Cobham Collection

57 x 90 mm. Woodburytype. A head and shoulders portrait of Sir Garnet Wolseley in military uniform and medals. Wolseley, at very short notice, left London on 22 July 1878 to take up his appointment as High Commissioner of Cyprus. It was not a position he enjoyed, commenting later: 'I had always heard that the Turk was a clever diplomatist, but of all the good bargains he had ever made, this one about Cyprus is much the best - he takes all the plums out of the island and throws upon us the responsibility of governing it well' (quoted in: Maurice and Arthur 1924, p.93). His gaze, moreover was more longingly fixed upon Egypt and the security of the route to India (a wish that was to be fulfilled in 1882; see Y3041A). After nine months spent trying to create a healthy administration out of the apathy and corruption of Turkish rule Wolseley, to his relief, was recalled at the end of April 1879, in order to take over the Governorship of Natal.

For further information on Wolseley see: Maurice, F and Arthur, G (1924), The life of Lord Wolseley, London : W. Heinemann.

Indexed