The Florida agriculturist., 1889-05-22
But there were cooler and more prudent

DUC CH0T0 W0T0COOlOT anu nOT0 pFuO0uG
brains at the head of affairs; and these
had already decided that the contest be-
tween the old engines of war and the
new was entirely one sided. The in
stincts of good government dictated to
them that they should be extremely wary
and circumspect during the further con-
tinuance of this unexampled war. There
fore, when the note of the syndicate was
considered, it was agreed that the time
had come when good craftsmanship and
wise diplomacy would be more valuable
to the nation than torpedoes, armored
ships or heavy guns.
There was not the slightest doubt that
the country would disagree with the
government, but on the latter lay the re-
sponsibility of the countrys safety.
There wEs nothing, in the opinion of the
ablest naval officers, to prevent the syn
dicate's feet from coming up the Thames.
Instantaneous motor bombs could sweep
away all forts and citadels and explode
and destroy all torpedo defenses, and
London might lie under the guns of the
repeller.
state of affairs an answer was sent to the
syndicate's note asking that further time
be given for the consideration of the sit
uation, and suggesting that an exhibition
of the power of the motor bomb was not
necessary, as sufficient proof of this had
been given in the destruction Of the Cana
dian forts, the annihilation of the Crag-
levin, and the extraordinary results of
the discharge of said bombs on the pre-
ceding day.
To this reply was sent from the Office
of the syndicate in New York Ly means
of cable boat from the French coast,
that on no account could their purpose
be altered or their propositions modified.
Although the British government might
be convinced of the power of the syndi-
Gates motor bombs, it was not the case
with the British people, for it was yet
popularity disbelieved that motor bombs
existed This disbelief the syndicate
was determined to overcome, not only for
the furtherance of it's own purposes,
but to prevent the downfall of the present
British ministry, and a probable radical
change in the government. That such a
political revolution, as undesirable to the
syndicate as to cool headed and sensible
Englishmen, was imminent, there could
be no doubt. The growing feeling of
disaffection, almost amounting to dis
loyalty, not only in the opposition party,
but among those who had hitherto been
firm adherents of the government, was
mainly based upon the idea that the
present British rulers had allowed them
selves to be frightened by mines and
torpedoes, artfully placed and exploded.
Therefore the syndicate intended to set
right the public mind upon this subject.
The note concluded by earnestly urging
the designation, without loss of time, of
place of operations.
This answer was received in London in
the evening, and all night it was the
subject of earnest and anxious delibera-
ton in the government office It was at
last decided, amid great opposition,
that thesyndicate's alternative must be
accepted, for it would be the height Of
folly to allow the repeller to lombard
any port she should choose. When this
conclusion had been reached, the work
of selecting a place for the proposed
demonstration of the American syndicate
occupied but little time. The task was
not difficult. Nowhere in Great Britain