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hither I went to address a large meeting upon the possibility of establishing agricultural training institutions upon the Danish model。 So I returned here； enjoyed the bronchitis； and began to write this autobiography； for really it seemed as though everything had e to an end。
Then of a sudden things changed； as they have a way of doing in life。 Thus one morning about Christmas…time I found amongst my correspondence a munication from the Prime Minister informing me that the King had been pleased to confer a knighthood upon me。 I had often thought and said that I did not think I should care to be knighted。 Indeed when a year or two before it was suggested to me through a semi…official channel on behalf of a very powerful Minister； that if I wished for a barocy it might perhaps be arranged； I said at once； and firmly； that I did not。 Barocies are for rich men who have male heirs； not for persons like myself。
However； I took the knighthood when it was definitely offered； on the ground that it is a mistake to refuse anything in this world； also that a title is useful in the public service； and especially so abroad。 Moreover； it was Recognition； for which I felt grateful； for who is there that does not appreciate recognition particularly after long years of； I hope； disinterested toil？
A week or so after the announcement of my honour； on January 11； 1912； the post brought me another interesting and more important letter； from which I will quote one or two passages。
Colonial Office： January 10； 1912。
Dear Mr。 Haggard； — You are probably aware that at the Imperial Conference of last year it was decided to appoint a Royal mission to visit the various Dominions and report upon them。 I enclose a copy of the Resolution of the Conference and another of the suggested Terms of Reference。 You will notice that the Fiscal Question is carefully excluded from the purview of the mission。 The inquiry will probably extend over three years； though it will not occupy anything like the whole of that time； and it will entail three visits to the Dominions — one of three months to Canada and Newfoundland； another of three months to South Africa； and another of six months to Australia and New Zealand。 These visits will take place in different years and will not be continuous。 Of course； following the precedent of all other Royal missions there will be no remuneration for the missioners ＇then follow details as to travelling allowance； etc。＇。 There is to be one missioner for each of the five Dominions and six British missioners。 Lord Inchape is to be the Chairman； and the Prime Minister and I are very anxious to try to induce you to be one of the British missioners 。 。 。 。
Yours very truly；
L。 Harcourt。
In a subsequent letter Mr。 Harcourt wrote：
I greatly hope that you will be able to accept； and I trust for the sake of the reading public that the mission will not prevent you from pursuing a good deal of your usual avocations； and might even incidentally provide materials！
I need scarcely say that to my mind this was recognition — with a vengeance。 Charles Longman remarked when I told him the news； at which he was delighted； “I would rather have heard this than that they had given you a peerage。 Anyone can be a peer； but to be one of the six men chosen to represent the United Kingdom on a great Empire inquiry of this sort is a real honour。”
I agree with him； especially as I have no wish to be a peer。 Also to me the pliment seemed the more marked for the reason that it was paid to an individual who first became known to the public as a writer of romantic literature； an occupation that does not dispose the British nation to take those who follow it seriously。 Now I saw that all my long years of toil in investigating and attempting to solve the grave problems which lie at the root of the welfare of our country had not been without effect upon the minds of its rulers； and I felt proportionately grateful and honoured。
Of course the acceptance of this Royal missionership involves serious sacrifices in my case； exclusive of that of long separation from my family。 Thus it will necessitate the partial shutting down of my home here； and how I am to carry on my literary work in the intervals of so much public labour； really I do not know！ I felt； as did my wife； and still feel that such considerations should not be allowed to interfere with the execution of what I look upon as a high and honourable duty。
Subsequently I had a long interview with Mr。 Harcourt； in the course of which we discussed matters connected with the mission and other things。 He struck me as a singularly able and agreeable man； quite unlike his father； Sir William Harcourt； whom also I used to know； and yet in a way resembling him。 It seems an odd thing to say； but I thought the tone of his mind very conservative； and before I left him found myself wondering how it came about that one who is so very much an English gentleman； in the old and best sense of the word； and an aristocrat； finds it easy to rub political shoulders with certain members of the present Radical party； who hate English gentlemen and aristocrats。
The same remark applies to Sir Edward Grey and to some others。 I suppose the truth is that nowadays those who elect to lie down between the somewhat gamey party blankets must expect queer bedfellows。 One wonders which set in the end will thrust the other out of that uneasy couch。 Though the mass of the congregation may change； most of us continue to worship in the Church into which we were baptised — yes； even if its priests from time to time give new renderings to some of the ancient doctrines。 That is human nature； and the simile suggests a key to the puzzle。
Before leaving the subject of my new appointment； I may mention a curious little circumstance in connection with this Dominions Royal mission。
The notice of the first meeting informed me that it was to sit in a room； numbered so…and…so； at the great public building known as Scotland House。 When I arrived there at the appointed time I asked the porter； who is an old friend of mine； which that room might be。
“Why； sir；” he said； “the same in which you have been sitting for years。”
So there I found myself