The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-24 00:00:00

THE CAPE OF GOOD. HOPE.

.By the arrival of the Indiana we have received
our -regular files of Cape papers to the 12th of
August inclusive. We extract the following from
the Cape Town Argus of that date : __ _

" The chief matter of interest which has occurred in Cape
Towil since our last is the departure of Sir George Grey on'
his Free State mission.
" The Governor left Cape Town on the 27th of last
month to enter upon his duties, with the consent of the
Cape Legislature and at the earnest request of the belli-
gerents, as mediator between the Free State Government
and the powerful Basuta chief Moshesh. Strangely enough,
upon that very day 10 years Sir Harry Smith left the Cape
to reduce the insurgent Boers over the Orange River to
submisgon, and to commence, or rather to continue, that
series of blunders which led to the unfortunate abandon-
ment of the Orange River Sovereignty in 1853, and subse-
quently, in 1858, to the war which has completed the min
of the Free State, and materially enhanced the power of
Woiliesh. If anything more were wanting to prove the
absurdity of abandoning the country and electing it into a
free and independent state, it is the fact that, after five years
of precarious and anarchichal existence, its Government
has been compelled to implore the assistance of a British
Governor to intercede for it with a native Power, with which
it was not able to cope either in arms or in diplomacy. But
it is nut alone the power of Moshesh which threatens the
Free State. The policy adopted by it and the neighbouring
Transvaal Republic, to overawe the native tribes by whom
they arc surrounded, has been one combined series of dis-
simulation and cruelty, the co-existence of the natives being
apparently considered incompatible with their safety. In
the dilemma in which the Free State people now find them-
selves all eyes have been turned to this colony, since the
failure of an attempt to amalgamate the Free State with the
Republic, for the purpose of mutual support and encourge-
went. It is understood that Sir George Grey declined to
treat with the Free State on the basis of any proposition to
that effect, on the ground of its being contrary to the orders
of the Home Government. It is now confessed, both by
those who are favourable to the British Government and
those who are adverse, that the only hope for the future
safety, nay, for the very existence of the Free State, consists
in its reunion with the parent aolony. It is felt and acknow-
ledged that the systematic want of good faith practised
towards the natives has produced this melancholy state of
things ; and that the prestige of British rule, which still
conveys to the native mind, in spite of many gross errors
and wrongs in times gone by, the idea of good faith to keep
engagements and strength to enforce them, can alone
remove the distrust which has produced dislike and resist-
ance, and restore the confidence which, if once gained, is
not easily lost.
" The Governor has not yet arrived at the scene of his
labours, of which we hope the adjustment of the boundary
question between the Free State and Moshesh will be but a
preliminary Great hopes are entertained throughout the
country that a happy issue will result for South Africa
from these negotiations, for it cannot be denied that its
future happiness is bound up in the successful solution of a
question which has threatened the peace and good under-
standing between blacks and whites for so many years.
" Owing to the changes rendered necessary in British
Caffraria by the alteration of policy of the new Home
Government, and to the awkward circumstances in which
the settlers of the British Legion and other German immi-
grants arc placed, the Governor has decided upon giving
out 200 farms, of 1,500 acres each, to farmers with some
capital from this colony, in order that employment may be
furnished for the Germans, some of whom are deserting
daily from the Legion. The proposed measure seems to
give tolerable satisfaction to all concerned, except the Go-
vernor himself, who expected greater things from the
eighty-acre system at a high price.
" Some difficulties between the British and Portuguese
authorities in the Mozambique Channel have recently
arisen. It appears from the accounts which have reached
us, that a small cutter, named the Herald, had proceeded
from Natal on a trading expedition to the native tribes on
the cast coast near King George's, or Manakura, River.
This cutter was seized by several Portuguese, on the plea of
not 'having paid duty at Delagoa Bay. The expedition
party were held in custody at Delagoa Bay until a Portu-
guese brig arrived, and conveyed them to Mozambique. At
the latter place they were taken charge of by the British
Consul, Mr. M‘Leod, who demanded the boat and cargo from
the authorities, holding, we understand, the view enter-
tained by the
.promoters of the expedition, that King
George's River is not Portuguese but native territory. The
Portuguese proceeded to a secret trial of the case, but did
not inform our Consul or any of the party of the decision
they had come to until the arrival of her Majesty's brig
Persian, when they announced their refusal to give up
either boat or cargo. Shortly after the steamer Lyra (which
had been sent from the Cape station), arrived at the Mo-
zambique, and took off the Consul, together with the mem-
bers of the Herald expedition. The treatment of the British
Consul by the Portuguese at Mozambique was anything but
satisfactory ; in fact, so powerful is the slave interest there,
that the Governor was unable to protect the Consul from
personal insult and annoyance. The Consul has proceeded,
via the Mauritius, to England, in order to represent these
affairs to the Foreign-office authorities.
" Durin.g, the voyage of the Lyra to Mozambique she fell
in with a ' dhow,' or Portuguese coasting cutter, having on
board 11 slaves, evidently being conveyed to some slave
depot on the coast for shipment. The dhow' was burnt,
and the captain and two of the crew, together with the
rescued negroes, were brought to this place for examination
by the Mixed British and Portuguese Commission. The
Commission is now investigating the matter.
Admiral Sir F. Grey, accompanied by Lady Grey, left
Simon's Bay on the 27th ult.' in H.M.S. Bosphorus, for the
Mauritius. It is understood that the Admiral will after-
wards proceed to the Mozambique.
"The Megiera, Commander Purvis, arrived in Simon's
Bay on Tuesday. She has come to embark troops for
India.

