that?’ ‘I told her I believed she did. She then assured me I had been the best of husbands.’ ‘ Ah,’ said the Prince, ‘that is very important, and what reply did you make?’ ‘TI told her that I had always been the best of husbands. She began to weep bitterly, and declared I was a gem of good husbands.’ ‘ Then,’ said the Prince, * was that not all very nice for you to hear?’ ‘Yes, your Highness, had she now left off and allowed me to go to sleep.” “Why, by hawks. I have got two dozen tarnation sharp hawks, which I can sell to you as cheap, or cheaper, as any birds 0’ the sort were ever sold in the Northern States.’ A bargain was at once struck, and a sharp look-out was kept’ whenever a pigeon was seen to be let loose from the other newspaper office. The hawks did their duty well by generally capturing their quarry. The Yankee now paid the disappointed editor a visit, so soon as the success of the hawks over the pigeons was an established fact. ‘I guess, Mr. Editor, I feel very much for you, for I’m informed that that fellow’s hawks are killing your pigeons; and I can make all that square for you, and pretty sharp ?’—‘ What do you mean?’ ‘Why, Mr. Editor, I’ve got six eagles which I can sell you a bargain; and if they don’t settle matters with the hawks, and that slick, ’m not the man I take myself to be.’ ‘ You aread d scoundrel ! and if you don’t take yourself off, and that pretty quick, I know some- body who will make you.’ 234. ‘ What struck you most in Scotland.’ A young English lady of my acquaintance had passed two months a few summers since in Scotland, and returned to the south in the highest ecstacy with our scenery. I was anxious to have her opinions of her first Highland tour, as she had travelled rather exten- sively in Europe, and had also the advantage of having crossed the Atlantic several times. She said, ‘Had you asked me what pleased me most in Scotland, I should have entered upon a catalogue raisonné, but your A FAIR ‘NICHT’ IN PERTH. 309 question is, “‘ What struck me most in Scotland?” As I should infinitely prefer giving you, by-and-by, my impressions of the splendid scenery, and of my pere- grinations amongst the mountains of Athol and Bread- albane, my visits to your lakes and lochs, your toons and clachans. However, whilst the luggage is being collected (Euston terminus) I must tell you that what struck me most, and with horror, was last night wit- nessing a scene I can never forget, in, on, and around the Perth railway station of not fewer, I was told, than two thousand people, of all ages and sexes, more or less tipsy. —“ Gracious goodness!’ I exclaimed, ‘ you don’t mean to say so.” ‘I do; but there is the guard who protected me to and from the railway carriage.’ I called to the guard, and asked him if the young lady was correct in stating that there were two thou- sand, more or less, drunken men, women, and young people at the Perth station last night ? ‘Weel, sir, there coudna be less than twa thousand ; but I should tell you that I never afore saw half so mony fou at Perth on a fair nicht, and I was real vexed that the young leddy should hae seen sae mony lads and lassies in sic a scandalous state.’ The verse of the poet came across my mind, but my patriotism forbade me to quote it, and, moreover, under proper limitations, I admire the Barley-Bree. Oh, Whisky, thou’rt the greatest curse, To soul, to body and to purse ; Pandora’s box held nothing worse Than Whisky. For the next day or two I avoided all allusion to the fair city of Perth, and kept my young friend to her 310 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. happy and delightful descriptions of Blair, Killiecrankie, Birnam and Dunkeld. 235. The Meeting of the Waters. “Now, Paddy, you have driven us here, as you said you would do, to the “ Mating of the Waters,” and where are the Waters?’—‘ Why, bedad, yer honour, at the present time they are rather low, but lave them alone a copple of months, and then let yer honour and the ladies pay them a visit, and they'll be beautiful.’ ‘And am I to take your word for that, Paddy ?’—*‘ Yer honour, they'll be then fuli and plenty.’ ‘Paddy.’— ‘ Yes, sor.’ ‘ Youand Tommy Moore have swindled us when you got up that story beginning— ‘There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet, As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet. ‘ Are you sure, Paddy, you have driven us the right road ?’—‘ The devil a doubt of it, yer honour, and sure where else would I be takin’ you? but the saison has all together been a dale too dry.’ ‘Why, Paddy, had you been driving American gentlemen to-day, although they could not have drowned you, they would have smothered you for deceiving them by telling them you had brought them to the “ Mating of the Waters.” Why, Paddy, one of their waters, called Niagara, is declared to be “ a tarnation considerable bit of a stream for turning an eternity of cotton mills and grinding all the corn in creation.” ’—‘ Indade, sor, that must be a strame.’ ‘Then, Paddy, I suppose we must pay you at CHORLEY AND CHORLEY. 311 the end of the day.’—‘ Auch, sor, that will be all right.’ ‘But, Paddy, is it all right with your horse ?’—‘* Why, yer, honour, he’s half a blood horse, and the rest of him’s aqually good.’ ‘Then don’t you be jumping down so often, and leaving the reins behind you, for he’ll be bolting.’—* Not a bit of it, yer honour, for he is just like a game-cock on his own dung-hape—he’ll die before he runs.’ ‘ Paddy, I believe that.’ At the next visit my friends paid to the ‘ Mating of the Waters’ matters had, in harmony with Paddy’s augury, improved, although the wish expressed in the ‘Merry Wives of Windsor’ had not been realised— Let the sky rain potatoes. Judy was on one side the water, Tim on the other, both anxious to ford it. Judy had that very day mounted her new frieze petticoat, which, looking at what was before her, caused her ‘ dape’ anxiety. ‘Tim, I’m calling to you.—‘ What is it, Judy?’ ‘Now, Tim, do spake the truth. Are you married ?’ “As sure as you are there, Judy, I am;’ and on that assurance Judy crossed the ‘strame’ without wetting the hem of her garment. 236. The Biter Bit. It is within the recollection of many of us that a former Lord Stanley of Alderley was Postmaster- General, and different influential Manchester families having migrated to the outskirts of Alderley, had for their residential title Alderley-Edge. The noble lord, 312 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. however, decreed that the locality should not be known to postal arrangements by any other name than ‘Chorley.’ Accordingly, official circumlocution and red-tapeism knew and recognised ‘ Chorley.’ The in- habitants were indignant, and insisted upon their locality being called ‘ Alderley-Edge.’ While the contest was raging fast and furious, his lordship invited a party of friends, and told them that the carriages would meet them at ‘Chorley.’ But the only railway ‘Chorley’ then was some twenty miles north of Man- chester ; whereas his lordship’s so-called ‘ Chorley’ was some twenty miles south of Manchester. The carriages waited at one ‘ Chorley;’ the friends of the noble Post- master-General arrived and grumbled at the other * Chorley.’ 237. The danger of wearing Hessian Boots in hot weather. My father was returning by the stage coach to his residence in Surrey one very hot afternoon. There sat opposite to him a young woman with a basket on her knee. When half-way through the journey, he com- plained to his fellow-passengers of great chilliness, cold feet, &c. This, on so oppressive a day, could only be accounted for from some sudden attack of illness; and while one friend recommended him on reaching home immediately to take a warm bath, another advised a strong glass of hot brandy and water. At this juncture the young woman looked into her basket and exclaimed, ‘Oh, lawk, the hice as hall melted!’ and she might have A CLERICAL CRIB. 313 added ‘Run, sir, into your boots.’ The laugh created caused a sudden reaction, as my parent escaped all material damage on knowing the cause of his chilli- ness. 238. A Charity Sermon cribbed under peculiar circumstances. A good story is told which I heard recently for the first time related admirably by a gallant general, but as I wish to escape martial law and ecclesiastical censure, T am reticent of names. The eminent divine of whom the story is told—formerly one of London’s popular and ‘effective preachers, subsequently a member of the Bench of Bishops. The bishop i futuro had an intimate friend, a rector in a suburban county, who wrote to him begging that he would kindly come down to the rectory the following Saturday, and next day preach the fore- noon sermon on behalf of a valuable local charity, and that he (the incumbent) would preach in the evening. This was arranged, and the rector had a party to meet his distinguished and reverend friend at dinner on the Saturday. A post-prandial discussion arose on the subject of memory; the London divine stating that his own was unusually retentive, inasmuch as he could, after once listening to a speech or sermon that interested him, almost repeat it verbatim. The country rector, who had known his friend at college, and had not then discovered in him this quality of the manet alta mente, rather ignored those wonderful powers to which his visitor laid claim. 314 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. Bedtime arrived, and the reverend host conducted ‘his friend to his room, which was next to his own study, and where the worthy country parson had resolved, now that he was free of his guests, and before retiring to his slumbers, to rehearse the morrow’s sermon ore rotundo. The result of which was, that the great London preacher lost not one word ab ovo ad mala, and decided that his sceptical friend should from his own pulpit have a proof of his mnemonic powers. The announcement of the same text enunciated from the study at midnight, was now given from the pulpit at midday, and the sermon—a very able one—followed without any devia- tion from what had been spoken at rehearsal. The clergyman in possession of the pulpit was barely permitted to remain long enough to allow the first section of the congregation to depart, when the almost distracted incumbent beckoned to his friend to descend and follow him into the vestry. ‘In the name of good- ness, where did you get that sermon, for that is the very sermon, with the same text, I wrote for this occasion, and it has never been out of my possession ?’—‘ Well, then, first to ease your mind, there is my sermon, which I have taken some pains with, for you to preach this evening, and I have only paid you off for the doubts you expressed to your visitors last night in regard to my powers of memory, which you afforded me an oppor- tunity of exemplifying in your own church to-day, after repeating your sermon to me at midnight when we should have been both asleep.’ ‘CLEOPATRA’ LOVES MUSIC. 315 239. Some of us may have heard of Donald’s Marriage, some may not. ‘Och, Donald, and you have got married ?’—‘ Och, yes, sir. ‘That’s goot, goot, Donald.’—‘ Och, no so goot as you think, sir, for she was a perfect shrew.’ ‘Och, that was pad, pad, Donald.’—‘ Och, no so pad as you think, sir, for she had a little money, and we biggit ahoose.’ ‘Och, that was goot, goot, Donald.’—* Och, no so goot as you think, sir, for te hoose was purned down, sir” ‘Och, tat was pad, pad, Donald.’—‘ Och, no so pad as you think, sir, for she was purned in te hoose, and te hoose was weel insured.’ 240. Cleopatra’s partiality for the Piano. There is (1874) living in Chelsea a Mr. M a) professor of singing and an accomplished performer on the organ and pianoforte. It is in the latter capacity that a friend of mine made his acquaintance in 1855, and the intimacy has continued uninterrupted, as he plays on my friend’s piano, while the latter accompanies him in a variety of operatic music on his violin. I mention this as intro- ductory to Cleopatra. One evening my friend observed that the professor was fidgetting with the cuff of his left sleeve, and to his astonishment drew forth a living snake, for which he requested a glass of water. The reptile was very tractable, and a great beauty of its kind. Mr. M 316 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. made much of his pet, and it has often been his travelling companion. His wife too has taken it on her shopping excursions. On one occasion it secreted itself inside this lady’s muff, and without any notice appeared upon the counter. What a horror to a nervous shopman !