V "DARKEST ENGLAND" SCHEME. 255 



III. 



The '' Times," December UtJi, 1890. 



Sir, — When I first addressed you on the sub- 

 ject 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 com- 

 mon repute, and from occasional attention 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 respecting the present ad- 

 ministration of the Salvation 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 pamphlets. 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 en- 

 couragement, for which I offer my hearty thanks, 

 and ask them to excuse any more special acknowl- 

 edgment. But that which I find most to the pur- 

 pose, just now, is the revelation made by some of 

 the documents which have reached me, of a fact 

 of which I was wholly ignorant — namely, that 



