ENGLAND, 1878.
Before the nations once again she stands
In all the glory of pre-eminence!
Her mighty Empire, with its millions dense,
Spread o'er the earth in far divided lands,
Yet all resolved to do her stern commands—
Like Rome, in her world-wide magnificence.
Shall she then brook the Russian's dire offence,
Nor strive to stay his fell remorseless hands?
Let other powers watch in impotence,
Our England shall not basely stand aside.
While the despoiler robs his hapless prey:
Her armoured ships in Moslem waters ride.
Her swarthy Sepoys swarm in war's array
And English hearts throb strong with patriot pride.
Melbourne, August 1878.
After the result of the Berlin Congress was declared, it was felt that the hour had come when Australia should testify to her sense of the worth and patriotism of Lord Beaconsfield. So far as Melbourne was concerned, this idea originated with the knot of enthusiastic young Australians to whom I have referred. But it would have been impossible to organise a vast public meeting such as that which took place at the Melbourne Town-hall on
