ON CHARLES SWINBURNE.

In the face of the insolent Ultimatum which had been addressed to Great
Britain by the South African Republic, the nation closed its ranks and
relegated party controversy to a more appropriate season. The British
people were temporarily in accord. A wave of indignation surged over the
country, and united men of different shades of politics and of varying
religious creeds, making them forget their private feuds, and remember
only the paramount fact that they were sons of the Empire. There were
some, it is true, who remained afar off--a few exceptions to prove the
rule of unanimity, beings with souls so dead that never to themselves
had said, "This is my own, my native land," and who yet looked upon the
Boer as an object of commiseration. But these were, first, men linked
either by birth or family ties with the Afrikander cause; second,
fractious Irishmen and political obstructionists who posed for notoriety
at any price; and, third, eccentrics and originals, whose sense of
opposition forbade them from floating at any time with the tide of
public opinion. Every one else cried aloud for a chance to uphold Great
Britain's prestige, and the War Office was so beset with applications
from volunteers for the front that it was found almost impossible even
to consider them. Nor was the excitement confined to officers alone.
Recruiting went on apace, and not only did recruits pour in, but
deserters, who had slunk away from regimental duty, now returned and
gave themselves up, praying to be allowed to suffer any penalty and then
march out to battle as soldiers of the Queen! Two Royal Proclamations
having been issued--the one directing the continuance in army service,
until discharged or transferred to the reserve, of soldiers whose term
of service had expired or was about to expire; the other, ordering the
army reserve to be called out on permanent service--some 25,000 men
received notice to rejoin the colours. These in large numbers promptly
appeared. The New South Wales Lancers, who had been going through a
course of cavalry training at Aldershot, at once volunteered their
services and started for the Cape amidst scenes of great enthusiasm.
Other colonial troops were as eager to join, and the spirit of military
rivalry throughout Her Majesty's dominions was both amazing and
inspiriting.

Queensland had the honour of opening the ball. Her sympathy with the
policy of Great Britain and her loyalty to the mo