78 QUEEN'S QUARTERLY. 



bit of work is to do my little best to promote national development 

 and Imperial organisation. By forwarding those two things I shall 

 best help on the larger " union of hearts." 



One word more. You speak of being " truly independent of the 

 venerable Mother of Parliaments," and of being " in peace-league 

 but not in war-league." With the first I agree. I am a subject of 

 King Edward, not of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. But 

 as for the second, he who is the enemy of my King is my enemy; 

 and I cannot conceive of Britain assailed and Canada remaining 

 neutral. The Ross rifles would go off of themselves ! 



Ever yours sincerely, 



C. Frederick H.xmiltox. 



III. 



Ottawa, 4th June, 1909. 

 My Dear Hamilton : — 



Thank you for having allowed me to read this most interesting 

 correspondence. 



I, too, like to think that Cecil Rhodes' dream will one day be 

 realized ; and I agree with you that its realization will not be pre- 

 vented, but promoted, by an antecedent organization, union, call it 

 what you like, of British nations. 



And why should national development and the closer linking 

 of the Five Free Nations be regarded as separate and successive 

 phases? Why should they not proceed concurrently? Why post- 

 pone the closer linking? 



Without it the eldest of the Five Free Nations will sink to the 

 position of Belgium; the second will wed a neighbouring Republic; 

 the third and fourth will turn yellow; and the youngest will fall to 

 Germany. 



Not a pleasant prospect. 



IV. 



Kingston, June 29, 1909. 

 My Dear Hamilton: — 



Worrying about our national destiny seems with most Cana- 

 dians to have taken the place of worrying about our individual 

 salvation. The correspondence you enclose in your letter of yester- 

 day raises the problem of that ultimate destiny in unusually clear-cut 



