(_Supplementary._)
IN ENGLAND ONCE MORE—A SERIES OF OVATIONS—LONDON, ELY,
WHITTLESEY, CAMBRIDGE—APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF THE CAPE OF GOOD
HOPE.
Sir Harry Smith was received at Southampton by the General commanding
the South-Western District and a guard of honour. Salutes were fired,
and bells set ringing, and he landed in the presence of thousands of
spectators. The corporation presented an address, and had prepared a
civic banquet. Next day he travelled to London in a special train,
which was put at his disposal by the South-Western Railway Company.
On the 6th May he dined with Her Majesty at Marlborough House; on the
7th he received a deputation from the inhabitants of his native town
of Whittlesey, who were desirous of making him a presentation. It
consisted chiefly of old schoolfellows.
A series of invitations poured in from Her Majesty the Queen, the
Duchess of Kent, the Dukes of Wellington, Montrose, and Beaufort, the
Earl of Ripon, the Lord Mayor, Sir Robert Peel, Sir J. Cam Hobhouse,
Sir De Lacy Evans, etc.[162] On the 18th May his old friend and
commander, Sir Andrew Barnard, presided at a dinner in his honour given
by the Senior United Service Club. On the 20th the freedom of the City
of London was presented to Sir Harry at Guildhall. He returned thanks
for the honour in stirring sentences such as came naturally to him.
“It has been my fate to call upon the British soldier to follow to
victory, and never have I known him to fail. The fear of defeat never
entered the bosom of any one man whom I have seen with the blood of
John Bull in his veins” (great cheering). “So long as England is true
to herself and loyal to her Sovereign, she will stand, as she now
stands, the paramount power of the world” (immense applause).
In the evening of the same day Sir Harry was the guest of a memorable
company, his old Peninsular comrades, the survivors of the Light
Division. They included Sir Hew Ross, Sir Andrew Barnard, the Duke of
Richmond, John Kincaid, Sir John Bell, Jonathan Leach, and Major Smith
(Sir Harry’s “Brother Tom”). Next day the _Times_ wrote as follows:—
“A hundred soldiers dined yesterday together in this city, and all the
gatherings of all the capitals of Europe for half a century to come
will not produce so memorable a reunion. If the muster roll of the Old
Guard could be called and answered, a rival parade might perhaps be
formed, but from no other body whose services modern history records
could another such company be raised. The survivors of the most
renowned division of the most famous army of England’s most famous
war were yesterday once more collected to welcome an ancient comrade
whose victories in more productive but not more honourable fields have
gloriously terminated a career commenced amongst those who bear this
grateful testimony to the fruits of a spirit and character which their
own society and conduct so largely contributed to form.
“On all sides is Sir Harry Smith receiving the due congratulations of
his countrymen and the well-earned meed of his courage. For once, at
least, the metropolitan season is supplied with a reasonable object
of admiration and amusement, but we are much mistaken in Sir Henry’s
disposition, if this, of all the festivities which greet his arrival,
will not convey at once the greatest gratification and the highest
compliment. The same recollections which led the newly created baronet
to pass by the ordinary attractions of blazonry and to turn to the
days and comrades of his youth, to Ciudad Rodrigo and the Pyrenees,
to the 52nd and the 95th, for those figures which should support his
shield and tell of the deeds by which it was won, will teach him
also to value the tribute which he yesterday received above any more
gorgeous or imposing testimony. His cordial countrymen, his gratified
friends—appreciation of his service and admiration of his conduct, he
may meet elsewhere; but at the festival in Willis’ Rooms last night
only, and there perhaps for the last time, could he meet his fellows
and companions in that noble school in which he learnt his soldiership
and to which he owes his fame. Well does it tell for England’s justice
that such merits are at length acknowledged, and that Sir Henry Smith
comes back to find that his ancient comrades and his ancient deeds are
no longer left without the decorations which have been lavished on
more recent services.[163]
“It cannot be the least part of his satisfaction at this
entertainment, to think that, but for him, a gathering so memorable
would never have occurred. This was no anniversary of a recurring
solemnity, no periodical festivity or customary reunion. It did not
take place last year, and it will not take place next. The last
rendezvous perhaps was in the plains of Vittoria, or under the walls
of Toulouse, the next will probably never occur. Already is the circle
of survivors closing rapidly in under a slower but more resistless
enemy than even they ever faced before; the actors, like the deeds,
must soon become subjects of history and examples for imitation, and
it is but too likely that yesterday was sounded the last assembly of
the old Light Division.”