—perhaps an excitable Frenchman. My friend called lately at the professor’s house, and found his menagerie much increased. He has now four snakes; three English, and a boa-constrictor seven and a-half feet in length. He found him in the act of giving then a warm bath in a common circular splash- pan. The boa, Cleopatra, stood much in need of this operation, as she was changing her skin. The food for this creature consists of young rabbits and pigeons; that for the English snakes consists of young frogs, which are procured at the Zoological Gardens for three farthings per head. The professor is very proud of the boa, whom he calls Cleopatra or Cleo. Cleo was out of sorts, so she was placed under medical supervision at the Zoological Gardens. A month elapsed, but her malady remained unchanged. Her keeper stated that she was torpid and in the sulks. At last Mr. and Mrs. M paid her a visit, and on the little dwelling of Cleo being opened, she soon recognised her rightful owners, and sprang on the neck of Mrs. M and began kissing. The pet was then taken home, where she has remained contented ever since. The boa, as is the case with snakes in general, is fond of music, and if she is lying torpid by the fire, and hears the piano, will instantly take possession of a chair near the instrument. HOUSEMAIDS’ ‘ ELEVENS. 317 241. Both parties suited. My gallant and hospitable friend Major » of ——, in the county of Surrey, described to us his late father’s extreme partiality for high venison. The popular rector was frequently in receipt of a haunch, and as a matter of course, after an inspection of it, he declared ‘that days must pass hefore it was worth eating.’ The Major, then a youth, had an abhorrence of venison the least high: still, paradoxical as it may appear, he encouraged his reverend parent in keeping it; ‘for,’ added the Major, ‘it answered my purpose admirably, as the longer the haunch remained hung up in my mother’s larder, the more gentles (Scotticé maggots) I got to bait my hooks with for roach.’ 242. ‘Pray, Maam, do you not give your Servants no Elevens ?’ We were on a visit at the house of some friends, who the day previous had imported a fresh housemaid, bringing with her an excellent character from her last place. Our agreeable hostess came to us in the draw- ing-room to tell us that her new housemaid had already resigned. ‘She came to me to say that the house- keeper would not give her no elevens. I asked her what she meant by no elevens? ‘“ Why, ma’am, bread and cheese with beer at eleven o’clock.” “Oh! that is what you call your ‘elevens.’ Now housemaid, as I give my servants an excellent and substantial breakfast 318 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. between eight and nine, and an equally good dinner between twelve and one, and as I have no intention of giving elevens, I fear my place will not suit you.” “Oh dear no, ma’am, I can remain in no lady’s service who don't give no elevens.”’ 243. Jack at St. Paul's. A much esteemed friend of mine, a naval officer, writes to me: ‘ Here’s one I never saw in print. Two jolly tars were one day passing St. Paul’s, one of whom was trying to count the statues outside the building, when he remarked to his shipmate, “ Why, I allus thought as how there was twelve apostles.” “Well, so there was, but you wouldn’t have ’em all on deck at once, would you?’” 244. The worthy old Colonel. He had been a quarter of a century in India, and on his return to Scotland was famed for his strict etiquette to all classes. His man Evans had attended him on a five days’ journey from Edinburgh to London,—the gallant old gentleman giving a preference to his own carriage with post-horses rather than to His Majesty’s mail coach. Evans was heard to rail out loudly against East India aticate. ‘Would you believe it, ma lord, that ma maister, your brither, never once spok tome during the five days’ travelling. Na, na, confoond such MR. STERLING AND HIS BUTLER. 319 aticate. It may gang doon in the Indies, but it wonna do among us in the North.’ 245. * Div ye no ken that yere dede ?’ A Scotch friend—a denizen of London—described to me a circumstance that had occurred while he was a boy, which he had never forgotten. Although it raises a smile, it carries with it a concurrent sense of melancholy. In an ancient royal burgh of Scotland, not a hundred miles from Haddington, dwelt at one period a very re- spectable man who had reared his family in comfort and was much esteemed by high and low in the district. He was at last discovered to be too frequently indulging in nips of whiskey, which soon increased to glassfuls. His health was rapidly giving way, and a medical consultation declared him to be in a state of deliriwm tremens. He was put to bed and his head shaved, and an order given to keep him quiet. Next morning his poor wife, whose patience for a considerable period had been bitterly tried, was watching with her daughters at his bedside, when he suddenly awoke, sat up, and called out, *¢Whaur am I, and whaur’s ma hair?”—‘ Haud yer tongue, you puir degraded creature,’ exclaimed his wife. ‘Div ye no ken that ye’re dede ?’ 246. Mr. Sterling of Keir, N.B., and his Butler. Keir was a very hospitable man—still he liked to look after his own cellar. One day there was a large party, and after a tolerably long sitting, * one bottle more’ was asked for—a request not unusual in Scotland. The bottle not arriving, the bell again rang, when the 320 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. butler entered, and, hurrying up to his master, ex- claimed, ‘I told ye, laird, that ye had gien oot far too little wine.’ 247. Something like a Fright. My esteemed Anglo-Hibernian friend M de- scribed to us, in his usual graphic and humorous style, ‘something like a fright’ he had in the county of Mayo. He was making a tour, and sought a bivouac for the night at a comfortable-looking roadside inn. Fatigue suggested an early retirement to his chamber, which he found on entering to be in rather an anomalous condition. There was a door, but no lock to it; and as Fenianism had just sprouted into existence, he formed a slight barricade of his small portmanteau, sufficient to give him timely notice of intruders. He then betook himself to bed, and did not require to give the invitation of Sir Philip Sidney, * Come sleep, O sleep, the certain knot of peace.’ He thinks he had got half through the night, when to his horror he felt the metacarpal part of a human hand pass over his face. Lamb tells us that the cordial grapple is an ex- cellent travelling shake of the hand; but my friend was mentally hand-tied, for as he described his sensa- tions, the perspiration burst through every pore, ex- ceeding in copiousness anything he had ever experienced in a ball-room after a ten minutes’ rapid deux temps. ‘ Fortunately,’ said he, ‘my powers of utterance were perfect, for I bawled out, “Who are you? What do you want?” I rushed from my bed to the door—the THE POACHER. 