the
public, and especially by the navy, as a testimony of the belief of the
Government, at that time, that I was innocent of the offence that had
been laid to my charge, and also that I should stand as good a chance as
most of my brother officers (and perhaps, from my experience, a better)
of being called to active service. I did not then foresee that the
restoration of my naval rank alone would be viewed as a half-measure.
Still less did I anticipate that, in the event of my being offered an
appointment, I should be incapacitated from accepting it by reason of
the feelings of other officers that I still laboured under some
imputation which would render it derogatory to them to serve under me.
But it is now impossible for me to conceal from myself the fact that,
while the navy generally is kindly disposed towards me, and would
rejoice to see me fully reinstated in all that I once enjoyed, I am
considered by many to remain as completely precluded from active service
as if my name had never more appeared in the Navy List, I trust, my
lord, that it cannot be thought reasonable to reduce me to the
inglorious condition of a retired or yellow admiral at home, and at the
same time to deny me the privilege of acquiring either emolument or
distinction in foreign service."

Lord Dundonald's hope was that, on the occasion of her Majesty's
marriage, there would be a bestowal of honours, which would afford a
convenient opportunity for the restoration of his dignity as a Knight of
the Bath. But in this he was disappointed.

A minor favour was conferred upon him, however, and in a very gratifying
way, eighteen months later. "You are probably aware," wrote Lord Minto
to him on the 3rd of January, 1841, "that the death of Sir Henry Bayntam
has vacated one of the pensions for good and meritorious service. Before
I left town a few days ago I made my arrangements to enable me to confer
this pension upon you, if you should think it worthy of your acceptance,
either as evidence of the high estimation in which I have ever held your
services, or as convenient in a pecuniary point of view. Although you
are one of the few who have not applied for this, I do not fear that any
one of the numerous claimants can show so good a title to it."

That compliment was accepted by Lord Dundonald in a spirit answering to
that in which it was offered. Yet his reasonable anxiety for a
restitution of the Order of the Bath was not abated, and thereupon he
wa