A DAY OF NATIONAL HUMILIATION..
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE 'SPECTATOR.']
Snt,—The following General Order, written by Lord Collingwood after the victory of Trafalgar, shows forth the spirit of those great men who realized the necessity of a day of national humiliation, even in the hour of victory. Nothing of the sort has occurred in our own national history at the present time to show forth the same spirit of humiliation, which in the days of Moses was considered a dire necessity, in order to call forth help and guidance in the time of stress and strain. Certainly there have been days set apart for intercessions, &c., but tho word " humiliation " apparently has been carefully avoided, in order that we should not pose in the eyes of our Allies as being in any way responsible for this great and terrible war. Now then, Sir, I would ask you to consider whether it would not be desirable that a special day of national humiliation be appointed, either by Royal Proclamation or the powers that be, to take place, say, on Accession Day, May 6th, in order that it may be shown forth that, whatever our faults may have been in the past in failing to avert this great catastrophe, we are yet ready as a nation to make amends for any of our own shortcomings which may have in some way or other tended to bring about this unhappy state of retrogression in the world's advancement towards eivili7stion and
Christian ideals.—I am, Sir, &c., Vox Forum.
"GENERAL ORDER.
The Almighty God, Whose arm alone is strength, having of His great mercy been pleased to crown the exertions of His Majesty's Fleet with success, in giving them a complete victory over their enemies on the 21st inst., that all praise and thanksgiving may be offered up to the Throno of God for the great benefit to our country, and to mankind, I have thought proper that a day should be appointed of general humilia- tion before God and thanksgiving for this His manifold goodness, imploring forgiveness of sins, a continuation of His Divine mercy, and His constant aid to us in the defence of our country's liberties and laws, without which the utmost efforts of man are naught, and direct, there- fore, that Thursday, the 7th of November next, be appointed for that PurPose-
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