And yet； unless I most strangely misunderstood him； all the while Mr。 Lyttelton was a believer in the plan。 He was personally most kind to me； and I liked him very much。 At that time also； as his private secretary informed me； he wished me to make another report upon the possibility of applying similar principles to a scheme of land settlement at home； indeed I was told that it was settled I should be asked to do so。 I understand； however — though of course in this I may be mistaken — that the officials of the Board of Agriculture put a stop to this idea； as such an appointment would have interfered with the prerogative of their department。 At any rate； opposition arose somewhere and it was dropped。 The upshot was that the work was thrown away； if any good and earnest work ever really is thrown away。
The end of the matter may be briefly summarised。 As was to be anticipated； “the bottom was knocked out” of my scheme in the most satisfactory official way。
The Report of the mittee stated that —
Though we fully recognise the zeal and ability Mr。 Rider Haggard has shown in making his investigations and preparing his Report； and trust that much good may be done indirectly by the ventilation of the suggestions that he has made； we regret to be obliged to say that we consider his scheme to be open to so many objections that； even if we were prepared to advocate colonisation in principle； we could not remend that this particular scheme should be adopted 。 。 。 。
Moreover； we feel that there are serious objections to placing any such body as the Salvation Army in the position of managers of a colony dependent on money advanced by the Imperial Government 。 。 。 。
Perhaps on the details the mittee was right。 Who am I that I should question its collective wisdom — even if it had been “prepared to advocate colonisation in principle”？ Yet I agree with Mr。 Lyttelton in the remarks that he subsequently made to me； that the good that would have been done by the adoption of such a scheme would have infinitely outweighed its disadvantages and the possible； though improbable； moary loss。 However this may be； there the thing ended。 The somewhat nebulous remendations of the mittee included “a grant…inaid” to “be given by the Imperial Government to the mittee formed under the Unemployed Workmen Act； for the purpose of emigration。”
Or alternatively —
“That； in the event of that proposal being rejected； an annual grant…inaid for the term of five years should be made to the Emigrants’ Immigration Office； to be expended by them in the emigration of suitable persons to the British Colonies through such Emigration Societies as they may select 。 。 。 。”
These remendations were dissented from by Mr。 Herbert Samuel； the present Postmaster…General； and by Mr。 H。 Lambert； and qualified in a Note added to the Report by my late friend Mr。 Wilson…Fox； whose premature death has been such a loss to the public service of this country。
It is needless to add that； so far； the Report of this mittee has proved perfectly abortive。 A strong man； such as Mr。 Joseph Chamberlain was in his prime； might have adopted the outline of my ideas and made something of them。 But the strong man was lacking； and to send them to a hybrid mittee of mixed views was only to ensure their murder。 It is always so easy to find fault and make objections。
For me personally this issue was painful。 I had worked hard and in all honestness； and； like many better men； I had found myself thrown over。 After all the Colonial Secretary’s declarations as to the value of my work； etc。； I never even received a letter of thanks from the Government； or； for the matter of that； a copy of the Report and Evidence of the mittee； which I had to buy like any other member of the public。 All that I got was the privilege of paying the bill； for of course the small sum allowed by the Rhodes Trustees did not suffice to meet the expenses of my tour in a high official position through that very expensive country； the United States。
Thus my mission ended。
In confirmation of what I have stated above I ore important letters which I wrote or received as a Special missioner。
The first of these was addressed by me to Lord Rosebery as Chairman of the Rhodes Trust。
Confidential。
Ditchingham House； Norfolk：
May 20； 1905。
My Lord； — You may know that I am the person who was sent to investigate the Salvation Army Colonies in America。 I write therefore thinking that perhaps you would wish to hear from me in the matter。
First； however； as one who has for years taken deep interest in the problem of the congested cities and the depopulated land； I desire most heartily to thank the Rhodes Trustees for their action in having set this investigation on foot。
Very briefly the results are as follows：
On the whole I was well satisfied with the Colonies； perceiving in them a great principle； easy of adaptation。
I proceeded to Canada and showed to various members of the Government there my draft reports。 Also I explained to them my scheme。
I am glad to be able to say that I was successful in impressing upon them that this scheme is quite sound。 Mr。 Sifton （a great power there） even went further and stated that he considered it of more importance to the Dominion than any plan of preferential duties。
The issue is that I have brought home with me a despatch from Sir Wilfrid Laurier granting three hundred and sixty square miles of their best land for the purposes of the scheme； promising as much more as may be required； and stating his firm belief in the practical nature of my scheme 。 。 。 。
I speak with reference to Canada and other Colonies。 On the home side of the question； where dear land and awful rates and District Councils have to be faced； I am not so sure。 I have offered to go into and prepare a further report on this point if it is desired。
I have ventured to suggest that a missioner should be sent to South Africa and especially to Rhodesia； to examine those Colonies and see what they are prepared to do to help。 I have great hope that the tobacco industry in Rhodesia gives an opening to the small holder。 I think also that your Lordship will agree with me that a British population is desirable in that country。
Believe me；
Very truly yours；
H。 Rider Haggard。
The Earl of Rosebery； K。G。； etc。 etc。
As a result of this letter I had a long interview with Lord Rosebery in the course of which we discussed the whole matter in detail。 It was the only occasion upon which I have ever met this remarkable personage。 As he wandered up and down his library and talked of this and that； he impressed me as a melancholy and disappointed man — one who； in a sense； felt that he had failed； notwithstanding his brilliant gifts and great opportunities。 His fine nature peeped out in every sentence that he uttered； also his disillusionment。 I suggested that he should move in this matter in the House of Lords； but he did not bring the matter up there； as a Departmental mittee was appointed。
Truly the appointment of that mittee was wise from the point of view of those who wished to put an end to further agitation on the subject。
I also received the following letters from Earl Grey：
Toronto： May 20； 1905。
My dear Rider Haggar