to the benefit of all concerned, and not least of Mataafa.  To the benefit of all, I say; for I do not think the Germans were that evening in a posture to resist; the liquor-cellars of the firm must have fallen into the power of the insurgents; and I will repeat my formula that a mob is a mob, a drunken mob is a drunken mob, and a drunken mob with weapons in its hands is a drunken mob with weapons in its hands, all the world over.

In the opinion of some, then, the town had narrowly escaped destruction, or at least the miseries of a drunken sack.  To the knowledge of all, the air of the neutral territory had once more whistled with bullets.  And it was clear the incident must have diplomatic consequences.  Leary and Pelly both protested to Fritze.  Leary announced he should report the affair to his government “as a gross violation of the principles of international law, and as a breach of the neutrality.”  “I positively decline the protest,” replied Fritze, “and cannot fail to express my astonishment at the tone of your last letter.”  This was trenchant.  It may be said, however, that Leary was already out of court; that, after the night signals and the Scanlon incident, and so many other acts of practical if humorous hostility, his position as a neutral was no better than a doubtful jest.  The case with Pelly was entirely different; and with Pelly, Fritze was less well inspired.  In his first note, he was on the old guard; announced that he had acted on the requisition of his consul, who was alone responsible on “the legal side”; and declined accordingly to discuss “whether the lives of British subjects were in danger, and to what extent armed intervention was necessary.”  Pelly replied judiciously that he had nothing to do with political matters, being only responsible for the safety of Her Majesty’s ships under his command and for the lives and property of British subjects; that he had considered his protest a purely naval one; and as the matter stood could only report the case to the admiral on the station.  “I have the honour,” replied Fritze, “to refuse to entertain the protest concerning the safety of Her Britannic Majesty’s ship Lizard as being a naval matter.  The safety of Her Majesty’s ship Lizard was never in the least endangered.  This was guaranteed by the disciplined fire of a few shots under the direction of two officers.”  This offensive note, in view of Fritze’s careful and honest bearing among so many other complications, may be attributed to some misunderstanding.  His small knowledge of English perhaps failed him.  But I cannot pass it by without remarking how far too much it is the custom of German officials to fall into this style.  It may be witty, I am sure it is not wise.  It may be sometimes necessary to offend for a definite object, it can never be diplomatic to offend gratuitously.