DR. HOLLAND ROSE'S "ORIGINS OF THE WAR." fro me Emma
or TUB ”arzersroan Stn,—Your American correspondent most usefully corrects the assertion, strangely accepted since 1871 by German friends and foes alike, that ' Germany' was entitled to Alsace and Lorraine because previously robbed of them by French force—the trifle of one hundred and seventy-four years before," which is, I think, the general and erroneous impression of many English minds with regard to those provinces. Was it not Thomas Carlyle who first gave rise to that idea, and did he not interfere in some way in 1870 by writing a letter to the Times which, it in said, considerably influenced public opinion in this country in so short-sightedly leaving France to her fate, and so helping to bring about the present state of things ? Froude in his biography of Carlyle (II. 400) quotes his master as writing: "Alone of nations, Prussia seems still to understand something of the art of governing, and of fighting enemies to said art. Germany from of old, has been the peaceablest, most pious, and in the end most valiant and terriblest of nations. Germany ought to be President of Europe and will again, it seems, be tried with that office for another five centuries or so." When one of our "great" men gives vent to such mischievous, almost traitorous, utter- ances, it is not surprising that Germany should overvalue herself. Had it not been for a donation of £100 from the present Emperor, the purchase of Carlyle's house at Chelsea some years ago would probably not have been carried out. But that erronemie impression of Means and Lorraine
remains, and you will, I hope, deal with it editorially, as it it an important point.—I am, Sir, Ac., G. B. M.
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