1899] Victories of Glencoc and Elandslaagte 333 



as perhaps the first nail driven into the coffin of the British Empire. 

 I believe that if the Boers can hold out six months Europe will inter- 

 vene. 



" iyth Oct. — In South Africa the Boers are advancing steadily 

 southward, and have invested Mafeking and Kimberley. Their plan 

 is doubtless to get the Dutch in Cape Colony to rise and join them. It 

 seems their best chance. Buller went off on Saturday to take com- 

 mand of the British Army. They gave him what is called a ' send 

 off ' at Southampton by crying a bogus victory in the streets. 



" Swinburne has published a ridiculous sonnet in favour of the war, 

 and Kipling has also been in the ' Times.' My ' Satan Absolved ' 

 must stand for poetry on the other side. I got an advance copy of it 

 to-day. 



" igth Oct. — Newbuildings. Hampden and Neville are here. Much 

 argument about the Transvaal war. Hampden very fierce in defence 

 of the Government. We shot to-day, Mark Napier joining us as 

 fourth gun. Violent discussions again in the evening, Mark maintain- 

 ing that, while the English officers are good, the rank and file are 

 worthless, and that in a long campaign the English regiments would 

 go to pieces ; Hampden annoyed, as having a son in the army. But 

 all ended pleasantly. 



"21st Oct. — The Boers have been beaten in an attack they have 

 made upon White's Camp. George had the happy task in Parliament, 

 as Under-Secretary for War, of announcing the victory. 



" 2yd Oct. — More victories. The ' Chronicle,' after championing 

 the Boer cause all the summer, has now gone clean round, and shouts 

 triumph with the rest. It is a dastardly world. 



" 2jth Oct. — To London. People are not so pleased now with the 

 war in Natal, as, in spite of the reported victories at Glencoe and 

 Elandslaagte, Dundee has had to be evacuated, the guns and wounded 

 being left behind. They say Ladysmith will now be invested. Guy 

 Wyndham is there, with White's staff in the threatened position. 



" 2gth Oct. — Herbert Spencer has written again about ' Satan Ab- 

 solved.' He is disappointed at my not having stuck to his idea in the 

 poem, but on the whole he approves. ' Unquestionably,' he says, ' Sa- 

 tan's description of man and his doings is given with great power, and 

 ought to bring to their senses millions of hypocrites who profess the 

 current religion. I wish you would emphasize more strongly the gigan- 

 tic lie daily enacted, the contrast between the Christian professions and 

 the Pagan actions, and the perpetual insult to One they call Omniscient 

 in thinking they can compound for atrocious deeds by laudatory words.' 



" 1st Nov. — News of a great defeat of the British army before 

 Ladysmith. Two of Her Majesty's best regiments, the Royal Dublin 

 and the Gloucester, laid down their arms to the Boers, 2,000 men of our 



