IN February, 1855, Roebuck moved for a select committee toinquire into the condition of the Army before Sebastopol.

　　Lord John Russell, who was leader of the House, treated thisas a vote of censure, and resigned. Lord Palmerston resistedRoebuck's motion, and generously defended the Government hewas otherwise opposed to. But the motion was carried by amajority of 157, and Lord Aberdeen was turned out of office.

　　The Queen sent for Lord Derby, but without Lord Palmerston hewas unable to form a Ministry. Lord John was then appealedto, with like results; and the premiership was practicallyforced upon Palmerston, in spite of his unpopularity atCourt. Mr. Horsman was made Chief Secretary for Ireland; andthrough Mr. Ellice I became his private secretary.

　　Before I went to the Irish Office I was all but a stranger tomy chief. I had met him occasionally in the tennis court;but the net was always between us. He was a man with a greatdeal of manner, but with very little of what the French call'conviction.' Nothing keeps people at a distance moreeffectually than simulated sincerity; Horsman was a master ofthe art. I was profoundly ignorant of my duties. But thoughthis was a great inconvenience to me at first, it led to afriendship which I greatly prized until its tragic end. Forall information as to the writers of letters, as to IrishMembers who applied for places for themselves, or for others,I had to consult the principal clerk. He was himself anIrishman of great ability; and though young, was eitherpersonally or officially acquainted, so it seemed to me, withevery Irishman in the House of Commons, or out of it. Hisname is too well known - it was Thomas Bourke, afterwardsUnder Secretary, and one of the victims of the Fenianassassins in the Phoenix Park. His patience and amiabilitywere boundless; and under his guidance I soon learnt thetricks of my trade.

　　During the session we remained in London; and for some timeit was of great interest to listen to the debates. WhenIrish business was before the House, I had often to be inattendance on my chief in the reporters' gallery. SometimesI had to wait there for an hour or two before our questionscame on, and thus had many opportunities of hearing Bright,Gladstone, Disraeli, and all the leading speakers. After atime the pleasure, when compulsory, began to pall; and I usedto wonder what on earth could induce the ruck to waste theirtime in following, sheeplike, their bell-wethers, or wastetheir money in paying for that honour. When Parliament wasup we moved to Dublin. I lived with Horsman in the ChiefSecretary's lodge. And as I had often stayed at CastleHoward before Lord Carlisle became Viceroy, between the twolodges I saw a great deal of pleasant society.

　　Amongst those who came to stay with Horsman was SidneyHerbert, then Colonial Secretary, a man of singular nobilityof nature. Another celebrity for the day, but of a verydifferent character, was Lord Cardigan. He had just returnedfrom the Crimea, and was now in command of the forces inIreland. This was about six months after the Balaklavacharge. Horsman asked him one evening to give a descriptionof it, with a plan of the battle. His Lordship did so; nowords could be more suited to the deed. If this was 'pell-mell, havock, and confusion,' the account of it wasproportionately confounded. The noble leader scrawled andinked and blotted all the phases of the battle upon the samescrap of paper, till the batteries were at the starting-pointof the charge, the Light Brigade on the far side of the guns,and all the points of the compass, attack and defence, hadchanged their original places; in fact, the gallant Earlbrandished his pen as valiantly as he had his sword. Whenquite bewildered, like everybody else, I ventured mildly toask, 'But where were you, Lord Cardigan, and where were ourmen when it came to this?'

　　'Where? Where? God bless my soul! How should I know whereanybody was?' And this, no doubt, described the situation toa nicety.

　　My office was in the Castle, and the next room to mine wasthat of the Solicitor-General Keogh, afterwards Judge. Webecame the greatest of friends. It was one of Horsman'speculiarities to do business circuitously. He was fond ofmysteries and of secrets, secrets that were to be kept fromeveryone, but which were generally known to the officemessengers. When Keogh and I met in the morning he wouldsay, with admirable imitation of Horsman's manner, 'Well, itis all settled; the Viceroy has considered the question, andhas decided to act upon my advice. Mind you don't tellanyone - it is a profound secret,' then, lowering his voiceand looking round the room, 'His Excellency has consented toscore at the next cricket match between t............