ershot, on the best of terms with the French and
the German troops who had marched from Scotland. The Prince-Admiral's
headquarters had been removed to Hampton Court, whose silent, venerable,
and famous palace became suddenly the centre of stirring military and
diplomatic life.

Any further serious military operations were hardly considered, for the
supposition that the landing of large hostile armies would practically
mean the end of the campaign, had proved correct.

In the resistance which bodies of English troops had attempted to offer
to the French advance on London, the volunteers had clearly shown
their bravery and patriotic devotion; but had been unable to check
the victorious course of their better-led opponents. Accordingly, an
armistice had been concluded for the purpose of considering the terms of
peace offered by England, even before the German troops advancing from
Scotland had had the opportunity of taking part in the land operations.

The conclusion of peace, eagerly desired by all the civilised nations
of the world, might be considered assured, although, no doubt, its final
ratification would be preceded by long and difficult negotiations. The
idea, mooted by the German Imperial Chancellor, of summoning a general
congress at the Hague, at which not only the belligerents, but all other
countries should be represented, had met with general approval, since
all the states were interested in the reorganisation of the relations
of the Powers. But the settlement of the preliminaries of peace was
necessarily the business of the belligerents, and it was for this
purpose that the German Imperial Chancellor, Freiherr von Grubenhagen,
the French Foreign Minister, M. Delcasse, and the Russian Secretary of
State, M. de Witte, accompanied by Count Lamsdorff, and a full staff of
officials and diplomatic assistants, had met at Hampton Court Palace.

The preliminary negotiations between these statesmen and the English
plenipotentiaries, Mr. Balfour, Prime Minister and First Lord of the
Treasury, and the Marquis of Londonderry, Lord President of the Privy
Council, were carried on with restless eagerness. But the strictest
silence in regard to their results up to the present was observed by all
who had taken part in them.

The conduct of the Prince-Admiral was an obvious proof that the military
leaders were not inactive, in spite of the commencement of peace
negotiations. Although he took no part in the diplomatic proc