GENERAL DUNCAN CAMERON AND SIR GEORGE GREY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 251, 12 April 1865, Page 3

GENERAL DUNCAN CAMERON AND SIR GEORGE GREY.

An Army Chaplain in “ Good Words” gives the following pen-and-ink pictures :-rApart from the name, one might learn at a glance that Cameron ia of Northern origin. The head, stern face,,the high cheek bones, the keen grey eyes, mark a warrior of Celtic origin, and remind us of that Colonel Cameron who led the Gordon Highlanders to victory in the' Peninsula, and fell at their head in Quartre Bras.' And in truth, though born in the Island of Jersey, he' is sprung from the same slock—the Camerons of Fassiefern, in lnverness-shiro. In height he was about five feet ten inches, but his erect figure and mar-

tial bearing give him ihe appearance of being still fruler. lie is a man of lew'words ; ho knows -the eloquence of silence ; but when occasion requires he <-.in expivs-, himself i,j energetic hmgua-e jnrfecUy intelligible to ail. Like the late Lord t-ljcle. he is not very choice in the t-rms he cmPf?y s ; la 8 word, lid speaks like a soldier of the pul school -who began life at » period when, oaphemsm-was unknown in the army. Sir Colin had the highest opinion of his abilities as a soldier wnxlehe was in command of the 42nd Eegimeht in the Crimea, and xtil understood that ho owes his present appomtinent to Sir Colin’s recommendaturn. He has evidently mado his patron his niouel ot imitation ; ha is sparing of the lives of ms men, and looks to slow but ultimate success rather than brilliant achievements in the field. He is naturally reserved in his manners, admitmg no one to Ijis councils, and issuing his orders only at tne moment of execution. Hence he is more esteemed and respected .than beloved by hia oSicers; and all the colonists even have lull confidence in his abilities as a general. Like some other eminent men, he retains in after-life a taste of classic authors who formed the study of his boyhood, and is said occasioally tef dip into the pages of Tacitus Ctesar on the banks of the W aikato.

Of his Excellency the Governor of these Islands wo have little to say. By his diplomatic skill, lie has raised Jiiniselt from being a captain in a marching regiment to his present high position, and his previous success in dealing with the natives was the cause of his re-appointment. On his arrival here, his undecided policy excited the distrust of his countrymen, without securing the confidence of the Maories, and is to be feared hurried on the present war. ilo has doubtless acted fop the best, but the prestige of his name is gone. He is a pale, thin man, with a thougtful melancholy face; from his stooping gait and undecided sir, it is, difficult to imagine that lie could have been a soldier. These are the two notables par excellence ; but there are scores of others fretting and strutting their hour on tLo stage of notoriety whom wo need not describe. ’