of art criticism in England. The aims and methods of 'impressionism' found in him a champion of rare brilliancy. At the same time, in dealing with the works of the living, he was scrupulously kind and fair towards other tendencies with which he was less in sympathy. His 'Velasquez' deserves to be a classic. Probably in no other book, English or foreign, is the psychology of artistic vision expounded with so much lucidity and resource, or the nature of the purely pictorial, as distinguished from the literary and historical, appeal of the painter's art set forth in such cogent and attractive words. Yet Stevenson had learned to write with difficulty; his instinctive genius was for talk. In that his illuminating insight, fantasy, humour, and gift of expression played freely, not only over his special subjects, but over the whole, field of life and conduct as well as art and letters. R. A. M. Stevenson figures in the writings of his cousin, R. L. S., as 'the Arethusa' of the 'Inland Voyage,' and 'Spring-heel'd Jack' of the essay 'Talk and Talkers;' while his character suggested certain traits in the hero of 'Prince Otto.' In 1900 Professor Walter Raleigh dedicated his volume on Milton' To R. A. M. Stevenson, whose radiant and soaring intelligence enlightened and guided me during the years of our lost companionship.'
[Personal knowledge and private information; obituary notices in the press.]
STEWART, Sir DONALD MARTIN (1824–1900), first baronet, field-marshal, governor of Chelsea Hospital, son of Robert Stewart of Forres and his wife, a daughter of the Rev. Donald Martin, minister of Abernethy in Strathspey, N.B., was born at Mount Pleasant, near Forres, in 1824. Educated at schools at Findhom, Dufftown, and Elgin, and at Aberdeen University, where he distinguished himself in classics, he entered the East India Company's military service as ensign in the 9th Bengal native infantry on 12 Oct. 1840. His further commissions were dated: lieutenant 5 March 1841, captain 1 June 1854, brevet major 19 Jan. 1858, brevet lieutenant-colonel 20 July 1858, major (Bengal staff corps) 18 Feb. 1861, brevet colonel 20 July 1863, lieutenant-colonel (Bengal staff corps) 12 Oct. 1866, major-general 24 Dec. 1868, lieutenant-general 1 Oct. 1877, general 1 July 1881, and field-marshal 26 May 1894.
He served in the expeditions against the tribes on the Afghan frontier the Mohmands in 1854 and the Aka-Khel and Basi-Khel in 1855 was mentioned in despatches and received the medal with clasp. In 1857 he was quartered at Aligarh, where his regiment, the 9th Bengal native infantry, mutinied on 20 May. He then took command of a small body of volunteers sent from Agra to aid in restoring order, and eventually went to Agra, whence he was sent by John Russell Colvin [q. v.] on the perilous duty of carrying despatches to Delhi, for which he had volunteered. He started on 18 June on his famous ride, which forms 'one of the romantic episodes of that heroic year.' On reaching Delhi he was appointed deputy-assistant adjutant-general to the Delhi field force, and served with distinction to the end of the siege and in the capture of the city. He was then appointed assistant adjutant-general to the Bengal army and took part in the siege and capture of Lucknow and in the campaign in Rohilkhand. For his services in the Indian mutiny he was twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazette, 15 Dec. 1857 and 28 July 1858) and received the medal with two clasps, and brevet majority and lieutenant-colonelcy.
Stewart continued in the appointment of assistant adjutant-general of the Bengal army until 1862, when he was made deputy adjutant-general and took a prominent part in the reorganisation of the Indian army. In 1867 and 1868 he commanded the Bengal brigade in the expedition to Abyssinia under Sir Robert Napier (afterwards Lord Napier of Magdala [q. v.]) with the rank of brigadier-general. He showed considerable ability in organising the force and in making transport arrangements. He commanded at Senafe throughout the campaign, was mentioned in despatches (ib. 30 June 1868), received the medal, and was made a companion of the Bath. On his return to India he was appointed to the frontier divisional command of Peshawar with the rank of brigadier-general. In July 1869 he was sent by Lord Mayo to the Andaman Islands to reorganise the convict settlement there, a charge which afforded ample scope for his abilities, and which the governor-general hoped would result in the Andaman, Nicobar, and dependencies becoming self-supporting. He was made sole commandant with autocratic powers. The results were so encouraging that Lord Mayo visited the settlements on his return from Burma in 1872, when he was assassinated by a convict. The investigation which ensued showed that Stewart had taken every reasonable precaution to safeguard the governor-general during his visit; nevertheless, Stewart felt the shock of the tragedy so severely that he was obliged to go to Europe on sick leave.
