The Romance of a Pro-Consul

Romance of a Pro-Consul, The

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Romance of a Pro-Consul, by
James Milne This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost
and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it
away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License
included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: The Romance of a Pro-Consul Being The Personal Life And
Memoirs Of The Right Hon. Sir George Grey, K.C.B.
Author: James Milne
Release Date: October 23, 2005 [EBook #16928]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
ROMANCE OF A PRO-CONSUL ***

Produced by James Tenison

THE ROMANCE OF A PRO-CONSUL
BEING THE PERSONAL LIFE AND MEMOIRS OF THE RIGHT
HON. SIR GEORGE GREY, K.C.B.
BY JAMES MILNE

AUTHOR OF "THE EPISTLES OF ATKINS" "MY SUMMER IN
LONDON," ETC.

THOMAS NELSON & SONS LONDON, EDINBURGH, DUBLIN
AND NEW YORK

A WORD TO THE READER
When Sir George Grey died, twelve years ago, he left a message as
well as a name to the English-speaking people. It was that their future
rested in the Federal Idea of communion and government. He saw,
vision-like, the form of this new age arise, because changed needs
called it. As Pro- Consul he laboured for it unceasingly in our over-sea
Commonwealths, and South Africa has most lately given answer. Now,
at a historic turning in British Institutions, we hear of "Federal
Home-Rule," and that may be a signpost to far travel along the road
which Sir George Grey "blazed." Certainly it sends us to the spacious
life and high thoughts of the "Father of Federation," whom Time in its
just goodness will also call the Walter Raleigh of the Victorians. Hence
this people's edition of a book wherein, "he, being dead, yet speaketh."
JAMES MILNE.
LONDON, March 1911.

A guide to Sir George Grey's career as soldier, explorer, administrator,
statesman, thinker, and dreamer.
1812 Born at Lisbon April 14, during the Peninsular War.
1829 Gazetted from Sandhurst to the 83rd Regiment Foot, and served
to a captaincy.
1837 Sailed from Plymouth June 20, on the ship 'Beagle,' as leader of a

Government expedition to explore North-West Australia. Engaged in
this work, and as Resident at King George's Sound, until 1840.
1841 Named to the Governorship of South Australia, aged 29; held it
until 1845, and during that period rescued the Colony from a state of
chaos, getting it on the high road to prosperity.
1845 Appointed Governor of New Zealand, when the first Maori War
was raging. Established peace and authority, and continued in office
until 1854. Refused to proclaim the constitution first designed by the
British Government and Parliament for New Zealand, and was given
power to draw up another.
1854 First Governorship of Cape Colony, to 1859. Two dramatic
events of it were the rising of the Kaffirs, at the call of a girl regarded
as a Messiah; and the deflection to India, where the Mutiny had broken
out, of the troops on their way to Lord Elgin in China.
1859 Re-called from the Cape, because the Government at home
disapproved of his action in endeavouring to federate South Africa.
Reinstated, but with orders to drop his federation plans; and remained
at Cape Town until 1861.
1861 Second Governorship of New Zealand, to 1867. Second Maori
War.
1868 Active in English public life to 1890; and in Australasian affairs
from 1870 to 1894.
1877 Was Premier of New Zealand to 1879 so achieving the unique
distinction of ruling, in that capacity, a country of which he had twice
been Governor.
1898 Died London, September 19. Buried in St. Paul's Cathedral,
September 26.

CONTENTS

I, PERSONAL AND PARTICULAR
II. HOME IS THE WARRIOR
The return to England, 1894, with incidents of the Queen, the Earl of
Rosebery, and James Anthony Froude; a memory of Lord Robert Cecil,
and some notes on London.
III. YOUTH THE BIOGRAPHER
Or how the child was father to the man. Olive Schreiner's greeting; an
orangestall eloquent; a flight from school; a surpassing encounter at
South Kensington; and a glimpse of Archbishop Whately.
IV. SAXON AND CELT
A young soldier in the Old Ireland of the Thirties; varying scenes of
Irish life and character; and stories of Dean Swift, Daniel O'Connell,
and Sir Hussey Vivian.
V. SOUTHWARD HO!
The call to the New World; musings of the voyage and the sea; and, by
contrast, the London perils of Thomas Carlyle and Babbage, Sir
Charles Lyell's spear-head being also mentioned.
VI. MAN AND NATURE ABORIGINAL
A battle with the blacks, wherein, unhappily, their leader fell, the white
chief being seriously wounded; and later, a valiant march across the
blistered Australian country.
VII. PLANTING THE BRITON
First principles of