“As official, we have all known him best as Military Secretary to the Viceroy of India. He has (after six years’ service as A.D.C. to Lords Northbrook and Lytton) held the post for twelve years under three successive Viceroys; has raised the office to a science, and himself from an official into an institution--(cheers)--acquired a reputation absolutely unique, and so identified himself with the position that when a new Viceroy is appointed it seems more natural to ask who is to be his ‘Bill Beresford’ than his ‘Military Secretary’--(cheers and laughter)--and when it is Bill himself the Viceroy elect has secured, what is of great value, the same capacity and undeviating loyalty enjoyed by his predecessor--(cheers). In all this I need not rely upon my own judgment, for it is proved a hundred-fold in the fact that he has been the choice and acquired the confidence and esteem of successive men of high intellect and such different characters as Lords Ripon, Dufferin and Lansdowne--(cheers). More than that I understand his worth has been recognised by a power higher even than a Viceroy’s, and testified to by his elevation to a Knighthood in the Order of the Indian Empire, of which he is already a member--(loud and continued cheering). I knew that would elicit the hearty congratulations of you all, and I am glad we are the first to offer them. “In the social part of his duties, his capacity extends to, and is felt by all of us, for the influence of the Chief of the Staff is visible in every detail of the social functions and hospitality of Government House. I can assure him we not only know it, but appreciate very warmly the advantages we have derived from it. He has won all this by sheer force of character, and we find it hard to realise he is really giving up.