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And now； with life behind me； how should I advise another in such a plight？ When a young lady； thus embarrassed； wrote to Carlyle for counsel； he sympathetically bade her 'put her drawers in order。'
Here is the truth to be faced at the outset： 'Man has but the choice to go a little way in many paths； or a great way in only one。' 'Tis thus John Mill puts it。 Which will he； which should he； choose？ Both courses lead alike to incompleteness。 The universal man is no specialist； and has to generalise without his details。 The specialist sees only through his microscope； and knows about as much of cosmology as does his microbe。 Goethe； the most comprehensive of Seers； must needs expose his incompleteness by futile attempts to disprove Newton's theory of colour。 Newton must needs expose his； by a still more lamentable attempt to prove the Apocalypse as true as his own discovery of the laws of gravitation。 All science nowadays is necessarily confined to experts。 Without illustrating the fact by invidious hints； I invite anyone to consider the intellectual cost to the world which such limitation entails； nor is the loss merely negative； the specialist is unfortunately too often a bigot； when beyond his contracted sphere。
This； you will say； is arguing in a circle。 The universal must be given up for the detail； the detail for the universal； we leave off where we began。 Yes； that is the dilemma。 Still； the gain to science through a devotion of a whole life to a mere group of facts； in a single branch of a single science； may be an incalculable acquisition to human knowledge； to the intellectual capital of the race … a gain that sometimes far outweighs the loss。 Even if we narrow the question to the destiny of the individual； the sacrifice of each one for the good of the whole is doubtless the highest aim the one can have。
But this conclusion scarcely helps us； for remember； the option is not given to all。 Genius； or talent； or special aptitude； is a necessary equipment for such an undertaking。 Great discoverers must be great observers； dexterous manipulators； ingenious contrivers； and patient thinkers。
The difficulty we started with was； what you and I； my friend； who perhaps have to row in the same boat； and perhaps 'with the same sculls；' without any of these provisions； what we should do？ What point of the compass should we steer for？ 'Whatever thy hand findeth to do； do it with thy might。' Truly there could be no better advice。 But the 'finding' is the puzzle； and like the search for truth it must； I fear； be left to each one's power to do it。 And then … and then the countless thousands who have the leisure without the means … who have hands at least； and yet no work to put them to … what is to be done for these？ Not in your time or mine； dear friend； will that question be answered。 For this； I fear we must wait till by the 'universal law of adaptation' we reach 'the ultimate development of the ideal man。' 'Colossal optimism；' exclaims the critic。
CHAPTER XXXIX
IN February； 1855； Roebuck moved for a select committee to inquire into the condition of the Army before Sebastopol。 Lord John Russell； who was leader of the House； treated this as a vote of censure； and resigned。 Lord Palmerston resisted Roebuck's motion； and generously defended the Government he was otherwise opposed to。 But the motion was carried by a majority of 157； and Lord Aberdeen was turned out of office。 The Queen sent for Lord Derby； but without Lord Palmerston he was unable to form a Ministry。 Lord John was then appealed to； with like results； and the premiership was practically forced upon Palmerston； in spite of his unpopularity at Court。 Mr。 Horsman was made Chief Secretary for Ireland； and through Mr。 Ellice I became his private secretary。
Before I went to the Irish Office I was all but a stranger to my chief。 I had met him occasionally in the tennis court； but the net was always between us。 He was a man with a great deal of manner； but with very little of what the French call 'conviction。' Nothing keeps people at a distance more effectually than simulated sincerity； Horsman was a master of the art。 I was profoundly ignorant of my duties。 But though this was a great inconvenience to me at first； it led to a friendship which I greatly prized until its tragic end。 For all information as to the writers of letters； as to Irish Members who applied for places for themselves； or for others； I had to consult the principal clerk。 He was himself an Irishman of great ability； and though young； was either personally or officially acquainted； so it seemed to me； with every Irishman in the House of Commons； or out of it。 His name is too well known … it was Thomas Bourke； afterwards Under Secretary； and one of the victims of the Fenian assassins in the Phoenix Park。 His patience and amiability were boundless； and under his guidance I soon learnt the tricks of my trade。
During the session we remained in London； and for some time it was of great interest to listen to the debates。 When Irish business was before the House； I had often to be in attendance on my chief in the reporters' gallery。 Sometimes I had to wait there for an hour or two before our questions came on； and thus had many opportunities of hearing Bright； Gladstone； Disraeli； and all the leading speakers。 After a time the pleasure； when compulsory； began to pall； and I used to wonder what on earth could induce the ruck to waste their time in following； sheeplike； their bell…wethers； or waste their money in paying for that honour。 When Parliament was up we moved to Dublin。 I lived with Horsman in the Chief Secretary's lodge。 And as I had often stayed at Castle Howard before Lord Carlisle became Viceroy； between the two lodges I saw a great deal of pleasant society。
Amongst those who came to stay with Horsman was Sidney Herbert； then Colonial Secretary； a man of singular nobility of nature。 Another celebrity for the day； but of a very different character； was Lord Cardigan。 He had just returned from the Crimea； and was now in command of the forces in Ireland。 This was about six months after the Balaklava charge。 Horsman asked him one evening to give a description of it； with a plan of the battle。 His Lordship did so； no words could be more suited to the deed。 If this was 'pell… mell； havock； and confusion；' the account of it was proportionately confounded。 The noble leader scrawled and inked and blotted all the phases of the battle upon the same scrap of paper； till the batteries were at the starting…point of the charge； the Light Brigade on the far side of the guns； and all the points of the compass； attack and defence； had changed their original places； in fact； the gallant Earl brandished his pen as valiantly as he had his sword。 When quite bewildered； like everybody else； I ventured mildly to ask； 'But where were you； Lord Cardigan； and where were our men when it came to this？'
'Where？ Where？ God bless my soul！ How should I know where anybody was？' And this； no doubt； described the situation to a nicety。
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