THE BACK DOOR.
NOTE BY THE EDITOR OF THE THE STAR OF URUGUAY.' THIS document was found amongst the papers of the late Mr Reginald Brooks, after his death in 1916 at Estancia, St. Cecilia,' near Colonin, and by permission of his executors is now published. It illustrates in miniature in a oniious man- ner the fatuous state of unpreparedness of what was once believed to bo The powerful British Empire.' The author was apparently one of the residents in Hongkong, who, if not connected with, was apparently intimately acquainted with, the Government of that island, and evidently an old friend of Mr Brooks'. Of Mr Brooke binuself, his early life, little was known here, beyond the fact that he was an Englishon, who retired from business in China, probably Hongkong, in 1889, with a large fortune, which was afterwards considerably augmented at the death of a distant relative. The deceased gentleman was passionately foud of yachting, and had apparently frequently revisited, and for long periods, the scones of his early labours and successes. in his large schooner yacht the Petrel. He appears to have left Hongkong, about the time indicated by the author, for an extended cruiso in the South Pacific, en route for Valparaiso. voyage from the Society Islands the yacht was wrecked on Flint Island, Mr Bronks being the sole survivor. He was rescued from Flint Island by the Peruvian liner Manco Capac in 1905, and first learned then of the collapse aud downfall of his country. Some two years afterwards it seems he met his friend the author on the Parana; a ruined man, like himself. His (Mr Brooks') mar- vellous aptitude for languages and magnificent business abilities enabled him speedily to amass a very considerable fortune. He resided principally at St. Cecilia (continuously for the last six years), where he died on the 16th Novem her last, beloved by all who had the privilege of his acquaintance. Of the author nothing is known; probably he disappeared, with many other adven- turous spirits, in the stormy year of 1910, during the rebellions of the Italian and German Immigrants.-16th April, 1917.
On a
whelming humiliation. Both anticipated with such eagerness, both ushered in with such pomp and splendour, and both closing in disaster and ruin, so utter and complete. In China's case in 1894, though the Japan- eae successes were at Brst somewhat of a surprise to the good people at home, and even to us out youder who thought we were familiar with the rottenness and corruption of the Empire, the utter collapse of Garnet
PAYSANDU, 12th October, 1907. DEAR BROOKS-Our unexpected meeting last week was a great pleasure to me, and, you were good enough to assure me, to you also. I will (I cannot say with pleasure) afford you all the information that lies in my power, about the miserable events in Hongkong, of that most wretched of years '97--just ten years ago--as verily a Debacle for us as was '71 for the French. Curious how both for China and for England the Wolseley's bogey 'the Chinese hordes' was 60th year of a woman's life in the formera case, and of a Sovereign's reign in the lat- ter, should have brought in their train for both such misery unspeakable, such over-
revelation.
In Hongkong we knew our weakness— locally-and that we merely existed on sufferanco-dwellers in a fool's paradise,
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