321 position of which I recollected; but the “spirit of health, or goblin damned” had fled. My portmanteau was safe, so was my purse. I once more arranged my barricade, and got back to bed; how, I can’t tell, as the night was dark as Erebus; and supplementing my reli- ance on discretion as the better part of valour with the recollection that there was no lock to my door, I deemed it wise to remain quiet between the sheets. * So soon as daylight appeared, I dressed and hurried round to the stable to see Tim the hostler, to whom I explained all.— Bad lock to them,” exclaimed Tim, “to be after giving a gintilman, the likes of yer honour, that room. That was poor missus—and a right good- looking woman she is, barring she is out of her mind— that came to you. Her-husband was drowned last year in the water close by; and poor sowl she’s always shure cartain she'll find her dare Dinnis in his ould bed, the one yer honour slept in, and she came to know if he was there. It’s mighty locky you did call out, for it might have been a dale worse, as she wouldn’t have left you, which would have been altogether ackward for a married gintilman, which you no doubt are.”’ In this Tim was wrong, as my friend is still a bachelor. 248. Jock Brodie the Poacher. An accomplished and humorous friend, connected with my part of Scotland, related to me a conversation he had with Jock. One day passing through a venall or close in Dumfries, he came upon the old man, who had been almost as famous on land, as a freebooter, as Y 322 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. Paul Jones had been on sea: I may mention that the county of Kirkcudbright had the honour of giving birth to both celebrities. My friend found Jock stand- ing at his own door, presenting, to use a legal term, the remanet of a wonderfully athletic man. ‘ Weel, Jock, how are you?’—‘I am verra weel, sir, for yin aboon ninety year auld, but you'll excuse me gin I ask yer name. ‘TI am. —-—’—“‘ Aye, aye,’ many circum- stances having evidently come suddenly across his mind. ‘I kenned yer faither weel, and an excellent gentleman he wus; but I kenned Maister Denholm Young better; never wus a nicer gentleman than Maister Young, nor a keener sportsman, and mair than that, he didna care aboot filling his ain game-bag, for he wus a luik-heartit man and left plenty for a’ o’ us (the poachers)—that didhe.’ ‘Jock, said my friend, ‘ I heard Mr. M——, who died a year or two since, talk of you.’ Jock’s eyes twinkled, and an expression of curiosity, accompanied with humour, illumined his countenance. ‘What did Maister M say o’ me, sir ?’—‘ He said he had known you to be the biggest blackguard in and around Dumfries for seventy years.’ ‘ Weel, sir, I should think it wus just aboot seventy year. The nonagenarian, who appeared to enjoy the chit-chat, was extremely communicative. ‘Weel, sir, you've hard tell nae doot that I wus a great cock fechter in ma day ; that’s a fact, and I wus tellt there wus a real beauty o’ a cock at Mr. ’s, in the parish of Ruthwell, and ane nicht I gaed doon to Ruthwell and lifted (stole) the cock. I focht twenty mains with that ane cock, and won them a’. Anither nicht I gaed THE POACHER.' 323 doon to lift (steal) a wheen o’ Mr. ’s hens and duiks, and had weel near filled ma sack, when Mr. slippet oot o’ his hoose on me, and said, “ Jock Brodie, T never expectit this o’ you;” to which I just remarkit, ‘Mr. , I never thocht ye woud be oot 0’ hg bed at this time o’ nicht.”’ A good story was told against one of the Clan Maxwell, where Jock gained an enviable notoriety, in- asmuch as no prosecution followed; the respected scion of the noble house of Nithsdale and Herries having got a hint that no jury would convict Jock, and the verdict would be ‘Not proven.’ Jock at an early hour of the morning had hooked a large salmon in the river Nith, and was playing it with his usual skill, while Mr. Maxwell, who was on the opposite side, kept pelt- ing stones at Jock’s line, so as to defeat him in landing his fish. Jock, however, succeeded ; when he instantly waded across to Mr. Maxwell, whom he took by the breech and pitched him into the river ; then recrossed, took up his salmon and fishing-rod, and went home. But on one occasion, Jock met with more than his match in Charles, fifth Marquis of Queensberry, who had brought him into Court for some infringement of the Game Laws. The Marquis, whom I very well récol- lect, both in Scotland and in London, at our Dumfries- shire and Galloway Club, was a broad-chested, strongly- built man, and had no doubt taken lessons in pugilism, in accordance with the fashion of the period. Jock was not convicted, and at some short distance from the Dumfries Court House he espied the Marquis ahead of him. Jock, who was in the highest glee at his unex- xy 2 324 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. pected success, hurried after the noble lord, and gave him an emphatic push in passing. Lord Queensberry was immediately aggressive; for he planted two such blows into the most approved spots of Jock’s neck and chest as to send him sprawling in the gutter, and the effects were such that Jock was too glad to slink off. When twitted about the licking he had received, Jock’s reply was, ‘Tak ma advice, and keep clear o’ the Marquis’s nieves (fists), for by ma faith he kens weel hoo to use them.’ 249. Why he disliked Pork. My friend, with his nephew, had passed a fortnight with a Shropshire squire. A visitor, on the day he was to leave, asked him to take charge of a couple of pigs to So-and-so’s, assuring him that, as they were in a sack, they would give him no trouble whatever. Accordingly he and his nephew arrived at the railway station and took tickets for Shrewsbury; but the pigs were not acknowledged as personalty, and five shillings had to be paid. At Shrewsbury my friend took tickets for Wolverhampton, and the pigs being still unacknow- ledged as luggage, another five shillings had to be paid. On the arrival of the train at Wolverhampton the pigs were observed scampering across the platform, having escaped from their sack, and as two or more porters were required in the capture, a solatiwm had to be paid to the porters. A distance of some miles had now to be driven into the country in a cab; and my friend’s nephew, being a good coachman, recommended his ‘DASH’ AND THE CHIMNEY-SWEEPER. 