V " DARKEST ENGLAND " SCHEME 255 



III 



The " Times" December llth, 1890 



SIR, When I first addressed you on the 

 subject of the projected operations of the 

 Salvation Army, all that I knew about that body 

 was derived from the study of Mr. Booth's book, 

 from common repute, and from occasional atten 

 tion to the sayings and doings of his noisy 

 squadrons, with which my walks about London, 

 in past years, have made me familiar. I was 

 quite unaware of the existence of evidence re 

 specting the present administration of the Salva 

 tion forces, which would have enabled me to act 

 upon the sagacious maxim of the American 

 humourist, " Don't prophesy unless you know." 

 The letter you were good enough to publish has 

 brought upon me a swarm of letters and pam 

 phlets. Some favour me with abuse ; some 

 thoughtful correspondents warmly agree with me, 

 and then proceed to point out how much worthier 

 certain schemes of their own are of my friend's 

 support ; some send valuable encouragement, for 

 which I offer my hearty thanks, and ask them to 

 excuse any more special acknowledgment. But 

 that which I find most to the purpose, just now, is 

 the revelation made by some of the documents 

 which have reached me, of a fact of which I was 



