Page:The Marquess of Dalhousie.djvu/99

Rh character, and a high-minded forbearance, up to the furthest limit that forbearance was safe, towards his failings. He resolved that, so far as in him lay, the Punjab should not lose the services of such a man.

When Sir Henry, on finding his advice against annexation rejected, tendered his resignation, Lord Dalhousie sent his Foreign Secretary to quietly lay before him the considerations, which from Sir Henry's own point of view, should render the step inexpedient and uncalled for. When Sir Henry withdrew his resignation, Lord Dalhousie allowed no recollection of the incident to affect his estimate of the sterling value of his sensitive lieutenant. 'You give and will, I hope, continue to give, me your views frankly,' he said to him on the 13th of February, 1849. 'If we differ, I shall say so; but my saying so ought not to be interpreted to mean want of confidence.'

To outsiders, indeed, it appeared that Lord Dalhousie had allowed himself to fall into the same dependence on the Lawrence family that had marked his predecessor's rule. For each of the three brothers he had a sincere admiration, and each of them he employed in great public trusts. 'The Lawrences have been forced upon Lord Dalhousie,' wrote Sir Charles Napier, putting the shallow opinion of the moment into strong and lasting words. As a matter of historical fact it was