Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/34

30 was allowed to retain one of its members and where he succeeded a distinguished Anglo-Indian officer, Sir John Malcolm. In spite of a sharp contest on his first election, he continued to sit for Launceston until his appointment to the Governor-Generalship in 1844.

Here should be recorded the happiest event of his life — his marriage in 1821 with Emily, daughter of the first Marquess of Londonderry and sister of Lord Castlereagh. She had previously been married to Mr. J. James, British Minister to the Netherlands and father of the present Lord Northbourne. Those only who knew the virtues of her character and her devotion to her husband in all the trials and changes of mortal life can form a true conception of the happiness of this union. Her last act of devotion was an attempt to join him in India. When sailing from Nice, in 1844, her strength proved unequal to the undertaking, and on the peremptory advice of the doctor she was obliged to retrace her steps. This may be considered as having been providentially ordained — for the consequences of an enervating climate on a frame far from strong might have led to results which her husband shrank from contemplating.

While M.P. for Durham, Sir Henry Hardinge was appointed Clerk of the Ordnance, which office he held from 1823 to 1827. In 1828 he entered the Cabinet as Secretary at War, in succession to Lord Palmerston. For a few months in 1830, and again during the brief Tory Administration of 1834-35, he undertook the yet more responsible duties of Chief Secretary for Ireland.