3°4 Padraic Colunt [191 1 



Rossetti beyond Regent's Park. He lives with his two daughters 

 in a villa well filled with family mementos. Among the many draw- 

 ings by Gabriel Rossetti I noticed two water colours by William 

 Rossetti's wife, who was a daughter of Madox Brown, which seemed 

 to me gems, worth all the rest. It pleased him much when I told 

 the old man so. He is hale and hearty, though eighty years old, with 

 a clear, healthy complexion, somewhat bronzed and showing his Italian 

 origin. His manner precise, with considerable dignity. He spoke of 

 the Italian raid on Tripoli, and I was glad to find his sympathies were 

 with the Turks. He had read my ' Secret History,' and approved all 

 my ideas. We talked, however, most of the past, his brother Gabriel, 

 Burne-Jones, Morris, and Watts, and he was interested to find my 

 recollection of Watts going back four years further even than his 

 own. 



" yd Oct. — I am sick of Eastern politics and intend to take no 

 more part in them when this Tripoli business is over. It cannot end 

 otherwise than in the partition of the Ottoman Empire, a little sooner 

 or a little later. There are too many hungry wolves in Europe to be 

 satisfied with less, and it is thirty years since I began the battle. I 

 feel inclined to say with Pitt : ' Roll up the map of Islam.' 



" 4th Oct. — To London for a Mohammedan meeting to protest 

 against the attack on Tripoli. Lamington, in the Chair, made an un- 

 meaning speech, excusing the Italians and excusing Grey, and exhort- 

 ing all men to moderation, till the meeting rose against him. Two 

 M.P.'s, Cox and Mason, made strong speeches, but Browne had been 

 engaged beforehand for moderation. Then I was called for and rose, 

 Lamington trying to stop me, but I persisted, and pointed out the 

 uselessness of relying upon mediation and the German Emperor, and 

 that if the war was to be stopped it must be by England alone. The 

 English Mediterranean Fleet should be sent to Tripoli. Finally Farid 

 Bey, just arrived from Paris, spoke amid much applause. They all 

 came back to supper with me in Chapel Street, and we sat on talking 

 till midnight. Meetings of this sort, unless they are indignation meet- 

 ings, do less than no good. It was absurd to hold this one under a 

 man like Lamington, a mere wet blanket. 



" $th Oct. — Tripoli was bombarded on Tuesday, 3rd, but it is still 

 doubtful whether the Italians have landed troops. At Constantinople 

 Said Pasha has formed a Ministry, but without Kiamil. Mabmur 

 Shefket continues Minister of War. These absolutely refuse to give 

 up Tripoli on any terms, and the war is to continue. It will be a 

 fight between a whale and an elephant, and may go on interminably. 



" Meynell brought Padraic Colum to dine with me. He is a modest 

 and at the same time intelligent young man with no little good Irish 

 wit and much feeling about poetry and knowledge of the poets. He 



