But that Great Providence, that shapes our course, rough hew it how we will, ordained my departure from the conduct of the War. Amongst the masses of regretful letters at my departure I choose one from an Admiral then 88 years old, who satisfies the great Dr. Weir Mitchell’s dictum of the clear brain becoming clearer with age. This Admiral annexed a Continent for England, abounding in riches in New Guinea; but he got no thanks; and England gave away his gift. But his name lives there. I conclude with his letter:-- DEAR OLD FISHER, It is marvellous how all variations of our lives are unravelled by Divine Inspiration that cannot err. “No one can ‘hustle’ Providence.” (That’s one of your sayings!) Think of Moses! “He was the truest warrior that ever buckled sword. He the most gifted Poet that ever breathed a word: And never Earth’s Philosopher traced with his golden pen, On the Deathless Page, truths half so sage as he wrote down for men; Yet no man knows his sepulchre, and no man saw it e’er, For the Angels of God up-turned the sod and laid the Dead Man there.” Moses saved his people. He prepared them for the conquest in which he was to take no part. He was the meekest man on earth, yet he could be the most ruthless! Doubtless you saved England at the Falkland Islands. Doubtless you prepared our Fleet for this war! (Nothing to boast of! You the clay in the hands of the Potter!) And it seems likely that some Joshua will reap what you have sown! Yet history will put it right. “O lonely grave in Moab’s land! O dark Beth-Peor’s hill! Speak to these curious hearts of ours and teach them to be still!” Ever faithfully yours, (Signed) J. MORESBY. FOOTNOTES [1] “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark.”--_Phil._ iii. 13, 14. [2] Sir Julian Corbett, the author of the wonderful “Seven Years’ War,” wrote to me in past vituperative years as follows: “Yesterday I was asked if it were _really_ true that you (Sir John Fisher) had sold the country to Germany! I was able to assure the questioner that the report was at least exaggerated. It is often my fortune to be able to quiet minds that have been seriously disturbed by the unprecedented slanders that have been the reward of your unprecedented work.” [3] See letters at end of this chapter. [4] On hearing of von Tirpitz’s dismissal I perpetrated the following letter, which a newspaper contrived to print in one of its editions. I can’t say why, but it didn’t appear any more, nor was it copied by any other paper! DEAR OLD TIRPS,