278 THE WINTER TJiOUBLES. C h A P. IX. ' upon the military staff of the aniiy, founded ' upon information given by irresponsible per- ' sons, apparently wholly ignorant of the service,
- have wounded me deeply, and make me feel
' the insecurity of the position of any officer ' entrusted with important duties, and that he ' is liable to condemnation without enquiry.'(^^) ' It cannot fail to be a satisfaction to your Grace ' to be informed that the Staff are not chargeable
- with the grave offences attributed to them, but
' are able, zealous, and industrious public ser- ' vants, devoting themselves to their duty, and to ' that exclusively, and therefore entitled to my ' approbation and support.'(^') In answer to a letter in which the Duke of Newcastle proposed that General Airey should be appointed to the command of a Division, Lord Raglan wrote : ' I have in my several ' letters expressed my most entire confidence in ' General Airey ; and, as in your private letter ' of the 8th, you ask, " Would it not be a good ' change to give General Airey a Division ? " ' I deem it necessary not to lose another moment ' in saying that, if he be removed from the ' appointment of Quartermaster-General, a very ' great injury would be inflicted on the service
- and on myself personally. I should have the
' greatest difficulty in getting on without him. ' I consider his services invaluable. We are
- in communication with each other all the day
' long, and no two men could get on better ' together. His work is so constant and la- ' borious that I am astonished he has recovered
