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rebellion in the Capital。 All the barbarian powers will then assemble as
usual； and in the general involvement none dare move alone； and
everything will have to be regarded as being put back to where it was
before。 It is well said； 〃The broken vessel can never be made whole； but it
may be delicately arranged so that another shall displace it。〃
These barbarians； less resourceful in device； have only recently
emerged from a conflict into which they do not hesitate to admit they were
drawn despite their protests。 Such incompetence is characteristic of their
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methods throughout。 Not in any way disguising their purpose； they at once
sent out an army of those whom could be the readiest seized； certainly
furnishing them with weapons； charms to use in case of emergency； and
three…coloured standards （their adversaries adopting a white banner to
symbolise the conciliation of their attitude； and displaying both freely in
every extremity）； but utterly neglecting to teach them the arts of painting
their bodies with awe…inspiring forms； of imitating the cries of wild
animals as they attacked； of clashing their weapons together with
menacing vigour； or any of the recognised artifices by which terror may be
struck into the ranks of an awaiting foeman。 The result was that which the
prudent must have foreseen。 The more accomplished enemy； without
exposing themselves to any unnecessary inconvenience； gained many
advantages by their intrepid power of dissimulationarranging their
garments and positions in such a way that they had the appearance of
attacking when in reality they were effecting a prudent retreat； rapidly
concealing themselves among the earth on the approach of an
overwhelming force； becoming openly possessed with the prophetic vision
of an assured final victory whenever it could be no longer concealed that
matters were becoming very desperate indeed； and gaining an effective
respite when all other ways of extrication were barred against them by the
stratagem of feigning that they were other than those whom they had at
first appeared to be。
In the meantime the adventure was not progressing pleasantly for
those chiefly concerned at home。 With the earliest tidings of repulse it was
discovered that in the haste of embarkation the wrong persons had been
sent； all those who were really the fittest to command remaining behind；
and many of these did not hesitate to write to the printed papers； resolutely
admitting that they themselves were in every way better qualified to bring
the expedition to a successful end； at the same time skilfully pointing out
how the disasters which those in the field had incurred could easily have
been avoided by acting in a precisely contrary manner。
In the emergency the most far…seeing recommended a more unbending
policy of extermination。 Among these； one in particular； a statesman
bearing an illustrious name of two…edged import； distinguished himself by
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the liberal broad…mindedness of his opinions； and for the time he even did
not flinch from making himself excessively unpopular by the wide and
sweeping variety of his censure。 〃We are confessedly a barbarian nation；〃
fearlessly declared this unprejudiced person （who； although entitled by
hereditary right to carry a banner on the field of battle； with patriotic self…
effacement preferred to remain at home and encourage those who were
fighting by pointing out their inadequacy to the task and the extreme
unlikelihood of their ever accomplishing it）； 〃and in order to achieve our
purpose speedily it is necessary to resort to the methods of barbarism。〃
The most effective measure； as he proceeded to explain with well…thought…
out detail； would be to capture all those least capable of resistance；
concentrate them into a given camp； and then at an agreed signal reduce
the entire assembly to what he termed； in a passage of high…minded
eloquence； 〃a smoking hecatomb of women and children。〃
His advice was pointed with a crafty insight； for not only would such a
course have brought the stubborn enemy to a realisation of the weakness
of their position and thus paved the way to a dignified peace； but by the
act itself few would have been left to hand down the tradition of a
relentless antagonism。 Yet with incredible obtuseness his advice was
ignored and he himself was referred to at the time by those who regarded
the matter from a different angle； with a scarcely…veiled dislike； which
towards many of his followers took the form of building materials and
other dissentient messages whenever they attempted to raise their voices
publicly。 As an inevitable result the conquest of the country took years；
where it would have been moons had the more truly humane policy been
adopted； commerce and the arts languished； and in the end so little spoil
was taken that it was more common to meet six mendicants wearing the
honourable embellishment of the campaign than to see one captured slave
maiden offered for sale in the market placesindeed； even to this day the
deficiency is clearly admitted and openly referred to as The Great
〃Domestic〃 Problem。 *
At various times during my residence here I have been filled with a
most acute gratification when the words of those around have seemed to
indicate that they recognised the undoubted superiority of the laws and
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institutions of our enlightened country。 Sometimes； it is true； upon a more
detailed investigation of the incident； it has presently appeared that either I
had misunderstood the exact nature of their sentiments or they had slow…
wittedly failed to grasp the precise operation of the enactment I had
described； but these exceptions are clearly the outcome of their superficial
training； and do not affect the fact my