ay.--What I said of the Councils yesterday may be repeated
to-day. I had a great deal more material than I could possibly
introduce into two days, and on leaving out some topics, on the
spur of the moment, some were left out that might have been of
great benefit. However, everybody was pleased, and, I think,
profited. The only question in my mind, similar to the one that
haunts me in every Officers' Council, is whether I am making the
most of the opportunity.

"There is no doubt that we have here a powerful body of men and
women, good, devoted, and loyal to the principles of The Army,
proud to be connected with it, and ready to receive instructions,
and to carry them out. The great lack appears to be a want of
energy, enterprise, and daring, the being content with a little
success instead of reaching out to all that is possible and
promising. However, they are wonderfully improved, and I hope the
present Commissioner's health will allow of his carrying them a
long way farther in the direction of enthusiasm than they have
reached before.

"Lieut.-Colonel Schoch (our original friend before referred to) was
with us at all the Meetings. He is very cordial, and in making the
closing speech, described his oneness with The Army in every
direction.

"My correspondence with London is somewhat heavy.

"Thursday.--Fair night's sleep, but feeling rather tired, which
must be expected. We are away to Den Helder at 9.42 a.m., so must
be stirring. Den Helder is a naval port, the headquarters of the
Dutch navy. We were billetted with Rear-Admiral van den Bosch, who
is in command of the port, fleet, dockyards, and many other things.
We were received at the station in a formal but hearty manner by
the leading people of the town, in the large waiting-room
(decorated for the occasion), by the minister of the State Church,
who made a really eloquent address. The great point of his speech
was the work of the Holy Spirit--God working through us to the
benefit of mankind. As he stood there talking in that circle of
sixty or seventy of the leading inhabitants of the place, including
naval officers of rank, professionals of various classes, and
prominent people, I could not help feeling, as I often feel now,
what a change has come over the people, not only with