THE BRITISH GENERAL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 November 1901, Page 4

THE BRITISH GENERAL.

Few men spring so rapidly into wealth and world-wide fame as the successful British general. Perhaps no other country is more lavish in her rewards for outstanding merit in the field than our own. For his Afghanistan services Earl (then Sir Frederick) Roberts was voted £12,000, or, if he preferred it, £IOOO a year, which latter sum he is still drawing. The peerage and its magnificent endowment of £25,000 awarded the then Sirdar in 1898 are still fresh in our memory

For his condust of the Ashantee campaign in 1874 Lord Wolseley also received £25,000.

The great Wellington was rewarded in no niggardly fashion for his exceptional -'services. His first real honour was a knighthood, but in rapid succession after the great Peninsular campaign he became baron, viscount, earl, marquess, and duke, besides receiving a grant of £40,000 Waterloo resulted in a further bestowal of good things on the Iron Duke. He was made a Prince, and was given a splendid estate and a pension of £4OOO a year, which will only lapse on the death of the present Duke of Wellington.

Yet these awards, magnificent as they are, by no means equal those bestowed on Marlborough 100 years before. Ho was literally bombarded with honours; £9OOO a year was granted him, including £4OOO annually "on his heirs for ever." He, 100, was given an estate, and not lease of all Queen Anne built him Blenheim Palace at a cost of £250,000.