按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
o serve on this Board。 That； as I subsequently informed Mr。 Lloyd George； I should have been glad to do for nothing as a piece of public duty。
Afterwards； by his direction； an interview took place at the Ritz Hotel between Lord Ashby St。 Ledgers； on behalf of the Government； Lord Richard Cavendish； and myself； at which we discussed the whole policy of the future administration of the Act。
It might now have been thought that this matter was settled； but again there proved to be many a slip； etc。
In order to put an end to the attacks Lloyd George went to Mr。 Walter Long； who was leading the Opposition on the Unionist side； offering to knock off one name — I believe it was that of my friend and colleague； Professor Somerville； though of this I am not sure — but saying “I must have Rider Haggard。” To this Mr。 Long agreed； and the matter was then adjourned to the following night — I think the last of the session。 Again the trouble began； and Sir Frederick Banbury； either throwing over or not knowing of the arrangement with Mr。 Long； threatened to stop the whole thing； once more in a thin House； unless the number of missioners was reduced to eight。 So； as my name was the last on the list； for all the others had been announced； it was struck off to prevent the hanging…up until after the adjournment of the Amendings Act； which I think was being rediscussed upon its return from the House of Lords。
Thus it came about that I； who directly and indirectly had played a considerable part in connection with this beneficent measure； was prevented from having any share in its administration。
The Royal mission on Coast Erosion and Afforestation came to its end at last when we signed a Report that was practically unanimous； save for one or two reservations； of which I drafted all that portion that has to do with Reclamation。 I believe that our remendations； which contain nothing very startling； are to be made the subject of an Act of Parliament at some future date。
I made some good friends upon that mission； notably that charming and able geologist； Professor Jehu （to whom I dedicated my tale “Red Eve”）； who was my constant panion during those five years； and dear old Sir William ffolkes； now gone from among us。
I missed that mission very much； since its sittings took me to London from time to time； and gave me a change of mental occupation and interests。 Indeed I do not remember ever being more consistently depressed than I was during the first part of the following winter。 Here； as I no longer shoot； I had nothing to do； except the daily grind of romance…writing； relieved only by Bench business； my farm affairs； and an afternoon walk through the mud with the two spaniels； Bustle and Jeekie； and a chat after church on Sunday upon the affairs of the nation with my fellow…churchwarden； friend and neighbour； Mr。 Carr； the squire of this place。 Also bronchitis； which had threatened me for some years； troubled me much。 I thought that I had shaken it off； but caught it again during a cold snap； staying at a Cambridge college； whither I went to address a large meeting upon the possibility of establishing agricultural training institutions upon the Danish model。 So I returned here； enjoyed the bronchitis； and began to write this autobiography； for really it seemed as though everything had e to an end。
Then of a sudden things changed； as they have a way of doing in life。 Thus one morning about Christmas…time I found amongst my correspondence a munication from the Prime Minister informing me that the King had been pleased to confer a knighthood upon me。 I had often thought and said that I did not think I should care to be knighted。 Indeed when a year or two before it was suggested to me through a semi…official channel on behalf of a very powerful Minister； that if I wished for a barocy it might perhaps be arranged； I said at once； and firmly； that I did not。 Barocies are for rich men who have male heirs； not for persons like myself。
However； I took the knighthood when it was definitely offered； on the ground that it is a mistake to refuse anything in this world； also that a title is useful in the public service； and especially so abroad。 Moreover； it was Recognition； for which I felt grateful； for who is there that does not appreciate recognition particularly after long years of； I hope； disinterested toil？
A week or so after the announcement of my honour； on January 11； 1912； the post brought me another interesting and more important letter； from which I will quote one or two passages。
Colonial Office： January 10； 1912。
Dear Mr。 Haggard； — You are probably aware that at the Imperial Conference of last year it was decided to appoint a Royal mission to visit the various Dominions and report upon them。 I enclose a copy of the Resolution of the Conference and another of the suggested Terms of Reference。 You will notice that the Fiscal Question is carefully excluded from the purview of the mission。 The inquiry will probably extend over three years； though it will not occupy anything like the whole of that time； and it will entail three visits to the Dominions — one of three months to Canada and Newfoundland； another of three months to South Africa； and another of six months to Australia and New Zealand。 These visits will take place in different years and will not be continuous。 Of course； following the precedent of all other Royal missions there will be no remuneration for the missioners ＇then follow details as to travelling allowance； etc。＇。 There is to be one missioner for each of the five Dominions and six British missioners。 Lord Inchape is to be the Chairman； and the Prime Minister and I are very anxious to try to induce you to be one of the British missioners 。 。 。 。
Yours very truly；
L。 Harcourt。
In a subsequent letter Mr。 Harcourt wrote：
I greatly hope that you will be able to accept； and I trust for the sake of the reading public that the mission will not prevent you from pursuing a good deal of your usual avocations； and might even incidentally provide materials！
I need scarcely say that to my mind this was recognition — with a vengeance。 Charles Longman remarked when I told him the news； at which he was delighted； “I would rather have heard this than that they had given you a peerage。 Anyone can be a peer； but to be one of the six men chosen to represent the United Kingdom on a great Empire inquiry of this sort is a real honour。”
I agree with him； especially as I have no wish to be a peer。 Also to me the pliment seemed the more marked for the reason that it was paid to an individual who first became known to the public as a writer of romantic literature； an occupation that does not dispose the British nation to take those who follow it seriously。 Now I saw that all my long years of toil in investigating and attempting to solve the grave problems which lie at the root of the welfare of our country had not been without effect upon the minds of its rulers； and I felt proportionately grateful and honoured。
Of course the acceptance of this Royal missionership involves serious sacrifices in my case； exclusive of that of long separation from my family。 Thus it will necessitate the partial shutting down of my home here； and how I