On the 30th June, Sir Harry with Lady Smith left London for Whittlesey,
his native place, and by desire of the people of Ely stopped there
on the way. The story is best told in the words of warm-hearted Adam
Sedgwick.[164]
[Illustration:
SIR HARRY SMITH’S
VISIT TO ELY
Programme of Procession.
Standard Bearer.
TRUMPETER MOUNTED.
Chief-Constable mounted.
Three Police Officers mounted,
Standard Bearer.
GENTLEMEN ON HORSEBACK FOUR A-BREAST.
BAND of the Scots Fusileer Guards.
Drums and Fifes of the Scots Fusileer Guards.
_Chairman of Breakfast—& Rev. E. B. Sparke, & Rev. A. Peyton._
Standard Bearer.
SIR HARRY SMITH,
AND ATTENDANTS.
_LADY SMITH, and Attendants._
PRIVATE CARRIAGES.
Standard Bearer.
Three Policemen mounted.
Persons who join the PROCESSION are particularly requested
to attend to the Directions of the Persons appointed to marshall it,
and who will wear a distinguishing Badge.
☞ _The Procession must be formed punctually at a
quarter before Eleven._
ELY June 29, 1847. CLEMENTS, PRINTER, ELY]
“I was called away [from Cambridge] by the Dean of Ely to meet my
old friend, Sir Harry Smith. I could not resist the temptation. So
next morning (the 30th) I went to the station, and there I met the
hero and his family party, and joined them in a saloon fitted up by
the directors for their special reception. The entry into Ely was
triumphant.[165] Thousands were assembled, with flags, branches of
laurel, and joyful anxious faces. The Dean had provided me a horse,
so I joined the cavalcade. After going through triumphal arches, and
I know not what, preceded by a regimental band of music—Sir Harry
mounted on the Arabian charger he rode at the battle of Aliwal,
and greeted by lusty shouts from thousands—we all turned in to a
magnificent lunch.[166] We then went on to Whittlesey, a similar
triumphant entry. I should think not less than 10,000 men to greet the
arrival of the hero at his native town. He was much affected, and I
saw tears roll down his weather-beaten, but fine face, as he passed
the house where his father and mother once lived.”[167]
At the station an address was read by Mr. Thomas Bowker, to which Sir
Harry replied that he felt proud to set his foot once more in his
native place, and he was delighted to see the Whittlesey Cavalry[168]
there before him, as he could not forget that in that loyal troop he
commenced his military career.
[Illustration: “ALIWAL,” SIR HARRY SMITH’S CHARGER.
(_From a picture painted by A. Cooper, R.A., in 1847._)
[_Opposite p. 576._]
A ball was given in the evening, at which Sir Harry joined in the set
dances, but refused to dance the polka. Next day he was entertained
at a dinner attended by three hundred persons, including Lords
Fitzwilliam, Aboyne, and Hardwicke, Professor Sedgwick, and other
leading men of the county, and an épergne of the value of £300 was
presented to him by residents of the Isle of Ely. In reply to the
chairman, the Rev. Algernon Peyton, who proposed his health, Sir
Harry said that that day was his mother’s birthday, and he recalled
her parting injunction to him,[169] which he claimed to have obeyed.
He concluded, “Many of my playmates, schoolmates, fellow-townsmen
are around me, and I trust that, with the other honourable gentlemen
present, they will accept the grateful thanks of their townsman and
countryman, Harry Smith.” When Lady Smith’s health had been proposed
by Lord Hardwicke and drunk by the company, Sir Harry returned thanks
for the kindness shown to one he loved so dearly, and who had followed
him with the greatest devotion over many fields of battle and in every
quarter of the world—a devotion not to him alone, but to the cause
in which he was engaged. From Whittlesey[170] Sir Harry proceeded to
Cambridge, where an honorary degree was to be conferred upon him in
connexion with the ceremony of installing Prince Albert as Chancellor.
Professor Sedgwick, it seems, told Prince Albert on Saturday, July 3rd,
that Sir Harry Smith was coming to Cambridge on the following Tuesday.
He writes—
“The Prince said that the Queen would wish him to be there on Monday
to take an honorary degree. So I fired a shot to Whittlesey, not
doubting that I should bring the hero down in time; for the Queen’s
wishes are, as you know, a soldier’s law. I returned to Cambridge
on Saturday. On Sunday ... after evening chapel, I was rejoiced to
find Sir H. Smith waiting at my rooms; he took my bed, and I took
Dick’s.... I spent a delightful quiet evening with my hearty and
gallant friend. We took a turn in the walks, but he was in plain
clothes, and was not known by the multitude.
