Robert Sangster Rait

“ In the Afghan campaign of 1879-80 Haines had again serious differences with Lord Lytton about the Kuram route, the number of troops required, and the relation of the commander-in-chief to commanders in the field. His relations with Lytton's successsor, Lord Ripon [q. v. Suppl. II] , were more cordial, but his warnings of the danger of an attack on Kandahar by Ayub Khan were disregarded by the viceroy. He acquiesced unwillingly in General Burrows' advance on the Helmund river, and ordered Bombay troops to move up in support. ”

“ The chief share in the growth of New College during his long wardenship is to be attributed to his colleagues, but Sewell loyally accepted changes which did not commend themselves to his own judgment. It was largely owing to him that there was no break in the continuity of college tradition and feeling, and that older generations of Wykehamists were reconciled to the reforms made by successive commissions and by the college itself, Sewell died unmarried in the warden's lodgings. New College, on 29 January 1903, and was buried in the cloisters of the college. ”

“ Though he enjoyed the physical exercise, his interest in climbing was chiefly geographical and scientific. He was one of the first Alpine climbers to employ photography. He joined the Alpine Club in 1861, and the establishment of the 'Alpine Journal' was suggested at a meeting in his rooms at New College; he edited its first three volumes (1863-7) . In 1866 he published 'The Oberland and its Glaciers,' written 'to popularise the glacier theory of Tyndall' (Alpine Journal, xxv.) . George was the founder of the Oxford Alpine Club. ”