Elsie Inglis | Page 4

centre stands Elsie Inglis, the "woman of gentle breeding, short
of stature, alert, and with the eyes of a seer," and "a smile like
sunshine"; and on either side and behind this central figure the stage is
crowded with men and women of long ago, the people of her race. One
by one they catch our eye, and we note their connection with the central
figure.
Far back in the group (for it is near two hundred years ago) stands
Hugh Inglis, hailing from Inverness-shire. He was a loyal supporter of
Prince Charlie, and the owner of a yacht, which he used in gun-running
in the service of the Prince.
A little nearer are two of Elsie's great-grandfathers, John Fendall and
Alexander Inglis. John Fendall was Governor of Java at the time when
the island was restored to the Dutch. The Dutch fleet arrived to take it
over before Fendall had received his instructions from the Government,

and he refused to give it up till they reached him--a gesture not without
a parallel in the later years of the life of his descendant. Alexander
Inglis, leaving Inverness-shire, emigrated to South Carolina, and was
there killed in a duel fought on some point of honour. Through his wife,
Mary Deas, Elsie's descent runs up to Robert the Bruce on the one hand,
and, on the other, to a family who left France after the revocation of the
Edict of Nantes, and settled in Scotland.
As we thread our way through the various figures on the stage we are
attracted by a group of three women. They are the daughters of the
Governor of Java, "the three Miss Fendalls." One of them, Harriet, is
Elsie's grandmother. All three married, and their descendants in the
second generation numbered well over a hundred! Harriet Fendall
married George Powney Thompson, whose father was at one time
secretary to Warren Hastings. George Thompson himself was a
member of the East India Company, and ruled over large provinces in
India. One of their nine daughters, Harriet Thompson, was Elsie's
mother.
On the other side of the stage, in the same generation as the Miss
Fendalls, is another group of women. These are the three sisters of
Elsie's grandfather, David Inglis, son of Alexander, who fared forth to
South Carolina, and counted honour more dear than life.
David was evidently a restless, keen, adventurous man; many years of
his life were spent in India in the service of the East India Company. Of
his three sisters--Katherine, painted by Raeburn; Mary, gentle and quiet;
and Elizabeth--we linger longest near Elizabeth. She never married, and
was an outstanding personality in the little family. She was evidently
conversant with all the questions of the day, and commented on them in
the long, closely written letters which have been preserved.
After David's return from India he must have intended at one time to
stand for Parliament. Elizabeth writes to him from her "far corner" in
Inverness-shire, giving him stirring advice, and demanding from him
an uncompromising, high standard. She tells him to "unfurl his banner";
she knows "he will carry his religion into his politics." "Separate
religion from politics!" cries Elizabeth; "as well talk of separating our

every duty from religion!"
Needless anxiety, one would think, on the part of the good Highland
lady, for the temptation to leave religion out of any of his activities can
scarcely have assailed David. We read that when Elsie's grandfather
had returned from the East to England he used to give missionary
addresses, not, one would think, a common form of activity in a retired
servant of the East India Company. One hears this note of genuine
religion in the lives of those forebears of Elsie's.
[Illustration: Lady D'Oyly Mrs. Lowis Mrs. Thompson (Elsie's
Grandmother)
THE MISSES FENDALL
FROM A DRAWING IN THE POSSESSION OF
BRIGADIER-GENERAL C. FENDALL, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., ETC.]
"The extraordinary thing in all the letters, whether they were written by
an Inglis, a Deas, or a Money, is the pervading note of strong religious
faith. They not only refer to religion, but often, in truly Scottish fashion,
they enter on long theological dissertations."
David married Martha Money. Close to Martha on the stage stands her
brother, William Taylor Money, Elsie's great-uncle. We greet him
gladly, for he was a man of character. He was a friend of Wilberforce,
and a Member of Parliament when the Anti-Slavery Bill was passed.
Afterwards "he owned a merchant vessel, and gained great honour by
his capture of several of the Dutch fleet, who mistook him for a British
man-of-war, the smart appearance of his vessel with its manned guns
deceiving them." There is a picture in Trinity House of his vessel
bringing in the Dutch ships. Later, he was Consul-General at Venice
and the north of Italy,