31 MARCH 1900, Page 3

Professor Mommsen's North American Review article has led to an

interesting correspondence between the German historian and Professor Sonnensohein, of Birmingham. Professor Mommsen's reply to his correspondent's request to state the grounds for his sweeping denunciation of Great Britain and British policy is both brief and characteristic. "Out of England," he boldly says, "there is not a single voice raised in defence of your South African War." That is to disregard the utterances of Professor Neville, Captain Mahan, and M. Talliohet, the able editor of the BgAiothiefue Universelle, to mention no others. " Many of the best of your fellow-countrymen share the Continental opinion, but the warfare silences them,—right or wrong, my country." This is to render an injustice to Mr. Courtney, Sir Robert Reid, and Mr. Frederic Harrison, to mention no others. "Yon want," continues Professor Mommsen, "to separate England's cause from that of the gang of Cecil Rhodes, but in vain." Mr. Cecil Rhodes is doing his very beet to bring about the consummation which is here desoribed as im- possible. We have the highest admiration for Professor Mommsen's commanding intellect and profound erudition, but dispassionate political oriticiam has never been his forte.