“Next day (Monday the 5th) began the great hurly-burly. On Monday
John told me that more than one hundred people came to lunch at my
rooms, no doubt partly drawn there in the hope of meeting Harry Smith,
who (after the Duke of Wellington) was the most popular of all the
visitors. I could not be there myself except at very short intervals,
as I was officially in constant attendance on the Prince.... There was
a grand cheer on Monday morning when Sir H. Smith had his degree....
The Vice-Chancellor that day had a dinner—the Queen attended—to a
party of about sixty. I presided in Trinity College Hall over a party
of more than three hundred; and a right merry party it was. Sir Harry
Smith was at my right hand as the Vice-master’s guest, and among the
distinguished foreigners were Le Verrier and Struvé. If we had not
as much dignity as the Vice-Chancellor, we had more numbers and more
fun....
“On Tuesday[171] we had the Installation Ode performed in full chorus,
and of all the cheers I ever heard, the cheers after _God save the
Queen_ in full chorus, accompanied and joined by a thousand voices,
were the most enthusiastic.
“When the Duke of Wellington was leaving the Senate House, a loud peal
of cheers was raised for him; and, immediately after, Harry was caught
sight of. ‘Cheers for Sir Harry Smith’ were called for; and the Duke,
turning back, laid hold of Sir Harry and turned him round, saying,
‘There you have him.’ Indeed, he is more like the Duke’s son, so much
is he attached to him.”[172]
On Thursday “the corporation brought an address to Sir Harry Smith, to
which he read them an answer. Soon afterwards he went away.”
Professor Sedgwick tells the romantic story of Lady Smith’s early life,
and ends, “And now she is a pleasant, comfortable-looking dame with
mild manners and soft, sweet voice.”[173]
But the intoxicating hour of honours and ovations was quickly to give
place to another period of hard service to Queen and country. During
a visit to the Rev. T. Holdich at Maidwell Hall, Northants, Sir Harry
received the news that he had been appointed to succeed Sir Henry
Pottinger as Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner,
and in September he was to leave England again. Another Kafir war was
in progress, and Sir Harry’s nomination gave the greatest satisfaction
to the country. Before his departure his old friends at Glasgow
presented him with a piece of plate of the value of £400 and upwards.
On the 16th September, in reply to an address presented at Portsmouth
on the eve of his departure, Sir Harry said—
“I trust, if it should be my good fortune to render any additional
service to my Queen and country, I may be able to do it through other
instruments than that called war.... If I can avert war, I will. If I
can extend the blessings of civilization and Christianity in a distant
land, where, without any affectation of humility, I can say that some
years ago I sowed its seeds, it will be a gratification to me beyond
expression to do so.”
In the evening of the preceding day the 43rd, 52nd, and 60th Regiments
had entertained Sir Harry at the George (the inn which had so many
associations with his arrivals in and departures from England in early
life).
In replying to the toast of his health, Sir Harry referred to the
dinner given him on his arrival in London by the survivors of the old
Light Division; to his own participation in every action recorded on
the colours of the 52nd before him; and to the special praise given by
the Duke of Wellington to the Light Division:
“When I have set the Light Division to do anything which was difficult
and dangerous, requiring enterprise, the next day I found that
division, with scarcely any loss, ready again to fight.”
Sir Harry drew the moral, “He is the best officer who does the most
with the least loss of life.” On the relation of officers to men, he
continued—
“Believe me, the tone of courage is taken from the officers; whatever
the conduct of officers is, such will be the soldiers. And, gentlemen,
if you knew the feeling of the British soldier in the field, ... then
would your devoted service be for the comforts and happiness of your
men. Do not let it be supposed, gentlemen, because I talk of the
comforts and happiness of the men, that I am one of those officers who
I regret to say exist in the present day, who have a kind of twaddle
in talking about ‘the poor soldier.’ In the country I am going to,
I regret to hear it said ‘the poor soldier’ sleeps here and sleeps
there, ‘the poor soldier’ wants this and wants that. It is the duty
of every officer to provide to his utmost for the comfort of his men,
and when comforts are not to be had, ‘bad luck to the shilling.’ And,
my gallant officers, believe me, our soldiers are equally gallant men,
and where the comforts are not to be had, they don’t call themselves
‘poor soldiers’; they call themselves the glorious soldiers in the
service of Her Majesty.”
In a later speech, replying to the toast of “Lady Smith,” Sir Harry
returned thanks for the honour to his wife—a wife who had participated
in the hardships of almost every one of the gallant actions recorded on
their colours; who had been three times besieged in her native city,
and after being finally rescued, had followed him through the four
quarters of the globe; a wife who had been not only honoured by all his
comrades, but respected by those of her own sex.
On the 24th September Sir Harry embarked on the _Vernon_ amid a great
demonstration, by which he seemed much moved.