Brassey delighted in showing to all and sundry the treasures that had been 

 thus brought together, and with a charm of manner which all who knew him 

 will recall he would mal<e the glass cases tell their own tale of far-off lands 

 and bygone times. His final presentation of the Sunbeam to the Indian Gov- 

 ernment as a hospital ship in the second year of the war (March, 1916) was a 

 happy and generous token of unselfish patriotism. No more fitting use could 

 have been found for the later days of that noble ship, whose long record of 

 500,000 nautical miles under sail and steam, in fair weather and foul, was 

 one of which he was justly proud. In a volume published only last year the 

 life story of this famous shipi was again given tO' the world as a fitting sequel 

 to the earlier work by his first wife. 



Coming as he did from a stock that had, by sheer hard work and enter- 

 prise, successfully carried through great public undertakings, Lord Brassey 

 fully realized the importance of the part played by labor in the development 

 of a nation's resources. "Work and Wages," which he first published as a 

 sequel to the biography of his father by Sir Arthur Helpis, was reprinted in 

 later years with additions dictated by matured experience. The welfare of 

 the working classes and the share to which they are entitled in the profits due 

 to increased efficiency and output were strongly advocated in "Work and 

 Wages." "From the inexhaustible fountain of labor," he wrote, "springs all 

 that constitutes the wealth of nations." The case for labor could not be put 

 more strongly or concisely. The eternal "labor question" which confronts 

 our industrial community constantly engaged his thoughts and attention, and 

 many were the addresses which he gave on these social problems and their 

 solution. The broad views of a mind fitted by nature to touch the sympathy 

 and understanding of his fel!ow-men were a good foundation upon which to 

 build in setting out to solve these thorny and difficult problems. Towards 

 seamen in particular his sympathies were drawn tn- the common bond of sea 

 service. The bluejacket, the man before the mast, the yacht hand, and the 

 fisherman were to him all fellow-craftsmen whose outlook on life could be 

 appreciated because it was understood. 



Lord Brassey was long impressed by the want of sj^stem in the training 

 of boys for the position of officers in the mercantile marine. Education in 

 stationan,' vessels such as the Worcester and the Conway having come to an 

 end, boys had to pick up their practical knowledge as best they could in sea- 

 going vessels of all kinds. Being convinced of the desirability of giving the 

 boys further education and systematic training on board ocean-going sailing 

 ships. Lord Brassey, with this object in view, inaugurated a. scheme in 1890 

 in conjunction with Messrs. Devitt and Moore, becoming part-owner of the 

 Hesperus and Harbinger, large vessels trading to Australia. On board these 

 ships, and others subsequently acquired, hundreds of cadets have for many 



