Many years later, indignant at the then apparently supine attitude of the British Government in the matter of the Abyssinian captives, George Yule wrote a letter (necessarily published without his name, as he was then on the Governor-General’s Council), to the editor of an influential Indian paper, proposing a private expedition should be organised for their delivery from King Theodore, and inviting the editor (Dr. George Smith) to open a list of subscriptions in his paper for this purpose, to which Yule offered to contribute L2000 by way of beginning.  Although impracticable in itself, it is probable that, as in other cases, the existence of such a project may have helped to force the Government into action.  The particulars of the above incident were printed by Dr. Smith in his Memoir of the Rev. John Wilson, but are given here from memory.

From Hyderabad he was promoted in 1867 to the Governor-General’s Council, but his health broke down under the sedentary life, and he retired and came home in 1869.

After some years of country life in Scotland, where he bought a small property, he settled near his brother in London, where he was a principal instrument in enabling Sir George Birdwood to establish the celebration of Primrose Day (for he also was “one of Mr. Gladstone’s converts").  Sir George Yule never sought ‘London Society’ or public employment, but in 1877 he was offered and refused the post of Financial Adviser to the Khedive under the Dual control.  When his feelings were stirred he made useful contributions to the public press, which, after his escape from official trammels, were always signed.  The very last of these (St. James Gazette, 24th February 1885) was a spirited protest against the snub administered by the late Lord Derby, as Secretary of State, to the Colonies, when they had generously offered assistance in the Soudan campaign.  He lived a quiet, happy, and useful life in London, where he was the friend and unwearied helper of all who needed help.  He found his chief interests in books and flowers, and in giving others pleasure.  Of rare unselfishness and sweet nature, single in mind and motive, fearing God and knowing no other fear, he was regarded by a large number of people with admiring affection.  He met his death by a fall on the frosty pavement at his door, in the very act of doing a kindness.  An interesting sketch of Sir George Yule’s Indian career, by one who knew him thoroughly, is to be found in Sir Edward Braddon’s Thirty Years of Shikar.  An account of his share in the origin of Primrose Day appeared in the St. James’ Gazette during 1891.

[1] There is a vague tradition that these Yules descend from the same
    stock as the Scandinavian family of the same name, which gave Denmark
    several men of note, including the great naval hero Niels Juel.  The
    portraits of these old Danes offer a certain resemblance of type to
    those of their Scots namesakes,