The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-09 00:00:00

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

By the arrival of the Fairy Queen off Portsmouth,
from the Cape of Good Hope, which place she left on
the 7th of November, we have received papers from
there, and also from Graham's Town, from which we
extract the following :
Received some inforination from the N.E. boundary,
and which describes affairs in that quarter as being in a
very unsettled and unsatisfactory state. The accounts
given to us dwell with great emphasis on the unsatisfac-
tory results of Sir Andreas Stockenstrom's expedition
across the Kei—an expedition which, it is affirmed,
was " undertaken rashly and terminated discreditably."
The sum and substance of the information afforded is,
that Sir Andreas is one of a class who will " suffer no rival
near the throne." He must be everything or nothing,
and is equally as disinclined to submit to restraint as to
listen to advice. It is affirmed that he moved across the
Kei against the wishes and opinions of all the comman-
ders with whom he was acting, and that when there
he found himself absolutely helpless. His position
was desperate, and to extricate himself he had re-
course to a desperate remedy. He risked his life to
save his credit. He placed himself in the hands of the
savages, assumed a bold and dogmatic bearing, exciting
the fears of the imbecile Chief Kreli, affecting to be un-
aware of his delinquencies, and then, after cajoling him
with a trumpery convention, contrived to make good his
retreat to the colonial boundary. The feet of Sir An-
dreas having made any treaty whatever with the chief
in question is, we observe, stoutly denied. But there is
equivocation in this, against which it will be well for the
public to be on its guard. It is quite true, as affirmed,
that no actual treaty was made—but why? The reply
is simply, that Sir Andreas had no power to conclude
any such engagement. When Lieutenant-Governor of
this province, the special duty entrusted to him was that
of making treaties with the Kafir tribes—a duty which
was executed in such a manner as must naturally
make the colonists a little nervous when they hear
of his again trying his hand at the same game—even
though it may be, as it is said to have been in this in-
stance, merely in sport. That the account of the pro-
visional convention given in this journal of the 12th
ult., is substantially correct, we affirm with the most
perfect confidence, and are only amused at the absurd
attempts which have been made to weaken the effect of
that statement, and to excite suspicion that it is, if not
altogether unfounded, at least inaccurate. That Sir
Andreas Stockenstrom still clings to the policy of the
imbecile Lord Glenelg, and to the plausible philanthro-
pic principles of Mr. Secretary Stephen, is, we believe,
beyond dispute. But if this be denied, then let the
change of opinion be at once avowed. Doubtful politics
here must never for a moment be tolerated. This is a
point, in respect to those in power, which is of vital mo-
ment to the colony, and it is for the inhabitants to
take care that they do not repose their confidence
in any whose principles will not bear in this
matter the most searching scrutiny. These are
our honest convictions, and hence we do not hesitate
to give expression to them. The inhabitants of this
frontier call for an open and a plain declaration upon
this subject, and until this be given we must be permitted
to believe that no " change has come o'er the spirit of
the dream " of the officer who is the subject of our re-
marks. It is stated in proof of the duplicity and flimsy
character of the convention with Kroli, that Sir A.
Stockenstrom immediately after his return to the colony
proceeded to the northward, and there, across the Storm-
berg Spruit, engaged some 400 or 500 Boers, living be-
yond the colonial boundary, to stand prepared to attack
the chief to whom he had just held out a prospect of
aggrandisement, and made professions of friendly
intercourse ! All this, if accurately stated, is be-
neath the dignity of the British nation, and
will not admit of excuse on the ground of
necessity. But it is also affirmed that Sir Andreas
Stockenstrom not only failed in his expedition across the
Kei, but that he interfered so as to check the operations
of those who were doing good service in the same tract
of country. The recent aggressions by the Tambookies
across the north-east boundary are attributed to this
cause—a state of things Sir Andreas is now exerting
himself with his wonted energy and industry to repress.
The country in the direction to which we refer evidently
requires the most serious attention of the Govern-
ment, as there exist here at this moment the germs of
numerous difficulties which threaten, if not timely
counteracted, to be a fruitful source of difficulty to
the Government and of annoyance to the colony.
In this quarter is comprised one of the finest tracts
of country in South Africa. The Amavi, the Valley
of the Bufola, and many parts of the Amatola, are rich
in everything that can adorn a country and render it
desirable to those engaged either in agricultural or pas-
toral occupations. Accordingly, many have placed their
affections upon it, and our Government must take care that
it is not made a bone of contention, to the great sacrifice of
the public interests. Here, then, is a sufficient motive to
induce parties to deify him whose influence may be con-
sidered of importance in furthering their ambitious and
selfish projects. The machinery in exercise we have our
eye upon, but let those who are working it be assured
that past impunity is no guarantee of future success.
They are playing a desperate game, the consequences of
whit h—however the colony may suffer—must ultimately
recoil with fatal effect upon their own heads.
Part of the new Uitenhage levy has arrived in Gra-
ham's Town from Oliphant's Hock Division. They are
about 40 in number, many of them fine young men, but
who express much dissatisfaction at their treatment.
First they reported themselves to the military authori-
ties, but were referred to the Civil Commissioner ; on
applying to him, they were sent again to the com-
mandant, the civil authorities having no power, but
simply to call them out. The upshot is that the partie
talk of returning home, as several of those who origi-
nally joined have done on their way to head-quarters.
The great inattention to details in such matters, which
has been exhibited throughout this contest, has been the
fruitful source of dissatisfaction throughout the colony,
and of great perplexity to the Government Received
the following from Waterloo Bay:—" The whole of the
vessels at Waterloo Bay had succeeded in landing con-
siderable quantities of cargo during Monday, Tuesday,
stT
safely.hu and Wednesday. The Matilda, Fortitude, and
Osborne put out to sea on Wednesday even-
ay
ing, and
downha y eth the surf,
o uurnf on
gone Fsridd
o, and it
hs
no
morning had not re-
turned, one vessel only having been seen at a great
distance.
T
a said
a Governor
gentley Le
rwnnndeosr
London
enri lt y, baersre
reyz
reported,
might
k ep t
intended starting for Beaufort on Friday, to meet
Macomo. Sandilla, it was said, was expected to fall
in with the Governor's terms, The Thunderbolt is
expected on Sunday."
We anxiously trust that these appearances of sub-
mission will not throw the Colonists off their guard for
a single moment. '[ho Kafirs at present do not believe
our Government is actually in earnest in its expressed
determination to enforce the penalty which they have
justly incurred by their late unprovoked, ruinous, and
murderous aggressions. Having aforetime always out-
an
witted the Colonial authorities by persuading them,
after gaining their ends, of their contrition for the past,
and their desire to live at peace for the future, they
evidently reckon with confidence upon a similar result
on the present occasion. The Government must take
care, therefore, not to depend upon the specious profes-
sions of these people, as, should they do so, the result
will be most calamitous to all concerned.

