She did a little mischief by dropping on the stock-markets; in other respects she was harmless, and, inasmuch as she established a subject for conversation, useful.
Then, lest she should have been taken too seriously, the Press, which had kindled, proceeded to extinguish her with the formidable engines called leading articles, which fling fire or water, as the occasion may require.

It turned out that we had ships ready for launching, and certain regiments coming home from India; hedges we had, and a spirited body of yeomanry; and we had pluck and patriotism, the father and mother of volunteers innumerable.

Things were not so bad.
Panic, however, sent up a plaintive whine.

What country had anything like our treasures to defend?
countless riches, beautiful women, an inviolate soil! True, and it must be done.

Ministers were authoritatively summoned to set to work immediately.