and a
career so splendid and full of professional instruction as your
lordship's, can never be blotted out or rendered dim in the annals of
the naval history of our country." "I have had the kindest note possible
from the Marquess of Lansdowne," said Lord Dundonald, in a letter
written on the 27th of April. "Lord Auckland was at our house on
Saturday, and spoke in the kindest and most feeling manner. I hear from
all quarters that the pamphlet has made and is making a great
impression, and I have every hope that all will end well."

All did end well. The public announcement, on the highest authority, of
the value of his secret war-plans, and the consequent exhibition of his
disinterested patriotism in so long preserving them for his country's
use, followed by the bold appeal made by him to the public through his
pamphlet, brought success at last to his long-continued efforts to
obtain a restoration of his dignity as a Knight of the Bath. His best
friends in the Cabinet, especially Lords Lansdowne and Auckland, had
influence, though not all the influence they desired, upon other Cabinet
and Privy Councillors who were opposed to the tardy act of justice. But
they did not wait for the assent of all. On the 6th of May Lord
Lansdowne represented the case to her Majesty the Queen, and received
her promise that, with or without the approval of her Privy Councillors,
she would confer the next vacant Order of the Bath upon Lord Dundonald.

Fortunately a vacancy occurred immediately, through the death of Admiral
Sir Davige Gould. "Lord Auckland has called," wrote Lord Dundonald on
the 9th of May, "and informed me officially that the Queen has placed at
his disposal the vacant Order of the Bath; and that, in conformity with
the intention with which it was so placed, he was to deliver it to me."
"I have information from the palace," he wrote a few days later, "that
her Majesty has had conversation as to the justice of some further
atonement for the injuries that have been inflicted on me, and that she
said it was subject of regret that such was not in her power; but,
should the subject be entertained by her advisers, her concurrence would
not be wanting."

That further act of justice was never rendered; but Lord Dundonald
rejoiced that the more important measure--that which, by restoring the
dignity wrongfully taken from him, would do more than anything else to
set him right in the eyes of the world--was at last adopted. "It gives