V " DARKEST ENGLAND " SCHEME 255 



III 



The " Times" December Utk, 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 



