SIR GARNET'S TACT.

Mataura Ensign, Volume V, Issue 224, 26 January 1883, Page 6

SIR GARNET'S TACT.

HE DINES WITH THE QUEEN AT BALMOBAL — A DIPLOMATIC TOAST. .

There was an early dinner. It is whispered that this august company sat down to table in their afternoon raiment j did not, in short, dress for dinner- JJ Such a departure from usage has not been known before, but it is enough to make Mayfair and Belgravia lose their appetites. However, for some reason, Sir Q-arnct had to be in London next morning, and etiquette for once gave way to military necessity. Or did not give way ; since whatever the Queen commands is etiquette, for the time being. Sir G-arnet was placed at the Queen's right hand, and the Egyptian talk went on. The Queen showed herself throughout most gracious; which was the more remarked, because heretofore Sir G-arnet Wolßeley has not been a favourite at Court. Royal opinions on military matters are supposed to be much influenced by the Duke of Cambridge, as everybody knows, has been at daggers drawn with Sir Garnet on short service and other questions of army reform.

There is a story — though it seems churlish to revive it now— that the Queen insisted on Sir Garnet Wolseley going to see her before be left for

Egypt. He was so ill that his physicians had forbidden him to receive the Prince of Wales. The Prince asked just to put his hand inside the door and shake hnnds with his departing friend, but the doctors stuck to their no. Well, this critical state of health was due largely, said people at the time, to the journey Sir G-arnet had been forced to make to Osborne — or wherever the Queen may then have chanced to be— to take leave. # And one reason for her Majesty's obstinacy in the matter was her determination to speak her royal mind to Sir Garnet on some points of military administration which he, as Adjutant-General, had been ordering otherwise than was pleasing to the Duke of Cambridge. Let us hope this is mere scandal. But all that is over, and so was the dinner at Balmoral, after a time, but not before an incident had occurred which high authorities say is quite unprecedented. When the wine came on at dessert, the Queen rose and proposed a toast to the health of Sir Garnet Wolseley, with a flattering word or two about his success in Egypt. ' There' was a situation for a simpleminded, blunt soldier ! Sir Garnet declares that nothing in Egypt had puzzled him so much as to know what he ought to do in this emergency. What did etiquette require — nay, what did it permit ? What might a subject in the presence of his sovereign do to acqnowledge this extraordinary act of royal condescension? Propose the Queen's health in return ? Doubtful as matter of propriety ! certainly common-place if proper. When the Queen sat down Sir Garnet stood up (for I suppose he could not stand while his own health was being drunk, even in the Queen's presence) and said :

' Will your Majesty permit me to propose a toast?' Her Majesty signified her assent, upon which Sir Garnet said : ' I beg to propose the health of my gallant comrade-in-arms, His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught.' Quite perfect, was it not ? They say the Queen was immensely pleased, both with the tact of Sir Garnet Wolseley and with the compliment to her son. When the General took his leave, they parted upon the best of terms, and on the whole, it appears that the hero of Tel-el- Kebir and Cairo does not regret his 1,200 miles of travel to and from Balmoral. — London Correspondent JV.Y. Tribune.