earliest of all in tendering his compliments,
"to offer my very hearty congratulations upon your appointment--all that
remained to efface the stain of such unmerited persecution." "The
communication you have just made to me," wrote the Duke of Hamilton and
Brandon, "is most gratifying, and the First Lord of the Admiralty has
done himself immortal honour in appointing that naval officer commander
in one hemisphere who had previously illustrated his name by his most
brilliant exploits in the other. Everything I think has now been done to
undo the foul aspersions with which you have been assailed; and I am
sure now everything will be done that can most serve to establish the
ability of the officer and the delicacy of the gentleman. I congratulate
you most sincerely upon your appointment, and I hope you will meet with
difficulties when you arrive at your destination. Don't be surprised at
this my wish. It proceeds from knowing the ample resources of my friend
to overcome them, and his constant desire to sacrifice everything to
duty and honour." "I derive the greatest pleasure and satisfaction from
your appointment to the command of a British fleet," wrote Sir George
Sinclair, "an appointment not less creditable to the ministry than
honourable to yourself. I cannot help contemplating with affectionate
sorrow the portrait of our dearest friend, Sir Francis Burdett, now
suspended over the chimney-piece, and thinking how happy he would have
been had he witnessed this most welcome and delightful consummation."
"Permit me the honour," wrote Admiral John White, "to bear testimony to
the high gratification I felt at seeing by the papers the announcement
of your lordship's having taken the command of the West India and
Halifax Stations. The whole British empire has expressed great joy at
this justice having been done to the bravery of your lordship as an
officer and your goodness and honour as a man." That last sentence told
no more than the truth.

CHAPTER XXVII.

LORD DUNDONALD'S DEPARTURE FOR NORTH AMERICA.--EXTRACTS FROM THE
CORRESPONDENCE OF LORD AUCKLAND AND OTHERS RESPECTING WEST INDIAN
AFFAIRS AND EUROPEAN POLITICS.--BERMUDA.--THE FRENCH REVOLUTION OF 1848
AND ITS ISSUES.--IRELAND AND THE CHARTISTS.--THE DEATH OF LORD AUCKLAND.

[1848.]

Lord Dundonald left London for Devonport on the 16th of March, 1848, and
on the following day hoisted his flag on board the _Wellesley_ as
Admiral in command of the North America