§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOTI beg to ask the noble Marquess the Secretary of State for War, Whether he has received official news of the death of that most gallant and distinguished officer, General Sir Herbert Stewart?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONAlthough the House, generally, is in possession of the melancholy intelligence, I was about to read a telegram which I received this morning from Lord Wolseley. He says—
It is my most painful duty to announce to you the death of Sir Herbert Stewart, which took place at 5 P.M. on the 16th instant, from the effects of the wound received in the action of January 19. Colonel Talbot, in reporting, says—'I beg to be allowed to express the deep grief of all ranks who have had the privilege of serving under this distinguished officer, especially of those who have so lately followed him into action, and also their sense of the great loss which they, the Army generally, and the country, have sustained.'Lord Wolseley goes on to say—He was to be buried by the soldiers whom he I so recently led to victory, at the entrance to the 929 valley leading to the Gakdul Wells. No braver soldier or more brilliant leader of men ever wore the Queen's uniform. England can ill afford the loss of this young General, while his death robs me of the services of a dear friend, and of a dear comrade. All the other sick and wounded are doing well.I cannot allow the opportunity to pass without referring to the equal loss which Her Majesty's Service has sustained by the death of the gallant General Earle. General Earle had certainly, in this and in previous campaigns, rendered the most brilliant and distinguished services. I am quite certain that the unfortunate, but most honourable, circumstances of his death, equally with those of Sir Herbert Stewart, will excite the universal regret of Members of this House, and their respectful sympathy with his relatives and friends.