325 uncle to consign the pigs to the care of the coachman inside the cab, and that they should occupy the box- seat. They had scarcely cleared the busy town of Wolverhampton, when a murderous scream was heard from the inside of the cab; one of the pigs having bitten the coachman severely on the calf of the leg. The poor man had to be compensated, his doctor’s bill to be paid; and if that, concluded my friend in relating the story, is not enough to alienate one’s taste from pork, he did not know what would. 250. ‘Dash, the Marlborough Spaniel, saving the life of a poor little Chimney-sweeper. Great indignation had been created in my part of Kent at the brutality of a master chimney-sweeper towards his little apprentice, engaged in sweeping the flues of Belvidere, one of the seats of the late Lord Saye and Sele, at that time absent. I had been from home for some weeks, and on my return had gone for a couple of hours cover shooting, accompanied by Warner, the keeper, and Dash; but I was requested to allow the latter to be our leader on the occasion, as Warner informed me that Dash had some- thing to explain to me in his own way. In the meantime Warner, an excellent man, but quite an original, com- menced telling me, in the purest suburban Cockneyism, ‘that his mother had often told him he had a more feeling heart than any of her other children; and he proceeded to say that his mother was about right, although he believed there was little to complain of in 326 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. that way with either his brothers or sisters, for, as he described it, ‘we were all fond of each other, and no young ones ever liked father and mother better; and, sir, where you find children like their parents and are attached to each other, there’s not much wrong, depend on it.’ ‘But, Warner, what have you and Dash to tell me ?’— All right, sir ; there he stands at the very bush. I knew he would take youstraight. Well, last Thursday was a fortnight I was coming along, when Dash looks right into that bush and stands. I cocks both barrels for a hare or a rabbit, but neither bolts. I say “ Dash, you fool!” and walked on ; I look back, there he stands, still looking into the bush with one eye, the other on me. I go back and kicks him—very wrong in me so to do—and brings him off with me. I had got almost to the gate when, never minding me, he bolts back to the bush and stands firm. I say to myself “ there’s something up,” as Dash never did the like of this since we had him; Ill go back, and I shall be jiggered (Warner’s select and only oath during my ten years’ experience of him,) if I don’t examine the bush, for the dog’s goings on are very queer. Sir, it was a down- right mercy I hadn’t fired into the bush, for had I done so you might have seen me swinging at Maidstone. I should have had no one to give evidence for me, and poor Dash couldn't, though he can do everything else but speak. I got down on my knees and pushed in my hand, when, oh law! it came over a human face. Dash now looked all over happy, and I was all over miserable. Well, sir, would you believe it, there lay the poor little ‘DASH’ AND THE CHIMNEY-SWEEPER. 327 chimney-sweeper I had seen going early on the Tuesday morning to sweep the flues of my lord’s mansion. The first was a hot flue; and each time the villain of a master sent up the little fellow down he slipped, half stifled, with his little hands and elbows scorched. Had my lord been at home wouldn’t the brute have caught it. Well, the poor. little creature watches his chance, and jumps or throws himself out of the window, and gets into my lord’s wood, but never stops until he hides Himself in this bush. There he had lain all Tuesday and all Tuesday night; all Wednesday and all Wed- nesday night ; and Dash at three o’clock on Thursday afternoon finds him alive. But, sir, I was afraid he might die before I got him home; for I knew that if there was a woman in Kent that would save the poor innocent boy it was Sally Warner. I argued to myself, all in haste, if he dies with Dash and me now, the coroner—tho’ he knows me—would be after me; and howsomedever I might clear myself, still wicked people —and every gamekeeper has an awful lot of enemies— would be sure to say, “ There goes Robert Warner, him that’s keeper to Mr. Boyd, and in course you recollect the story of him and the little chimney-sweeper that he said he found dead near the home wood. We say nothing to harm Warner, but it’s a good job he knew the coroner.” All that and a deal more crossed over my mind, and I said, Dash, we'll go off for Mr. Blane (Superintendent of Police); but Dash didn’t exactly understand me, for he gave me such a look when he saw me move from the bush, as much as to say, “ Well, I found the little benumbed chimney-sweeper for you 328 SOCIAL GLEANINGS, alive, and you’re going to leave him to die.” I said’ “Dash, good Dash, by no manner of means. I’m going for the policeman as knows you well,” but Dash would not leave the bush. I got Blane in the nick of time, and we carried the poor little boy turn and turn about to my house. “ Sally,” said I, “ here’s the little chimney- sweeper that couldn’t go up the red-hot flue at my lord’s.”—“ My gracious,” said Sally, “let me have him. Sit down, Mr. Blane, until I rub him. Robert, put on the kettle this very moment, and bring out the grits that I may make some gruel. He’s coming all right, Mr. Blane,” said Sally, ‘ with the rubbing. Robert, get a blanket and pillow out, and put them before the fire in the back room.” This was done, and the little - fellow was rolled up in the blanket, his head on the pillow, and placed at a little distance from the fire. Sally was making the gruel, which was almost ready, when I looked into the room, when I’m jiggered if the starving child wasn’t gathering the crumbs off the table where Sally and I had ‘dined. When I called out to Sally and told her this she held up her hands to Heaven, and said, all solemn, “Thank God, he’s saved!” Blane and Dash were looking on at this very time.’ ‘Now, Warner, I don’t care about shooting this afternoon; so proceed with your narrative, as I feel much interested.’ ‘We made him very comfortable all that night, and he was so grateful. In the morning Sally washed him from head to foot, and he was such a beautiful boy, and Sally, having none of her own, wished to keep him so that you might see him, but Mr. Blane said No; so I IMMUTABILITY. 329 takes the dog-cart and drives him to London to his parents, telling them to keep their child away for the future from such a brute of a master.’ Warner wound up his story by asking me if the Queen did not give a medal for each human life saved : ‘For if Her Majesty does,’ said Warner, ‘Dash shall wear the medal, for he saved the life, and after Dash my Sally.’ Shortly after this, to his bitter grief, Warner acci- dentally shot Dash in cover ; and very soon the tomb closed also upon Warner, who was carried off by cholera in the prime and vigour of manhood. 251. How to be understood in Belgiwm. Between Antwerp and Brussels I came upon a fellow- countryman who was loudly remonstrating with a Belgian for not understanding him. At last he bawled out to the man, ‘ Waterloo!’ then turned round and ran away for a hundred yards. ‘Le brave Belge’ compre- hended this at once, and laughed heartily. 252. Immutability. An American member of Congress, addressing his constituents, said: ‘My political principles are im- mutable ; still, should you, my kind friends, wish me to change them, I am quite prepared to do so.’ 330 SOCIAL GLEANINGS. 253. Asking a Blessing before Meat as we term it in Scotland. A Scotch parson, who was fond—as most of us are— of his creature comforts, when requested by the host or hostess to ‘ask a blessing’ before dinner, always took a good look at the table—this was prior to the introduc- tion of le diner & la Russe—and if the result was satis- factory would turn hands and eyes up to heaven. ¢ Bountiful Lord, we thank thee, &c., &c. But, if the prospect was a meagre one, he would content himself with, ‘O Lord, we thank thee for even the least of all thy mercies.’ 254. Scotch Economy. Mr. had a son in the Scots Greys who was killed at Waterloo. One day the old gentleman was met fully attired in the uniform of an officer of the Greys. ‘Good gracious!’ said his friend, ‘where did you get this grand dress?’—‘ Well, it came out of a trunk of my poor son’s, and I thought it a pity not to wear it out.’ 255. Watch as well as Pray. There was an excellent Scottish gentleman farmer whose talent and worth were rewarded by a seat in St. Stephen’s. I must observe that this high authority in agriculture wasta strong opponent to game preservation ; still, an especial admirer of game as an item of human food. He frequently—so I am told—breakfasted in WATCH AND PRAY. 331 bed; and the son of an English squire, one of his agri- cultural pupils, had just entered the dormitory to hear the orders of the day at the moment of the breakfast being placed before the still recumbent Cincinnatus, whose eye had fixed itself on the gem of the repast, a cold partridge. A long grace now commenced, but ere it ended, the partridge had flown. ‘ Whatever has become of my bird ?’—‘ Why, sir,’ said the pupil, ‘I was afraid to interrupt you while you were engaged in prayer,—but Juno, the greyhound, took it.’ ‘Weel, weel, it canna be helpt; but, ma young friend, recollect that we are told in Scripture to watch as well as to pray.’ APPENDIX. ay Hyde Park Square, London: Jan. 24, 1875. My pear Boyp,— As I hear you are about publishing a second series of your excellent book of ‘Reminiscences of Fifty Years,’ I hope you will not forget to correct the mistakes which I and other of your friends pointed out to you in your laudations of Waghorn. The first duty of an author is to be correct in his statements, and I believe I have given you ample proof that you have committed a great mistake by stating that the merit of proposing and carrying into operation the Overland Route to India, vid Egypt, originated with Waghorn. I was, as you are aware, an eye-witness, as well as an active one, in Egypt, of all that occurred there from the opening of the Overland Route to India from 1835 to 1860, and I know full well all those who took part in it. I say, without fear of contradiction, that the merit of originating the overland communication. to India belongs to the Bombay Steam Fund Committee, who induced the Indian Government to send the ‘Hugh Lindsay’ steamer to Suez several times. This vessel was commanded by Captain Wilson, of the Indian Navy, whose intrepid conduct in navigating a small steamer under the most adverse circumstances proved the practicability of steaming from Bombay to and from Suez, and I say that the merit of establishing practically this portion of the Over- APPENDIX. 333 land Route down the Red Sea belongs to Captain Wilson. I sent you, sometime since, the letter of Mr. Crawford, M.P. for London, published in the Times, 22nd November, 1869, com- pletely substantiating these facts, and pointing out further that at the time the Bombay Committee were urging the adoption of the Red Sea Route, wid Egypt, Waghorn was advocating the Route vid the Cape of Good Hope. In the same letter Mr. Crawford mentions that M. Lesseps was about committing the error of erecting a monument at Suez declaring that Waghorn was the originator of the Red Sea Route, vid Egypt; and, furthermore, that he established the means of communication through that country. I felt it my duty publicly to contradict this assertion, and to show that the merit of the latter belonged to two Englishmen (old work- men of ours), Hill and.Raven, who would have been ruined by their enterprise if I had not come forward and got them out of the dilemma. I may also state the fact that Waghorn actually opposed Hill and Raven in carrying on the transit for a time, and I was the means of arranging their differences amicably and inducing them subsequently to become partners. Eventually, however, they were all three opposed, and I suc- ceeded in saving them from ruin by obtaining a purchaser for their plant and stock-in-trade, &c. This was the origin of the Egyptian Transit Company in 1843. I ought also to mention, as I did in my letter of 23rd October, 1872, to the Illustrated London News, that the merit of establishing the stations in the Suez Desert is also due to the Bombay Steam Fund Com- mittee, and that stations were built at their expense by Hill and Raven. You have confounded dates in regard to Waghorn’s advo- cacy of the Red Sea Route, which