Graham's Town, Oct. 24, IS4G.

Gentlemen,—l have the honour to transmit to you
copy of a letter from the Private Secretary to his Ex-
cellency the Governor, being a reply to the memorial
presented by the inhabitants of Lower Albany, with
respect to the affairs of the eastern province.
And have the honour to be, &c.,
11. HUDSON, Civ. Corn.
To the gentlemen of Lower Albany, who signed a
memorial to her Majesty the Queen in Council.

(Copy) Camp, head-quarters, Oct. 22, 1846.
Sir,—l have the honour to request that you will in-
form the inhabitants of Lower Albany, who, in last
March, petitioned the Queen in Council respecting the
affairs of the eastern frontier, that her Majesty was
pleased to reeeive their petition very graciously; but that
the subject is not one on which her Majesty can be ad-
vised to invoke the assistance and advice of her Privy
Council.

As has been already intimated in reply to a former
petition from the frontier, her Majesty's Government re-
quire certain inquiries to be instituted, and further in-
formation to be submitted to them, before a final
decision can be formed respecting the system of Govern-
ment of the eastern province.
I have the honour to be, tscc.,
(Signed) BROWNLOW MAITLAND.
The Civil Commissioner for Albany.

THE DISTRESSED NEEDLEWOMEN'S PROTECTION
SOCIETY.—A meeting of some of the chief supporters
of this benevolent institution was held yesterday at the
Hanover-square Rooms, upon a suggestion for the pre-
sentation of some complimentary testimonials to Mr.
Alderman Farebrother, the president, and Mr. Roper,
the honorary secretary, for their valuable services in
ehe.air, Mr.
stated Luke that
James
support and furtherance of that charity. A majority of
managing
present were ladies, comprising a portion of the
been acgainllgedeo to mthie tt
c
Ilaensaarndelniat andvingthe permanent
satisfactory re-establishment of "
the institution was
mainly attributable to those gentlemen, at a period when
an event which it was unnecessary to dilate on placed its
existence in jeopardy. Their invaluable aid had been
afforded from the commencement; and the benefits con-
ferred by the society were mainly identified with their
unwearied exertions. A resolution in furtherance of the
proposed object, moved and seconded by Mr. Lloyd and
Mr. Bolt, was carried unanimously. A committee having
been nominated, and a list of subscriptions read, a vote
of thanks to the chairman was agreed to, and the meet-
ing separated.
ESSEX PROTECTIONIST SOClETY.—Yesterday, at
Chelmsford, a meeting took place of the members and
friends of the Essex Society for the Protection of Agri-
cultural and British Industry. Mr. Baker, the president
of the society, was in the chair. Amongst those who
took a part in the proceedings and addressed the meet-
ing were the Rev. John Cox, Mr. Tower, Mr. Bowyer
Smith, Sir John Tyrell, &c. The principal resolution
agreed to by the meeting was as follows :—" That in
order to give the people of England the greatest benefit
of any remission of taxation, it is essentially necessary,
to reduce the excise in preference to the customs duties.'
This resolution was obviously directed against the malt-
tax ; and the speeches of the gentlemen who addressed
the meeting consisted principally of arguments to show
that that impost could be advantageously remitted forth-
with. Sir John Tyrell stated he had authority for say-
ing that the heads of the country party would suggest
an efficient plan for making up any deficiency in the
revenue which might be caused by a remission of the
malt-tax.
Mr. Smith O'Brien is to attend a meeting of the
seceders, in the Rotunda, on Wednesday next.—. Limerick
Zzaminer.