THE UEMEANOUK OF ENGLAND. 277 ' private letters, you condemn Generals Airey chap ' and Estcourt, and the Staff generally, and this L_
- without reference to me, or the expression of a
' desire to have my opinion of theii" qualifications
- or imputed deficiencies. I have been conver-
' sant with public business nearly half a century, ' and I have never yet known an instance of ' such condemnation before. The officers above- ' named are perfectly efficient. I am witness to ' their daily labours, their constant toil, and I can ' with truth say that they merit the tribute of my ' warmest approbation. General Airey, whose ' duties cover a wider surface and are more con- ' tinuously in operation than those of his col- ' league, is a very able man, and particularly
- qualified, according to my humble judgment, for
' the post he occupies, and I consider myself ' most fortunate in having him in the situation ' of Quartermaster-General. Am I, or are the ' writers of private letters in the better position ' to pronoance upon his merits ? . . . You
- must pardon me for adding that I can only
' regard your adoption of the imputations against ' these officers ' [the officers of the Headquarter Staff generally] ' as an indirect reflection on my-
- self, and an indication that you consider me
- incapable of judging of departmental officers,
' the chief of whom receive their orders from ' me.'(^^) ' I cannot say how all these attacks ' [attacks on his Staff] ' annoy me, and add to my anxieties. ' and those are far from being few.
- The reflections which that despatcli contains
