moreover the rare power of winning the regard and affection as well as the respect of those about him in such a marked degree that those who have served him once would go far to serve him again sir t however has enemies like other people and is commonly reported among them to be a of and to have his mind in all the darker of policy the of the is by them the attributed to a successful and vigorous use of those arts that distinguished the of two centuries ago falsehood and are supposed to have been the great used to e� the change together with threats of at the hands of a savage and nation that the was a triumph of mind over matter is quite true but whether or no that triumph was obtained i will leave those who read this short chronicle of the events connected with it to judge i saw it darkly remarked in a newspaper the other day that the history of the had evidently yet to be written and i fear that the remark represents the feeling of most people about that event as it did that it was carried out by means certainly mysteriously and doubtful i am afraid that those who think thus will be disappointed in what i have to say about the matter since i know that the means employed to bring the � � under her majesty s authority were throughout as fair and honest as the itself was in my opinion right and necessary to return to sir t he undoubtedly had faults as a ruler one of the most prominent of which was that his natural of character would never allow him to act � with severity even when severity was necessary the very condemned to death ran a good chance of when he had to sign their death he has also that worst of faults so called in one fitted by the to become great � want of ambition a failing that in such a man marks him the possessor of an even and a philosophic mind it was no seeking of his own that raised him out of obscurity and when his work was done to comparative obscurity he elected to return though whether a man of his ability and experience in african affairs should at the present crisis be allowed to remain there is another question on the th december sir t wrote to president informing him of his approaching visit to the to secure if possible the of existing troubles and the of such measures as might be best calculated to prevent their in the future on his road to sir received a welcome from the as well as the english inhabitants of the country one of these addresses to him says be assured high honourable sir that we l now assembled together entertain the most friendly feeling towards your government and that we shall agree with anything you may do in with our government for the progress of our state the against our native enemies and for the general welfare of all the inhabitants of the whole of south africa welcome in and welcome in the at the reception of the special was positively enthusiastic the whole town came out to meet him and the horses having been taken out of the carriage he was dragged in triumph through the streets in his reply to the address presented to him sir forth the i the objects of his mission in these words events in this country have shown to all thinking men the absolute necessity for closer union and more of purpose among the christian of the southern portion of this continent the best interests of the native races no less than the peace and prosperity of the white demand it and i rely upon you and upon your government to with me in endeavouring to achieve the great and glorious end of on a general south african banner the appropriate motto � unity makes strength a few days after hia arrival a commission was appointed consisting of messrs and on behalf of the special and messrs and on behalf of the government to discuss the state of the country this commission came to nothing and was on both sides nothing more than a bit of by play the arrival of the mission was necessarily regarded with mixed feelings by the inhabitants of the by one party it was eagerly greeted the english section of the population who devoutly hoped that it had come to the country with the exception of the element the officials also were glad of its and secretly hoped that the country would be taken over when there would be more chance of their getting their pay the better educated also were for the most part satisfied that there was no hope for the country unless england helped it in some way though they did not like having to accept the help but the more and narrow minded among them were undoubtedly the opposed to english interference and under their leader paul who was at the time running for the president s chair did their best to be rid of it they found ready in the with which mr had surrounded himself headed by the famous dr who was like most of the rulers of this singular state an ex clergyman but now an attorney general not learned in the law these men were for the most part entirely unfit for the positions they held and feared that in the event of the country changing hands they might be from them and also they did all englishmen the favour to regard them with that peculiarly and general hatred which is a part of the secret creed of many foreigners more especially of such as are under our protection as may easily be imagined what between all these different parties and the presence of the special there 