146 A GARDEN DIARY 
opinion of the bulk of the people really is. In- 
vaders, especially French ones, are historically 
dear to their hearts, but the thing has been 
sprung upon them this time with rather uncom- 
fortable rapidity, and there is something extremely 
sickening, so everybody admits, about the smell 
of burning roofs. 
Immediately upon landing, the enemy estab- 
lished their headquarters, with no little strategical 
discretion, in a naturally defensible position upon 
the Wicklow Hills, from which point they are 
cheerfully engaged in sending out raiding parties 
over the whole of the adjacent country. The 
portion of Kildare nearest Wicklow has already 
been overrun, and most of its villages burnt, 
despite their nearness to the Curragh ; Naas and 
Sallins are reported as likely to be the next 
assailed. The suddenness of the catastrophe has 
strained the military resources almost to breaking 
point, and the soldiers are forced to be kept 
together, not only to defend the approaches to 
the metropolis, but also in the hope of being able 
to bring on a general engagement in some more 
hopeful position than against the fortified camp 
in Wicklow. The result is that, beyond a limited 
number of constabulary, the general in command 
of the district is unable to spare a man for the 
protection of the smaller places. 
Before that harassed and overdriven officer 
there suddenly appears—the Civilian! How 
