LORD CHARLES BERESFORD.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1673, 27 March 1883, Page 3

LORD CHARLES BERESFORD.

iWtiatae of. Lord Charles Boresford did not appear in 'the Us't'of otticers who were specially mentioned in the vote of thanks to the troops, but the services of tho commander 1 6f the Condor in the Egyptian war will not soon be forgotton by his cownWymen. There is a very general opinion that the Navy has scarcely receiVfetl its due for the part it' played in the' latfa expedition. No one grudges the Army, from tho Commander-in-chief downwards, the praise that has been bestowed upon it in such unstinted measure. On the contrary, {he nation has been glad to recognise the bravery of officers and men, and to rejoice at their success. But it is a matter of regret that the Navy haa been sa'mewhat overlooked. As Lord Charles Beiesford himself told the Cutler's Company, there is no feeling of jealousy in the Wavy' of the sister service. The Navy is proud of the deeds of the Army, as, we do not doubt, the Army is proud of the deeds of the Navy. Nor can it be true that the Government had the remotest idea of glorifying one branch of the Service and ignoring the other. It was simply an accident that the Navy happened to be left in the background. No other conclusion is possible to people who do not wish to be accused of want of charity. It would certainly not be charitable to hint that the Navy was purposely not mentioned in the prayer for Her Majesty's forces, or that the Prime Minister has on any occasion wilfully refrained from proclaiming its good deeds. In his narrative of the experiences of the Navy in Egypt, Lord Charles Beresford earefullyabstained from any egotistical remarks, whether respecting the exploits of the Navy or hi* own adventures. On the latter point he was, absolutely silent. But, speaking as a blue-jacket on blue- jackets, lie pointed out that not only was the hombaidmcnt of Alexandria a very large affair, but that it was a much bigger matter than any of those engaged in it thought it would be. The part Lord Charles Beresford played in the Egyptian war is so well known that there is no necessity to say a word aboML it. Since July 1 1 everyone is aware of the f.ict that in Lord Charles Beresford the Navy has an ofiiccr who is not only willing, but able, to uphold its splendid traditions, and w hene\ er opportunity offers, maintain its honour. The gallant officer who commanded the Condor is the brother of the piesent Marquis of Waterford, and is considerably less than forty years of acre. But he has had the advantage of being in the navy from the early age of thiitccn. At the outset of his professional career he obtained a reputation for doing his duty, but it is worthy of note that off duty he was extremely unmanageable and leckless. The following story is not new, but it is worthy of repeating just now. It is related that he and another boy climbed up tho flagstaff at an American Consols house, pulled down the flag, took it to their ship, and hung it in a basket to the mainmast. When the escapade was discoveied both the consol and the captain were, of course, indignant, and the two boys weio sentenced to climb up the cousol's pole in broad daylight and put the flog in its place again. Beresford refused to obey, and it is highly probable that his connection with the service would then and there have terminated if a friend had not telegraphed to his mother. His mother at once telegraphed back to him, " Put the flag back for my sake." Then the spiiit of the dutiful son showed itsolf. Lord Charles at once ga\ o in, and, perhaps characteristically proceeded to the other extreme. He not merely obeyed the injunction of the captain, but put tho flag back with all the Cclat possible, and engaged a photographer to take his picture as he w.is clinging to the pole, half way up it, with the stars and .stripes spicad over liis shoulder. To this day the picture and all the newspaper notices th.it could be procured of the e\ent have been caro fully preserved. On a subsequent occasion the boy proved father to the man in n moie striking manner. Whoti Lord C'hailcs Beiesford was seventeen, a nmi who Mas getting from a boat into the Defence, then lying iti Dublin Bay, tell oxerboard. Instantly Lord Charles jumped into the water and saved him. For this lie was awaided a gold medal from the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane iSociety. Later on he received the bion/c modal and clasp of the Royal Humane Society for a similar act. He served successively in the Marlborough, the Defence, the Clio, the Tiibune, the Luchez, and the Research. While he was sub-lieutenant of the Research, it is recorded of him that he was the " wildest young fellow " on the ship. "He had everything," says one of the sailors, "in tne way of money anyone could want, but. he would risk his life ! twenty times where I would not risk mine once, though I was slaving for a living. Thete was nothing he couldn't do. Hut he was a splendid sailor. He could show older officers than he was all over the Bhip. Wild as he was, too, he was alwaj s straight to the mark when he was on deck, but between decks — well, there was nothing too hot for him. If there was a dangerous place to get into, Beresford was there first." From another quarter the story is told how he and another youth earned off a large, gilded, wooden eagle that formed the sign of a public-hou.se at Holyhead, were chased by the police, butcamed the big bird by turns, got into a boat, and eventually to their ship, wheie they dressed it in pantalettes and stick-up collar, and puHtonthcbreakfasttable. In 1368 Lord Charles received his commission as a lieutenant, and in 1872 was appointed flag-lieutenant on the Galatea. Between these periods, in IST I at Port Stanley, in the Falkland Islands, he again saved the life of a drowning man at the peril of his own. In 1875 he was elevated to the rank of captain. If he is not a Coining Man, it would be difficult to point to any officer m the Na\y to whom that designation applies. It is not unreason lble to entertain the expectation that Lord Charles Beresford will some day himself command the Mediterranean Fleet. But Lord Beresford has not confined his energy or his attention to his professional duties. In 1874 he was returned to Parliament as a member for Waterford. It cannot be said that he achieved distinction during the six years he had a seat in the House. But, like all young members who are modest as well as young, he kept in the back -ground, and limited himself to criticisms on the Naval Estimates. When he did speak, it was not for the purpose of hearing his own voice, nor of reminding the country or his constituents of his existence. He spoke because he had something to say, and while his manner created a good impression on the House, his matter was ofcj^ee from verbiage as it was destitute He was aa frank and at Westminster as he is on board ship, at a public dinner, or in society. At Jhe General Election of 1880, the electors of the County of Waterford preferred an ex-Commissioner of Irish Fisheries, a gentleman of unimpeachable respectability, but who has not cut, and is not likely to cut, a figure in the world. Mr Blake is, however, a Home Ruler ; Lord Charles Beresford is not prepared to assist in establishing a Parliament on College Green. The electors of Waterford declined to re-elect a representative who had served them faithfully, but who would not. even in order to retain his place in the House of Commons, stoop to parley with the promoters of a movement he, had always opposed. Lord Charles may gain the suffrages of a constituency l less notable for its fickleness ; it is certain that if he likes, at the next general election, to stand for an English borough or county, he will be received with enthusiasm by those who are in sympathy with his political sentiments. He is a Conservative, but, in common with with his brother, he has proclivities which 5 would prevent him from associating him■elf v ith any extreme polioy, On great

