was then proposed I should read the paper at a meeting of the governors of Wellington College. With this proposal I was well pleased, and said I should be delighted to read it and be cross-examined on it. I attended accordingly, when to my vexation an official came out and said I would not be required, as a committee would be appointed to make the necessary investigations. What the committee did

I never heard, but apparently their report was not concurred in by the army authorities, as a correspondence extending over several months took place between the college governors and the Horse Guards. The subject was of course taken up by the newspapers; and to the best of my recollection every one of them but the "Thunderer" and a well-known weekly took the army side of the question. The correspondence came to nothing: the military authorities were unable to overcome the non possumus attitude taken up by the governors. The adjutant-general told me he could do nothing more. I thereupon asked if I was free to act independently, and was told I could do what I liked.

For an unknown captain to take up a subject in which the military authorities had been unable to move such a powerful body as the Wellington College governors seemed rather a reckless undertaking, but, as in the case of the animals at Gibraltar, I came to the conclusion that, happen what might to myself, it was a matter of duty that I should do what I could to carry the matter through. The most influential newspaper in the world was in opposition, but with one exception, all the other leading journals took what I believed was a right view of the subject. I discussed the matter with some friends, Conservative members

ROYAL COMMISSION ON WELLINGTON COLLEGE. 229

of Parliament, on whose judgment I could rely, and it was decided to try for a Royal Commission if a member of special ability would consent to take up the subject. Mr Reginald York, on the case being placed before him, agreed to do so; and right well he fought for those who so much needed it. My contribution was to print a pamphlet containing all the most telling articles from the newspapers, and to send a copy to each member of both Houses. Naturally there were also a good many personal interviews with my parliamentary friends and acquaintances to help the good cause. A three-line whip was sent out against Mr Reginald York's motion, and on the night when it came on there hardly seemed to be a vacant seat in the House. I had a place in the distinguished strangers' gallery: being there early, I was at the inner end of it. Several others afterwards came in who, by their conversation, were evidently some of the Wellington College people: not knowing who I was, they began talking over the plan of counterattack which had evidently been arranged by their side. I had no wish to attend to what they were saying, but as they talked so openly I deemed it only right to make a note of their plan, which I got passed to Reginald York, who was sitting on the front Conservative bench: he met and demolished the plan of attack in his speech. The only time I heard Gladstone speak was that night. It was rather a shock to me that that wonderful genius, who had done so much for suffering humanity and justice, should take the side against us. I could not help being of opinion also that his family connection with the college ought to have kept him silent, more especially as it was the system of administration, not

the working of the college, in which reform was wanted.

There was a long debate, and as the dinner-hour approached the House began to thin. The Wellington College side continued to talk until the number of members was very much reduced, and then a division. was called for. I waited in the lobby whilst the doors were closed, and then one member after another came up to me, saying they did not expect a division so soon and were vexed about it, as they had intended to vote for me. Even then the division was a close one, our side being beaten by only seven votes. As soon as it was announced an official belonging to the House said to me, "It was unfortunate a division was not taken before. You had all the Conservatives and half the Liberals on your side." With such a close division the Government could not well avoid granting the Royal Commission asked for. Lord Penzance was chairman, with Robert Lowe and other eminent men as members. My difficulty was in getting officers who felt interested in the matter to come forward and give evidence they fancied their doing so would be a bad thing for them professionally. There was some reason for this, one vindictive Wellington College governor going so far, when I first took the matter in hand, as to suggest that I ought to be deprived of my staff appointment and sent back to my regiment, which was then abroad. Having the subject of the inquiry at my fingers' ends in all its details, I quite enjoyed my two hours' cross-examination before the Commission. Sitting next a well-known bishop, I was amused at his asking me where I got all my statistics from. Pointing to a Blue Book, I said, "From the Public Schools Inquiry Commission"; and then, sotto voce,

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"of which I think your lordship was a member." My reverend neighbour could not help laughing.

The report of the Commission was that the college had departed from the intention with which it had been founded, and stringent reforms were suggested, which I could not help thinking might have been even stronger; but be that as it may, Wellington College was given a chance of becoming what the country and the army intended it should be. Many friends congratulated me on having succeeded in what I had undertaken, but others of greater worldly experience said, “You have made powerful enemies, who will not forget to put a spoke in your wheel whenever they get a chance." Unfortunately for me these proved to be true prophets; but I had this consolation, that, although I suffered for it, I had done my duty.

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CHAPTER XVII.

QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S WORK, PORTSMOUTH.

As already stated, I was in the autumn of 1877 appointed to the headquarter staff of the Southern District. My principal work at Portsmouth, and occasionally at Southampton, was the embarkation and disembarkation of troops and their families, the first named place being used by the Imperial and Indian troopships and hired transports. At Southampton only hired transports were berthed. The trooping season commenced in September and ended in May, and during that time I was rarely away from the dockyard or the office except to sleep. Occasionally I found it advisable to remain all night in the yard, so as to have everything ready for commencing work at daybreak, taking a rest rolled up in a blanket on a couch in the nearest transport. My dockyard staff consisted of two clerks and four old blue-jackets. As soon as I had established a system, which was afterwards embodied in the Queen's Regulations, everything went as smoothly as well-oiled machinery. My most interesting work was the rapid embarkation of cavalry regiments at the outbreak of the Zulu war. I thought I ought to have disembarked them also at Durban and gone up country with them, but the