The Germans are delighted with the . agreement, and thank their
Emperor with enthusiasm. They are aware that Heligo- land is nothing, but declare that they can see the British flagstaff from Cuxhaven—a bold metaphor, as the distance is thirty miles—and that in pulling it down the English have in a most honorific way completed Germany. The Emperor is equ'ally pleased, and has given General von Caprivi the Order of. the Black Eagle, the Prussian Garter. In England opinion is more moderate, a good many people not knowing the value either of Heligoland or Zanzibar, and a few more who do know thinking it prudent to tell fibs to the Germans. The experts are, however, well content, and the Scotch are especially delighted. They have got, as they always do get,
precisely what they wanted and intended to have. The Liberals, therefore, will not resist, and the Parnellites have no feeling except one of joy that England has lost a " Colony," which, however, might be put in Lough Neagh and then not be found by the fishermen. There will be no serious resistance to the agreement, and it now only remains to settle accounts with the Portuguese, who, of course, look on all this very gloomily, and believe anything anybody may say about the English. Just now we have murdered two sepoys. Their Government is fortunately wiser, and it is possible that a clear agreement may be made on this side also.
