“The path of such a man through the foul jungle of this world—­the struggle of Heaven’s inspiration against the terrestrial fooleries, cupidities, and cowardices—­cannot be other than tragical:  but the man does tear out a bit of way for himself too; strives towards the good goal, inflexibly persistent till his long rest come:  the man does leave his mark behind him, ineffaceable, beneficent to all good men, maleficent to none:  and we must not complain.  The British nation of this time, in India or elsewhere—­God knows no nation ever had more need of such men, in every region of its affairs!  But also perhaps no nation ever had a much worse chance to get hold of them, to recognise and loyally second them, even when they are there.

“Anarchic stupidity is wide as the night; victorious wisdom is but as a lamp in it shining here and there.  Contrast a Napier even in Scinde with, for example, a Lally at Pondicherry or on the Place de Greve; one has to admit that it is the common lot, that it might have been far worse!

“There is great talent in this book apart from its subject.  The narrative moves on with strong, weighty step, like a marching phalanx, with the gleam of clear steel in it—­sheers down the opponent objects and tramples them out of sight in a very potent manner.  The writer, it is evident, had in him a lively, glowing image, complete in all its parts, of the transaction to be told; and that is his grand secret of giving the reader so lively a conception of it.  I was surprised to find how much I had carried away with me, even of the Hill campaign and of Trukkee itself; though without a map the attempt to understand such a thing seemed to me desperate at first.

“With many thanks, and gratified to have made this reflex acquaintance, which, if it should ever chance to become a direct one, might gratify me still more,

  “I remain always yours sincerely,

  “T.  CARLYLE."[A]

[Footnote A:  “Life of General Sir William Napier, K.C.B.”  Edited by H.A.  Bruce, M.P.  London:  Murray, 1864.  Vol. ii. pp. 312-314.]

In June, 1861, a few days after the great fire in which Inspector Braidwood perished in the discharge of his duty, Carlyle broke a long silence with the following letter:—­

  “TO THE EDITOR OF THE ‘TIMES.’

“SIR,—­

“There is a great deal of public sympathy, and of deeper sort than usual, awake at present on the subject of Inspector Braidwood.  It is a beautiful emotion, and apparently a perfectly just one, and well bestowed.  Judging by whatever light one gets, Braidwood seems to have been a man of singular worth in his department, and otherwise; such a servant as the public seldom has.  Thoroughly skilled in his function, nobly valiant in it, and faithful to it—­faithful to the death.  In rude, modest form, actually a kind of hero, who has perished in serving us!

“Probably his sorrowing family is not left in wealthy circumstances.  Most certainly it is pity when a generous emotion, in many men, or in any man, has to die out futile, and leave no action behind it.  The question, therefore, suggests itself—­Should not there be a ’Braidwood Testimonial,’ the proper parties undertaking it, in a modest, serious manner, the public silently testifying (to such extent, at least) what worth its emotion has?