Page:Men of the Time, eleventh edition.djvu/221

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

CADELL-CADOGAN.

ing, and finally secured a position in a prominent house of cotton factors, which he only left, in 1879, to devote himself exclusively to literature. His first literary work was in the form of contributions to the New Orleans Picayune over the signature of Drop-Shot. His work, however, did not attract any very general attention until his Creole sketches appeared in Scribner's Magazine. These were published in book form in 1879, under the title of "Old Creole Days." They were followed by "The Grandissimes" in 1880, and by "Madame Delphine" in 1881. In all of these Mr. Cable has shown such a mastery of the Louisiana dialect and such a deep insight into the Creole character as to give him at once a prominence among American writers which few are fortunate enough to obtain in so brief an experience. He is now engaged upon the preparation of a history of New Orleans.

CADELL, Francis, the explorer of the river Murray, son of H. F. Cadell, Esq., of Cockenzie, near Preston Pans, Haddingtonshire, was born in 1822, and educated at Edinburgh and in Germany. While very young he showed a taste for adventure, and entered as a midshipman on board an East Indiaman. The vessel having been chartered by Government, the lad, as a volunteer, took part in the first Chinese war, was present at the siege of Canton, the capture of Amoy, Ningpo, &c., and received an officer's share of prize-money. At twenty-two he was in command of a vessel, and in the intervals between his voyages he spent much time in the shipbuilding yards of the Tyne and Clyde, where he gained a thorough knowledge of naval architecture and the construction of the steam-engine. A visit to the Amazons first led him to study the subject of river navigation; and when in Australia, in 1848, his attention was drawn to the practicability of navigating the Murray and its tributaries, which had only served for watering the flocks belonging to the scattered stations on their banks. Three years later, encouraged by the Governor of Australia, Sir H. F. Young, he put his project into execution. In a frail boat, with canvas sides and ribs of barrel hoops, he embarked at Swanhill on the Upper Murray, and descended the stream to Lake Victoria at its mouth, a distance of 1300 miles. Having thus proved that the Murray was navigable, he succeeded in crossing the dangerous bar at its mouth in a steamer planned and constructed under his supervision. This vessel accomplished a first voyage of 1500 miles. Other steamers were procured, and the Murrunbidgee, the Edward, and the Darling were in like manner opened to traffic. A gold candelabrum was presented to Mr. Cadell by the settlers, the value of whose property has been greatly increased by his efforts, and the Legislature directed a gold medal in his honour to be struck in England by Mr. Wyon. As is the case with most first adventurers, others are reaping the abundant fruits of his labour; and on account of intercolonial jealousies he has received no substantial return for a fortune expended, and years of danger, anxiety, and toil.

CADOGAN, (Earl of), The Right Hon. George Henry Cadogan, eldest son of the fourth Earl, was born at Durham in 1840. He succeeded to the title on the death of his father in 1873, having been for a few months previously M.P. for Bath. He was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary for War in May, 1875; and Under Secretary of State for the Colonies in March, 1878, in succession to Mr. J. Lowther, who had been advanced to the post of Chief Secretary for Ireland. He went out of office with the Conservative party in April, 1880.