358 THE WINTER TJiOUBLES. CHAP, service this new and gracious aid belonged to XI bo Mr Sidney Herbert. ceptedby Although chief of Avliat men called the ' War Herbelr^ ' Office,' he was not, in strictness, a Minister on whom the code of Whitehall threw any of the more anxious toils which the name of the De- partment implied ; but a generous nature im- pelled him to forego the comparative ease of remaining within his strict bounds, and do all he could to aid his overworked colleague the Duke of Newcastle in the task of providing good hospital care for our sick and wounded troops. Knowing, as he could not but do, that, apart from any authority attached to his mere special office, he was one of the most valued members of the Cabinet ; and having perhaps, also, learnt from life's happy experience that, along with what he might owe to fortune and Ijirth, his capacity for business of State, his frank, pleasant speech, his bright, winning manners, and even his glad, sun- shine looks had a tendency to disarm opposition, he quietly, yet boldly, stepped out beyond his set bounds, and not only became in this hospital business the volunteer delegate of the IXike of Newcastle, but even ventured to act without always asking the overworked Department of War to go through the form of supporting him by orders from the Secretary of State ; so that thus, and to the great advantage of the public service, he usurped, as it were, an autliority which all who knew what he was doing rejoiced to see him wield. If he could not in strictness command by an official despatch, he at least
