1900] Professor Mivart's Declaration 345 



part of the Empire a flame of patriotism and of heroism so high that 

 the whole world is, so to speak, alight with it, and, depend upon it, while 

 we rejoice, the world wonders and admires.'" 1 



N.B. The total Boer population thus described as menacing the 

 British Empire, with its 200,000,000 souls, is exactly that of Brighton. 



" i$th Jan. — I have been reading Mivart's article on the ' Continuity 

 of Catholicism,' which has raised a tempest against him. It is certainly 

 the most daring declaration ever made in articulo mortis, for poor 

 Mivart is, I believe, dying. If, forty years ago, I had found a Catholic 

 writer equally bold. I should have been saved from much infidelity, but 

 now it is too late. Mivart is clinging desperately to his faith, but u is 

 at bottom an impossible thing to reconcile science with any form of 

 Christianity. 



"21st Jan. — A letter in verse about 'Satan Absolved,' from oir 

 Wilfrid Lawson, which is bad verse but amusing: 



Brayton, 9th Jan. 1900. 

 Your work on the Devil, dear Blunt, I have read. 

 What a curious fancy to enter your head ! 

 The World, I admit, is as bad as can be ; 

 But how /ze'll make it better I scarcely can see. 

 I fancy if matters were right understood 

 There's a Spirit of bad and a spirit of good, 

 They're continually fighting in battle array 

 Each pulling like mad in a different way, 

 The one is Jehovah, Jove, Lord, Names like these, 

 The other is the Devil as bad as you please. 

 Then between these two powers comes man on the scene, 

 Where he conies from there's no one can tell us, I ween ; 

 But still here he is with a body and soul 

 Designed, I imagine, for filling some role. 

 His rudder is conscience by which he should steer, 

 But at present it seems to be quite out of gear. 

 But come, my dear Blunt, do not let us despair. 

 Even yet we may make something of him with care, 

 At present he is — you and I never flatter — 

 At present he is just as mad as a hatter. 

 His brain has undoubtedly met with a shock, 

 Which has sent him through Africa running amock. 

 The nobility, gentry, and clergy of course, 

 His madness by all in their power enforce, 

 And all in this country are cutting their capers 

 At the murders recorded each day in the papers. 

 Well, in trying my best to hunt these matters out 

 That the Devil is in it I haven't a doubt 

 Well, I will resist him, as long as I can, 



1 " Times." 1900. 



