New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-04
NOTES FROM OVER SEA.
LORD CHARLES BERESFORD-MR. ISMAY-
AN AUSTRALIAN IN A DUKERY.
Westminster. Sentember 9;


candidate for the Metropolitan borough. Ills
return TO the House would be as welcome to ooth
sides as a seabreeze on a sultry afternoon. lie
Is one Of the most delightfully."- unconventional
men in English public life. Every inch sailor,
if he has foibie it is hankering after political
life lie sat in the House of Commons for ms
native county of Waterford through the farlla-
mcnt of 1874 losing his seat when, in 1851, the
National party swept the board of the ConserVa-
tives who. having used them when IN opposi-
ton, betrayed them when they came into power
At the general election of 1885 LORD CharNs
came In for Marylebone, and sat for that borough
till, year or two ago, he was faced Oy INC
necessity Of forthwith going to sea or losing MS
chances Of promotion. 1t was great wrench Ior
him to leave the House of Commons, where from
a back bench he kept q friendly eye on MS
noble friend" who by grace of his fathers duke
dom rules the British navy. In debate on the
navy estimates, not OF itself an engrossing oocu-
patton, members had full opportunity OF enece
ing on the strange disposition OF puDhc snalrs
in this country which made Lord George hamilton
First Lord Of the Admiralty, and left this shre"o
little sailor, with his wide experience, his K'eh
intelligence and his infinite knowledge of detail,
on back bench. But, as l have SAID, Loru
Georges father is q Duke, and for generations 1t
Government when In office to provide for the
Hamiltons. Lord Charles Beresford is only the
second son of q Marquis and he merely an Irish
magnate. Since his elder brother, the present
Marquis Of Waterford, is childless, Lord Charles
will. il he lives, succeed TO the Marqulsate
Even then he would never be able to compete
with the vested interests of the Hamiltons.
Lord Charles is still young, having only just
passed his fOrty-ffth year. In that period ne
has seen O good deal of service, though, as ne
probably regrets, only one opportunity mas peeh
afforded him of taking part in actual warrare'
Moreover, that was not q very glorious OCCASION,
though Lord Charles managed 10 ilIumlnate IL
by brilliant little bit of pluck and seamansnlp'
AT the bonbardment Of the Alexandria forts ne
was in command of the gunboat CONDOR ana
began the days service by helping the greao IRON
clad Temeraire of the shore, on TO which she
had drifted. Then, when Arab opened hre from
the Marabout batteries which, served by British
Qunnen, would have kept the feet at bay,
Charlie dashed in with the little Condor and
gave the astonished Egyptians so much to do That
they never found the range of the honclads
"WeI done. Condor" the Admiral in command
si0nalled while all the feet looked on in admira-
ton of O feat which showed that armor-platlng,
turreting and torpedoing had not fatally over
lain the ancient spirit of the British TAR VINO
fought in wooden ships at Trafalgar and the Nile
Lord Charles's tactics in the House Of Commons
were very much on the lines Of his famous manoeu-
vre off Alexandria The little Condor was always
bearing I'D against some massive fort Of Admiralty
inconvenience and opening fire with ruthless dis
regard of precedent and authority that gave much
pain in Admiralty circles. The House Of CON-
mons in committee, whether on the army or navy
estimates, presents q melancholy spectacle Inc
voting of millions Of money might he under ois-
CUSTOM and more important SIN, 1ie
dearest interests OF the Empire as sa'cBuarue"
nv the army OF feet. What the stranger IN the
gallery could see was dozen, or at most score
of gentlemen sprinlled over the benches yawnns
or sleeping while colonel or an admiral TO
cited o not always brief essay. When news Went
round that Charlie Beresford was on his legs
the House filed as If by magic, ana was always
rewarded by hearing man talking In DrlsK speech
ON subject with which he was thoroughly famil-
lar. There was as a preliminary to Charles
contributions to Parliamentary debate an invol-
untary movement Of the hands and hips as ~ he
were about Saving the Speakers presence to
hitch I'd his trousers No one would have been
in the least surprised OF regarded 1t as out OF
l,eeping with the business of the moment II, dur
inc a brief pause while he was consulting his
notes. he had broken into q step or two OF The
horppipe. Not that he was frvolcusly inclined
for when discussing naval administration he vas
hotly in earnest, that there was any tendency
on his part to pose as sailor. Inc fancy IN the
mind of the looker-on was born OF association OF
ideas when listening to the sturdy, rudoy-iaced
tar talking In the vitated atmosphere OF the House
of Commons The practical value In Pariia-
mentary counsel on naval affairs of O man like
Lord Charles Bercsford is Ancalculable Even
Liberals would ungrudgingly see him WIN the
seat. II is, however, doubtful whether he can
come back with the new Parliament. Being III
active command, he could not leave his ship TO
take part in an election contest, and bis term does
not expire till February, 1898. lie may OF course
be elected in his absence, and II Lazy Chafes
Beresford undertook to represent him through
the contest, he would scarcely be missed
Another Parliamentary candidate spoken of Just
now is as well known on your side OF the Atlantic
as ON this. Mr. T. II. lsmay is always in request
where desire is felt for supremely capable man to
undertake q public trust When short time
soo the chairmanship Of the London and North
western Railroad Company became vacant, Mr.
Jsmay's co-directors approached him with bnani-
NOUS request that he would accept post which
is the blue. ribbon of railway rank in this coun-
try Doubtless if il had been necessary TO poll
the shareholders they would TO man have backed
ND this requisition. 1t was tempting proposal
filling the height of many business mans hon
orable ambition. But Mr.. rsmay is welded to the
interests Of the magnificent feet he has created
and nailed his flag TO the mast OF the "mt
Star Line. Last year, when the Royal Commits
sion on Labor was appointed, he was one OF
the earliest nominated. This is place which
while it carries no emolument, makes enormous
claims upon the time Of a busy man. 1t was fol
that reason that Alr. John Morley and some Other
eminent persons approached on behalf of the Gov
ernment declined the pronercd honor. Mr.
Ismay accepted seat on the commission, and
has been assiduOus In attendance on It's meet
ings. Now he is asked 10 contest one OF the divi-
sions Of Liverpool at the forthcoming general
oIaa.io-. L. lie moi the first time affempt hos