took place after Captain Wilson had proved the practicability of steaming to and from Suez and Bombay. I knew well all Waghorn did, and I have no desire to detract from his merit, but it is only fair to do others justice. I contend that all his exertions would have been useless if the Bombay Steam Fund Committee had not 334 APPENDIX. prevailed on Government to establish the steamers after Captain Wilson had practically proved the feasibility of the Red Sea Route. Iam, yours ever truly, Maxx Bovn, Esq., R. H. Gattoway. Oatlands, Walton-on-Thames. Oatlands, Walton-on-Thames: Jan. 31, 1875. My vEAR GaLLowar,— I thank you much for your interesting letter of the 24th instant, on the subject of the Overland Route, which I shall publish as an Appendix to my next volume. Although I do not altogether discard ‘hero worship,’ I had no intention, I assure you, of elevating Thomas Waghorn at the expense of others. My anecdote in my book of ‘Reminis- cences’ was more a jeu d’esprit than anything else; for, during the few years I knew Waghorn, I was sometimes out of temper with him: and your letter reminds me of an occasion where he would not allow any of us to mount the rostrum but himself. In April 1846 I had taken much trouble to call a meet- ing at the London Tavern to promote steam communi- cation with Australia, and a few days previously I asked Waghorn to dinner, for he being a lion I wished him to be pre- sent at the approaching meeting. He entered heartily into the question ; and, his name being attractive, I suggested that the meeting should be designated, ‘The Waghorn Australian Meeting.’ This delighted him greatly, and the meeting was advertised accordingly. It wasthe largest gathering—in those ’ early days—of Australian merchants and colonists ever assem- bled in the City of London. The chair was occupied by Sir George Larpent, and speeches were made by Sir George, the Honble. Francis Scott, M.P., by Waghorn, by myself, and others. But, next day, the only speech reported at any length was Waghorn’s; as he considered that as it was ‘ The Waghorn Australian Steam Meeting,’ the staple speech should be his!! APPENDIX. 335 The anecdote which appeared in my ‘ Reminiscences’ in 1871 was founded on Waghorn’s interview at Calcutta with Lord William Bentinck, the Governor-General, followed by a description of the reception he met with afterwards from the chairman of the East India Company—the ‘vudtus instantis tyranni, &c.—followed by a sketch of his meeting with the Minister of India, Sir John Cam Hobhouse. I by no means hold myself responsible for Waghorn’s con- sistency, and no doubt, as a Bengal pilot receiving favours, in fact his bread and butter, from the captains of the large British passenger ships trading to and from Calcutta, he avoided allu- sion to the Red Sea Route. Be thatasit may, he resigned his appointment in the Company’s service, and with it his emolu- ments as a Bengal pilot. I find that he addressed a letter, of which the following is a copy, to that able man Major, subsequently Lieut.-Colonel, Charles Francklin Head, an officer who lived too short a time for his country and his family. Colonel Head was chairman, in London in 1834, of the India Steam Communication Com- mittee, to which the leading Hast India firms belonged. Messrs. Colvin, Crawford & Co., Baring Brothers, Cockerells, Forbes & Co., Fletcher, Alexanders, Palmer, Mackillop & Co., and others. Waghorn’s letter to Major Head is as follows :— ‘Snodland, Kent: July 15, 1835. ‘My bEaR SiR,— ‘Will you have the kindness to say when you will bein London? I wish to see you particularly, as I mean to go to India on the rst of September next. Ihave much to talk to you about. I can now only say that I never will abandon one inch of my particular and strong opinion with respect to steam navigation with India by the route of the Red Sea, as the only channel suited to steam intercourse between the two countries. I shall be in London every day next week, and I hope to see you. I wonder if we shall see another £20,000 336 APPENDIX. in the Budget for Euphrates steam navigation this year. I think it is very likely, as I hear they are sadly in debt already before they have even got to Bir. ‘I shall anxiously expect your answer to this letter, for I very much wish to see you in order to discuss with you as to the best plan to be adopted when I arrive in India again, and generally of what is going on by the Euphrates, &c., &. ‘Yours very sincerely, ‘Tomas WaGHORN. ‘P.S.—When you get this write at once so that I may know it has been received by you. “T. W.’ Tt was Colonel, then Captain, Head, who in 1833 published a most interesting work, entitled: ‘Intended to shew the Advantage and Practicability of Steam Navigation from England to India, with an Outline of an Overland Route, Sta- tistical Remarks, &c.’ He refers to the success of Captain Wilson, I.N., in the ‘Hugh Lindsay.’ Colonel Head published that charming work with which we are familiar: ‘ astern and Egyptian Scenery, Ruins, &c.’ Tadmit all you say with your usual accuracy, as to the labours of the Bombay Steam Fund Committee, and of the gallantry and success of Captain Wilson, of the ‘Hugh Lindsay,’ as the pioneer up and down the Red Sea, and ‘whose intrepid conduct (to use your own words) in navi- gating a small steamer under the most adverse circumstances proved the practicability of steaming from Bombay to and from Suez.’ Butas‘ factsarestubborn chiels, that winna ding,’ Inever hear the originality of the Overland Route question mooted without bringing to the front the name of our greatest Indian statesman, the Right Honourable Mount-Stuart Elphinstone, Governor of Bombay, so far back as 1817, who on returning to Europe first suggested this Route. However, that Court of Directors, which subsequently recalled the Earl of Ellen- borough, the Governor-General of India, in the teeth of the APPENDIX. 337 Duke of Wellington, to whom the noble lord owed his appointment, pooh-poohed the proposition of the enlightened and revered Elphinstone. I believe the recommendation of a second Governor of Bombay, General Sir John Malcolm, in 1830-1, met with a similarly cold reception in Leaden- hall-street. My father who frequently visited Mr. Elphin- stone at his chambers in the Albany, Piccadilly, meeting Sir John Malcolm occasionally, discussed this matter with these distinguished men; and if I mistake not, it was Sir John’s brother, Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Malcolm, at the time commanding the Bombay Navy, who despatched Captain Wilson up the Red Sea in the ‘Hugh Lindsay.’ Ican also recollect that with many City merchants con- nected with India and China, a serious difference of opinion prevailed as to whether the near cut from India, vid the Red Sea, was desirable. They feared that bills drawn against pro- duce coming round the Cape of Good Hope might appear for acceptance too early; the consequence was, the scheme met with coldness and apathy in many mercantile quarters, as well as amongst the East India Directors, the rulers of India. I agree with you that Waghorn’s great achievement was conveying the mails so rapgdly across the Continent, and thus economising so much time lost in steaming between Alexandria and Falmouth, subsequently Southampton. I have heard the impulsive Waghorn compared to the sailor who met a lady travelling outside a stage coach when it began to rain heavily. A Frenchman, a passenger, made a mighty palaver about offering her his over-coat, when the British Tar pulled off his pea-jacket, and put it over her. Another tale of Waghorn is worth relating. The ship he had under his charge as pilot, in the Bay of Bengal, had dropped her anchor for the day, and at some little distance lay a native craft, the crew of which it was reported on board ‘Waghorn’s ship were in a state of mutiny. ‘Oh! said Wag- horn—ordering his boat—‘I shall soon settle that,’ and pulled off to her. He was anxiously watched until he reached the Z 338 APPENDIX. deck and was amongst the mutineers. They, however, made short work of it, as they instantly pitched him overboard; and on regaining the deck of his own vessel, amidst the jeers and laughter of his friends, he remarked ‘D n those fellows, I could make nothing of them.’ Your having twitted me with awarding too much praise to Waghorn has afforded me an. opportunity of looking over some interesting documents: amongst which J find: in the Times of the roth September and. 15th October, 1834, that as the British Government had- resolved to. support the scheme of Steam Navigation to India, wid Egypt, the Pacha had given to you and your brother instructions to carry into effect the Railroad between Cairo and Suez, pre- viously surveyed by your brother. At this period I observe that His Highness conferred on your brother, Mr. Thomas Jefferson Galloway, the rank of Bey, for his long and distin- guished services, a distinction awarded him with many marks of His Highness’s confidence and regard ; and, what I was not aware of until I read it in the Times, that he was the first Englishman who had received this honour; nor did I know the military rank it gave (Colonel), and that allowances attached to it, worth £1,200, a-year. I:have likewise read with peculiar interest your brother: Galloway Bey’s letter of the 29th December,’ 1834, to the Duke of Wellington, then Prime Minister, informing His Grace of his mission to England from His Highness Mohammed Ali, to carry out the-railroad across the Desert to Suez, and to confer with the British Government as to the transit dues for conveyance, of mails and merchandise through Egypt in connexion with, steam navigation to and from India vid the Red Sea: I likewise notice that the proposed route from: Scanderoon in the Medi- terranean, to Bir on the Huphrates, did not meet with your - brother, the Bey’s, support, owing to the difficulties of navi- ~gating the Euphrates, as well as the absence of any facility ‘or accomniodation for the conveyance of passengers and mails through Syria. APPENDIX. 339 T have been much gratified in looking back to the public services which your late able and respected father commenced and saw carried out by his sons in Egypt. The Bey appears to have. died in 1836: your brother John in 1850, who was called to Egypt in 1845, to make a fresh survey and estimates of the railway. from Cairo to Suez, but the opposition of the French Government .prevented this great work being then carried out. Nevertheless, the thanks of every Englishman are due to you and your family for your unceasing exertions towards this object during a period of nearly twenty years. In looking back at the services rendered by your brother, . Mr. John Galloway, nearer home, it reminds me that it was said of the eminent surgeon, Sir Astley Cooper, that he made £14,000 per annum from horse and carriage accidents. I wonder what proportion of this sum was derived from that execrable Holborn Hill. I see that Mr. John Galloway, upwards of thirty years ago, presented to the Corporation of London a systematic plan for that Viaduct, which now, happily for Her Majesty’s lieges, spans the Holborn Valley. It is a great reflection upon the authorities that his advice was not adopted, and that nearly two-thirds of the nineteenth century should have passed before this enormity was removed. (A Mr. Plimsoll was much wanted in the Corporation). I remember discussing the matter years ago” with two London Aldermen. ‘Recollect,’ they said, ‘the leases that have yet to expire.’ My answer was, ‘Do railway companies wait for the termination of leases? No, they pull down houses and run across our parks, paying compensation.’ Had this Holborn Hill existed in either Edinburgh or Glasgow it would have been bridged over ages ago. I well recollect, when visiting the famous aqueduct that supplies Lisbon, the contempt in which at that moment I held the Cor- poration of London for its neglect of the safety of the citizens by allowing that great artery of traffic to remain as it was. Your able brother deserved a chaplet to have been then wove for him, as well as his tomb.subsequently decked. 340 APPENDIX. You and your family have much to be proud of in the East and at home. The episode of our little skirmish about Thomas Waghorn, arising entirely from a praiseworthy and disinterested desire on your part to do justice to Captain Wilson, of the Indian Navy, I view with no regret, as it has incidentally tended to elucidate circumstances in the enaction of which those near and dear to you took so prominent a part. Ever, my dear Galloway, Yours most truly, M. Boyp. Ricu, H. Garroway, Ese., Hyde Park Square, London. LONDON ; PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE AND PARLIAMENT STREET SPOS SSS SS PS Se Ba arene pee en era We wane ee y Feporanapeomrintiomamte rrr -7 a pete