The troops returning from Ashantee arrived at the Royal Albert
Docks on Wednesday, and were received by Lord Wolseley, who made a speech warmly thanking them for their gallantry and conduct. It is remarked that neither they no the officers who are dropping in from the Chitral campaign have received any popular welcome ; and the general coldness is attributed to the diversion of general attention to the heroes of the raid into the Transvaal. That is probably the case, in part ; but the English, as the Duke of Wellington said, never appreciate a campaign without a butcher's bill ; while in India they expected victory with such confidence that their eyes are blinded to the heroism by which it was attained. The people,. in fact, are schoolboys moved by bloody battles or individual adventures, not by long and dangerous marches, or skill in saving soldiers from destruction. In the Chitral case the authorities did as little as they could to rouse enthusiasm ; and seemed, owing to official accidents, to grudge the grant of honours, which were, however, distributed with more than usual liberality.
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