The Collected Works of Erskine Childers E-Book

Erskine Childers

• Herausgeber: PergamonMedia
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Serie: Highlights of World Literature
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 1523

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

This comprehensive eBook presents significant works of this famous and brilliant writer in one ebook - easy-to-read and easy-to-navigate: • The Riddle of the Sands • The Framework of Home Rule • In the Ranks of the C.I.V.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

The Riddle of the Sands

The Riddle of the Sands (1903)

Preface

I. The Letter

II. The Dulcibella

III. Davies

IV. Retrospect

V. Wanted, a North Wind

VI. Schlei Fiord

VII. The Missing Page

VIII. The Theory

IX. I Sign Articles

X. His Chance

XI. The Pathfinders

XII. My Initiation

XIII. The Meaning of our Work

XIV. The First Night in the Islands

XV. Bensersiel

XVI. Commander von Brüning

XVII. Clearing the Air

XVIII. Imperial Escort

XIX. The Rubicon

XX. The Little Drab Book

XXI. Blindfold to Memmert

XXII. The Quartette

XXIII. A Change of Tactics

XXIV. Finesse

XXV. I Double Back

XXVI. The Seven Siels

XXVII. The Luck of the Stowaway

XXVIII. We Achieve our Double Aim

Epilogue

Postscript (March 1903)

THE FRAMEWORK OF HOME RULE

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

ERRATA

THE FRAMEWORK OF HOME RULE

CHAPTER I

THE COLONIZATION OF IRELAND AND AMERICA

I.

II.

CHAPTER II

REVOLUTION IN AMERICA AND IN IRELAND

CHAPTER III

GRATTAN'S PARLIAMENT

CHAPTER IV

THE UNION

CHAPTER V

CANADA AND IRELAND

CHAPTER VI

AUSTRALIA AND IRELAND

CHAPTER VII

SOUTH AFRICA AND IRELAND

CHAPTER VIII

THE ANALOGY

CHAPTER IX

IRELAND TO-DAY

CHAPTER X

THE FRAMEWORK OF HOME RULE

I.

THE ELEMENTS OF THE PROBLEM.

A.

B.

C.

II.

FEDERAL OR COLONIAL HOME RULE?

III.

THE EXCLUSION OR RETENTION OF IRISH MEMBERS AT WESTMINSTER.[78]

IV.

IRISH POWERS AND THEIR BEARING ON EXCLUSION.

CHAPTER XI

UNION FINANCE

I.

BEFORE THE UNION.[97]

II.

FROM THE UNION TO THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION OF 1894-1896.

III.

THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION OF 1894-1896.

STATEMENT SHOWING THE ESTIMATED LOCAL EXPENDITURE INCURRED IN IRELAND, AND THE BALANCE OF TRUE REVENUE WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR IMPERIAL SERVICES AFTER SUCH EXPENDITURE HAS BEEN MET:

CHAPTER XII

THE PRESENT FINANCIAL SITUATION

I.

ANGLO-IRISH FINANCE TO-DAY.

NET BALANCES PAID BY IRELAND TO GREAT BRITAIN.

II.

IRISH EXPENDITURE.

A. INCREASES OF EXPENDITURE.

B. REDUCTIONS IN EXPENDITURE.

C. EXPENDITURE ON JUSTICE AND POLICE.

III.

IRISH REVENUE.

PRESENT IRISH REVENUE (MEAN OF THE LAST TWO YEARS).

CHAPTER XIII

FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE

I.

THE ESSENCE OF HOME RULE.

II.

THE DEFICIT.

III.

FUTURE CONTRIBUTION TO IMPERIAL SERVICES.

IV.

IRELAND'S SHARE OF THE NATIONAL DEBT.

V.

IRELAND'S SHARE OF IMPERIAL MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE.

VI.

IRISH CONTROL OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE.

VII.

FEDERAL FINANCE.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF, AND REPAYMENTS TO, THE STATES OF THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH, 1908-09.[145]

VIII.

ALTERNATIVE SCHEMES OF HOME RULE FINANCE[149]

CHAPTER XIV

LAND PURCHASE FINANCE[152]

I.

LAND PURCHASE LOANS.

II.

MINOR LOANS TO IRELAND.

CHAPTER XV

THE IRISH CONSTITUTION[166]

PREAMBLE.

EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.

LORD-LIEUTENANT AND CIVIL LIST.

LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY.

THE IRISH LEGISLATURE.[176]

DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO HOUSES.

MONEY BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.

POLICE.

JUDGES.

LAW COURTS.

DECISION OF CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS.[181]

EXCHEQUER JUDGES.

SAFEGUARDS FOR EXISTING PUBLIC SERVANTS IN IRELAND.[184]

FINANCE.

REPRESENTATION AT WESTMINSTER.

CONFERENCE BETWEEN THE IRISH AND IMPERIAL AUTHORITIES.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.[186]

CONCLUSION

APPENDIX

COMPARATIVE TABLE, SHOWING THE PRINCIPAL PROVISIONS OF THE HOME RULE BILLS OF 1886 AND 1893

REMARKS ON THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS.

INDEX

FOOTNOTES:

STATISTICS OF THE IRISH AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION MOVEMENT TO DECEMBER 31, 1909, WITH NUMBER OF SOCIETIES IN EXISTENCE ON DECEMBER 31, 1910 (SUPPLIED BY THE I.A.O.S.):

IN THE RANKS OF THE C.I.V.

CONTENTS.

IN THE RANKS OF THE C.I.V.

CHAPTER I.

THE "MONTFORT."

A wintry ride—Retrospect—Embarkation—A typical day—"Stables" in rough weather—Las Palmas—The tropics—Inoculation—Journalism—Fashions—"Intelligent anticipation"—Stable-guard—Arrival.

CHAPTER II.

CAPETOWN AND STELLENBOSCH.

Landing—Green Point Camp—Getting into trim—My horses—Interlude—Orders to march—Sorrows of a spare driver—March to Stellenbosch—First bivouac—A week of dust and drill—The road to water—Off again.

CHAPTER III.

PIQUETBERG ROAD.

Piquetberg Road—A fire—Kitless—A typical day—A bed—"Stableman"—Picket—A rebel—Orders for the front, with a proviso—Rain—An ungrateful patient—"Bazing"—Swimming horses—My work—The weather—A blue letter.

CHAPTER IV.

BLOEMFONTEIN.

The railway north—Yesterday's start—Travelling made easy—Feeding horses—A menu—De Aar—A new climate—Naauwport—Over the frontier—Bloemfontein—A fiasco—To camp again—The right section—Diary days—Riding exercise—A bit of history—Longman's Hospital—The watering-place—Artillery at drill—A review—A camp rumour—A taste of freedom—A tent scene.

MENU.

CHAPTER V.

LINDLEY.

CHAPTER VI.

BETHLEHEM.

CHAPTER VII.

BULTFONTEIN.

CHAPTER VIII.

SLABBERT'S NEK AND FOURIESBERG.

CHAPTER IX.

TO PRETORIA.

CHAPTER X.

WARMBAD.[A]

CHAPTER XI.

HOSPITAL.

CHAPTER XII.

A DETAIL.

CHAPTER XIII.

SOUTH AGAIN.

Ordered home—Back to the Battery—Good-bye to the horses—The charm of the veldt—Recent work of the Battery—Paget's farewell speech—Hard-won curios—The last bivouac—Roberts's farewell—The southward train—De Wet?—Mirages—A glimpse of Piquetberg road—The Aurania—Embarkation scenes—The last of Africa—A pleasant night.

CHAPTER XIV.

CONCLUSION.

Impressions of the voyage—Sentry-go—Troopship—Limitations—Retrospect—St. Vincent—Forecasts—The Start—The Needles—Southampton Water—Landing—Paddington—A dream.

The Riddle of the Sands

by Erskine Childers

The Riddle of the Sands (1903)

A Record of Secret Service Recently Achieved

Edited by

Erskine Childers

(1870-1922)

Preface

A WORD about the origin and authorship of this book.

In October last (1902), my friend 'Carruthers' visited me in my chambers, and, under a provisional pledge of secrecy, told me frankly the whole of the adventure described in these pages. Till then I had only known as much as the rest of his friends, namely, that he had recently undergone experiences during a yachting cruise with a certain Mr 'Davies' which had left a deep mark on his character and habits.