" The Hermes and Lynx are now in Simon's Bay.
" The head-quarters of the 31st Regiment are at King
William's Town. The remaining companies of the GOth
Rifles have left Fort Murray, as they are about to join their
comrades in India. It is said that a portion of the 31st
Regiment will be distributed in 'Natal, to relieve the 45th
Regiment.
" It is said that the 2d Queen's, now at Middle Drift and
Fort Hare, is likely to be removed to other localities, if not
to leave the colony for India.
" The Anglo-German paper published on the frontier
gives the following figures, as representing correctly the
present force of the German Legion :-3 colonels, 24 cap-
tains, 13 lieutenants, 17 staff officers, and 31 Vaandrie,,,s ;
altogether 88 officers. Further, 118 sergeants, 90 corporals,
6 buglers, 1,760 privates—altogether 2,020. The number
of officers' wives is 30, while the children amount to 36;
non-commissioned officers' and privates' wives, 291, with
177 children. The paper also states that there are 392
houses already in occupation, while 177 are being built.
The number of acres under cultivation is 884.

"The missionaries who are about to proceed to the Mats-
bele and Makololo tribes, in connexion with Livingstone's
expedition to the Zambesi, were entertained at a public
sotree on the 3d inst. There were then present—the vete-
ran missionary Robert Moffatt, together with his younger
coadjutors, the Rev. Messrs. Mackenzie, J. 3loffatt, Thos.
Price, and Sykes. Clergymen of various denominations
took part in the proceedings, and expressed sympathy-with
the objects of the meeting. The Rev. R. Moffatt, with his
family, and Mrs. Livingstone, will leave for the interior
next week.
" The Paris Evangelical Mission among the Basutas, not-
withstanding the sad losses which they sustained (luring
the late Free State war, have recommenced their labours.
The Rev. Mr. Arbousset, one of the missionaries, reports
that the various mission stations of Berea, Thaba Bonigo,
Hernon, Morija, Bethulie, Cannel, and other places have
again been organised.

SIR GEORGE GREY'S VISIT TO THE FREE
STATES.

BEAUFORT (WEST), AUG. 7.