public questions he holds views which arc in consonance with those of all moderate and enlightened Engishtnen. " Since his return from the, war Lord Charles Beresford' must haver been compclled'to decline many invitations. But ho is not a churlish, he is a companionable man ; and because lie was not treated satisfactorily in Egypt, he has not had, as some men would have had, a fit of sulks. He is, in fact, incapable of such a thing. Nothing could have been more genial than his speech at the banquet of the Cutlers' Company. His speech at the Savage Club was a model of good taste. It was a happy thought in a room full of journalists, to defend the special correspondents from the aspersions cast upon them in influential quarters. Lord Charles Beresford does notpictend to allege that they have no failings ; neither does he think that they ought to he permitted to have the power to effect mischief. But lie docs not share the apathy, or the prejudice, ot th« late Commander-in-Chief. He insists that they are essential in war, and lie affirms that they are an honourable set of men. Not the least gratifying episode in the experiences of Lord Bereslord since he arrived in England tock place the other day when he was on his way to Highcliffe Castle, tlu 1 residence of his mother. At Christchurch railway station an address of welcome was presented to him by the Mayor on behalf of the Corporation and inhabitants of the borough. In the course of his acknowldgments he said he thought that many persons were over-kind in the welcome which they had given him on return from active service, " after doing what, after all, was only the duty which all officers owed to their Queen and their countiy." Nothing that he could have uttered would have better become him. But so long as the British Navy has oificers who construes their obligations to their countiy as ho construes his, so long as England can count upon defenders like Lord Charles Beresford, she need not fear the shot of the foe nor be alarmed for the honour of her arms.— l''l(J«)O.

A Maubikd "Masher."— lndignant \Vife_" And pray, Algernon, what do you mean by coming home at this time every night?" Festive Husband — "Every other p-p-place was shut, my love !" — I'iDich. A .'mink lias been found in the mountains near ttalsburg, Austria, which gives indications of having been occupied and abandoned at least 2000 years ago. It contains a large and confused mass of timbers which were used for support, and a number of miners' implements. The timbers were notched and sharpened, but were subject to an inundation and left in confused heaps. The implements wcic mainly wooden shovels, axe-handles, &c. The piobabilities are that the ancient saltmineis wcie overtaken by the flooding of the mine, as mummified bodies have been discoveied al&o. The find seems to have belonged to the pre- Roman times, as the axc-li.uidles were evidently used for bronze axes, specimens of which ha\ c been found upon the surface of the mountain. Thk following is taken from an English paper of a lecent date received by the last mail : —"A gentleman, about 50 years of age, was found dead in a Plymouth "hotel. He had given the name of James Harris, but was otherwise unknown. In his bag was found £276 in gold. It is ascertained that he lately came Home iroin New Zealand, where he had been for 20 years, and amassed considerable property, He returned to England to see his sister, who was ill at Exeter, and had since died, and purposed going luck shortly, but intended fiist to piocure a wile. He suffered fiom palpitation ot the heait, to which his death is persumably attributable." One of the largest coffee plantations in Brazil is the Fiizcnda .Santa Catharma, 100 miles from Rio Janeiro, belonging to B.uon dc Montciio. It coveis an aiea of more than twenty square miles, contains 1,700,000 beai ing trees, and employs six bandied slaves, who are subjected to the most ligid discipline; and, in fact, as much liko machines as it is possible for human beings to become. They arc well taken caie of, however, and the Baron maintains a private hospital with a resident physician and assistants for the sick.