Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/33

 CHAPTER II

Further Military Services; Political Life; appointed Governor-General of India

1781 — 1813

When a man has greatly distinguished himself in his youth, and has proved himself in later years to be a statesman of capacity, an administrator of merit, and a ruler of energy, it is not often that his middle life should be nearly a blank. Yet this is what happened in Rawdon's case, for from 1781 to 1812, though he performed acts worthy of notice, he made no persevering effort to cultivate his natural endowments, and never rose above mediocrity. Nor were opportunities wanting, for it was precisely in those years that talent had a full field for labour; and as, by his family connections and by his personal character, he was in a position to obtain and profit by high employment in the public service, so is the break in his career which now took place all the more remarkable.

On reaching England, he found that in his absence in America he had been returned member for Randals-