said, a good deal of work and much travelling—­voyages to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and Newfoundland.  Two years, he expected, would enable the whole of the work to be done, and about twelve months’ absence from England, perhaps rather more, but not in continuous months, would be necessary.  It was a great honor to be asked, and I had no hesitation in telling him that as I was on the eve of being freed from regular active work, I would be more than happy to undertake the duty, but—­“But what?” he inquired.  I was but very recently married, I said, and how could I leave my wife to go to the other side of the globe alone?  No need to do that, said he; your wife can accompany you; other ladies are going too.  Then I gratefully accepted the offer, and with high delight, for would I not see more of the great world, and accomplish useful public work at the same time.  Duty and pleasure would go hand in hand.  I need not hide the fact that it was one of my then Directors, now my colleague, and always my friend, Sir Walter Nugent, Baronet (then a Member of Parliament), who, having been spoken to on the subject, was the first to mention my name to Mr. Harcourt.

Soon after my retirement from the position of Manager of the Midland, my colleagues of the Irish railway service, joined by the Managers of certain steamship companies that were closely associated with the railways of Ireland, entertained me to a farewell dinner.  Mr. James Cowie, Secretary and Manager of the Belfast and Northern Counties Section of the Midland Railway of England (Edward John Cotton’s old line), presided at the banquet, which took place in Dublin on the 9th of January, 1913.  It was a large gathering, a happy occasion, though tinged inevitably with regrets.  Warm-hearted friends surrounded me, glad that one of their number, having elected to retire, should be able to do so in health and strength, and with such a smiling prospect before him.

When I became a Midland Director, Mr. Nugent was no longer Chairman of the Board.  He had been called hence, after only a few days’ illness at the Company’s Hotel at Mallaranny, near Achill Island, where, in January, 1912, he had gone for a change.  In him the company lost a faithful guardian and I a valued friend.  He was succeeded by Major H. C. Cusack (the Deputy Chairman), who is still the Chairman of the Company.  A country gentleman of simple tastes and studious habits, Major Cusack, though fond of country life, devotes the greater part of his time to business, especially to the affairs of the Midland and of an important Bank of which he is the Deputy-Chairman.  The happy possessor of an equable temperament and great assiduity he accomplishes a considerable amount of work with remarkable ease.  For his many estimable qualities he is greatly liked.

On the 14th of November I made my debut as a Dominions’ Royal Commissioner, at the then headquarters of the Commission, Scotland House, Westminster.  Soon the Commissioners were to start on their travels, and were at that time holding public sittings and taking evidence.