A Grateful Country.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 324, 21 April 1881, Page 2

A Grateful Country.

Close to Nelson’s magnificent.monument in Trafalgar square, there stands, says a London paper, a statue to Sir Henry Havelock, and on its base are carved a few words taken from one of his speeches, in which he assured his soldiers that their labors, their sufferings, and their valor would not be forgotten by a grateful country. We read this at Charing Cross. Westminster is only across the road. Entering the Westminster Police Court, wg hear another talk of the grateful country,” when on Tuesday, an old non-commis-sioned officer of the nth Hussars applied for assistance from the poor-box. He had served in the Crimea, and was one of the “Six Hundred” at Balaclava. Wounded in the charge in five places, he fell into the hands of the Russians, and was for over twelve months a prisoner. He left the army, and, in consequence of the delicate state of health of his wife and family, he sought employment at the Gape, and served in the police as a sergeant. Consumption, however, carried off the whole family, and changes of administration in the colony considerably reducing his salary, he came back to England. He got a berth at a club j but in consequence of the reduction of servants, he was again thrown out of a situation. Mr Partridge, having ascertained that his story was true, granted him some assistance, and the applicant thanked him and retired. So much for the “ grateful country.”