At the end of his narrative—which, from its bearing on studies and speculations of my own, as well as from its intrinsic interest and racy delivery, made a very deep impression on me—he added that the important facts discovered in the course of the cruise had, without a moment's delay, been communicated to the proper authorities, who, after some dignified incredulity, due in part, perhaps, to the pitiful inadequacy of their own secret service, had, he believed, made use of them, to avert a great national danger. I say 'he believed', for though it was beyond question that the danger was averted for the time, it was doubtful whether they had stirred a foot to combat it, the secret discovered being of such a nature that mere suspicion of it on this side was likely to destroy its efficacy.

There, however that may be, the matter rested for a while, as, for personal reasons which will be manifest to the reader, he and Mr 'Davies' expressly wished it to rest.

But events were driving them to reconsider their decision. These seemed to show that the information wrung with such peril and labour from the German Government, and transmitted so promptly to our own, had had none but the most transitory influence on our policy. Forced to the conclusion that the national security was really being neglected, the two friends now had a mind to make their story public; and it was about this that 'Carruthers' wished for my advice. The great drawback was that an Englishman, bearing an honoured name, was disgracefully implicated, and that unless infinite delicacy were used, innocent persons, and, especially, a young lady, would suffer pain and indignity, if his identity were known. Indeed, troublesome rumours, containing a grain of truth and a mass of falsehood, were already afloat.

After weighing both sides of the question, I gave my vote emphatically for publication. The personal drawbacks could, I thought, with tact be neutralized; while, from the public point of view, nothing but good could come from submitting the case to the common sense of the country at large. Publication, therefore, was agreed upon, and the next point was the form it should take. 'Carruthers', with the concurrence of Mr 'Davies', was for a bald exposition of the essential facts, stripped of their warm human envelope. I was strongly against this course, first, because it would aggravate instead of allaying the rumours that were current; secondly, because in such a form the narrative would not carry conviction, and would thus defeat its own end. The persons and the events were indissolubly connected; to evade, abridge, suppress, would be to convey to the reader the idea of a concocted hoax. Indeed, I took bolder ground still, urging that the story should be made as explicit and circumstantial as possible, frankly and honestly for the purpose of entertaining and so of attracting a wide circle of readers. Even anonymity was undesirable. Nevertheless, certain precautions were imperatively needed.

To cut the matter short, they asked for my assistance and received it at once. It was arranged that I should edit the book; that 'Carruthers' should give me his diary and recount to me in fuller detail and from his own point of view all the phases of the 'quest', as they used to call it; that Mr 'Davies' should meet me with his charts and maps and do the same; and that the whole story should be written, as from the mouth of the former, with its humours and errors, its light and its dark side, just as it happened; with the following few limitations. The year it belongs to is disguised; the names of persons are throughout fictitious; and, at my instance certain slight liberties have been taken to conceal the identity of the English characters.

Remember, also that these persons are living now in the midst of us, and if you find one topic touched on with a light and hesitating pen, do not blame the Editor, who, whether they are known or not, would rather say too little than say a word that might savour of impertinence.

E. C.

March 1903

NOTE

The maps and charts are based on British and German Admiralty charts, with irrelevant details omitted.

I. The Letter

I HAVE read of men who, when forced by their calling to live for long periods in utter solitude—save for a few black faces—have made it a rule to dress regularly for dinner in order to maintain their self-respect and prevent a relapse into barbarism. It was in some such spirit, with an added touch of self-consciousness, that, at seven o'clock in the evening of 23rd September in a recent year, I was making my evening toilet in my chambers in Pall Mall. I thought the date and the place justified the parallel; to my advantage even; for the obscure Burmese administrator might well be a man of blunted sensibilities and coarse fibre, and at least he is alone with nature, while I—well, a young man of condition and fashion, who knows the right people, belongs to the right clubs, has a safe, possibly a brilliant, future in the Foreign Office—may be excused for a sense of complacent martyrdom, when, with his keen appreciation of the social calendar, he is doomed to the outer solitude of London in September. I say 'martyrdom', but in fact the case was infinitely worse. For to feel oneself a martyr, as everybody knows, is a pleasurable thing, and the true tragedy of my position was that I had passed that stage. I had enjoyed what sweets it had to offer in ever dwindling degree since the middle of August, when ties were still fresh and sympathy abundant. I had been conscious that I was missed at Morven Lodge party. Lady Ashleigh herself had said so in the kindest possible manner, when she wrote to acknowledge the letter in which I explained, with an effectively austere reserve of language, that circumstances compelled me to remain at my office. 'We know how busy you must be just now', she wrote, 'and I do hope you won't overwork; we shall