The post which reached this on Tuesday the 27th of
July, having brought intelligence of the probable departure
of the Governor on the Monday morning following, the in-.
habitants immediately set about making preparations for
welcoming him on his arrival; which it was generally ex-
pected would be about Monday the 2d inst. A mounted
messenger was sent off to wait at a place about 30 miles
on the road with instructions to bring the earliest
possible notice of the approach of the Governor. Mr.
Pritchard, Field Commandant of the Burghers of this
division, gave notice to those burghers residing in the
town and within a moderate distance, requesting them to
assemble on Monday for the purpose of escorting the Go-
vernor into the town. The Beaufort Royal Rifles received
the necessary orders and the inhabitants generally evinced
-the utmost anxiety to get horses and vehicles in readiness.
An address was drawn up by a committee on the part of '
the inhabitants, and placed for signature. On Monday
morning the Port Elizabeth mail brought a bag of
despatches for the Governor from Cape Town, sent off by
the frontier post from Cape Town, which left on Tuesday,
at half-past 11 o'clock; also positive information of the
Governor having left on Monday. This is the first instance
of letters having been received from Cape Town via Port
Elizabeth, and the time occupied—viz., from Tuesday
morning until the following Monday at 3 p.m., is certainly
very short. On Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning,
by the post via Riversdale and through the Karoo, further
news was received as to the Governor's progress up to
about 50 miles from the town, and all fully expected and
were in.readiness to receive him on the Tuesday afternoon,
but towards evening learnt, on the return of some parties
who went a long way on the road, that he would not arrive
before the next day. The Governor'sdespatches, which had
arrived by the several posts, and which they had volunteered
to take out, were sent on by a messenger, so that he got
them that evening. This unexpected delay caused some per-
sons from-the countrywho had beenwaiting since Saturday
to leave, as they could not remain from home longer. Mr.
Pritchard, however, availed himself of the delay to drill
his Burghers daily, and also liberally entertained them on
Tuesday at Hulme's Hotel.

On Wednesday morning early, the weather, which had
been for a few days previous very favourable, blowing a gale
from N.W., cleared up, the sun shining brightly. Every
preparation for a start was now made; flap were to be
seen at various points, and the greatest activity and bustle
were visible. Between 9 and to o'clock the Burghers,
together with a large number of the inhabitants, in waggons,
carts, &c., the Civil Commissioner, ex-Civil Commissioner,
and Clerk of the Peace, in a carriage, left the town, and
proceeded for about six miles on the Cape Town road, when
they met the Governor and his aide-de-camp, Mr. Rivers,
on horseback in advance of the travelling waggons. The
Governor dismounted and shook hands in the most friendly
manner, with the officials, Commandant of the Burghers,
ex-members of Parliament, and several others, acknowledg-
ing the salutations on all sides. The Burghers fired a volley,
and after some cheering formed on each side of the Go-
vernor, the vehicles all following, and thus proceeded
towards the town. On entering there the Rifles were drawn
up near the market, and formed a line in front of the Go-
vernor. The whole proceeded in this order up the principal
At the same time a salute of 21 guns was fired at
street.
arrivingopposite the house pre-
the top of the town. On
pared fur the Governor the Rifles drew up in line, and the
Burghers in two divisions on each side. After the Rifles
had presented arms, and the Governor had addressed a few
words-to the officer commanding, he rode round and in-
spected both the Rifles and the Burghers,ex g him-
self very favourably to the commanding officers.pressin A volley
was then fired by the Burghers, after which the Governor
dismounted and entered the hotel, together with the offi-
cials and several of the inhabitants.
At half-past two p.m., his Excellency having signified
that he would be prepared at that hour, a large number of
the inhabitants waited upon him with the address, which
was read by Mr. Molten as follows :
"To HIS EXCELLENCY, SIR GEORGE GREY, K.C.8.,
GOVERNOR OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, &C.

" May it please your Excellency,—
" We, the undersigned, inhabitants of the town and divi-
sion cf Beaufort, beg most respectfully, but heartily, to
welcome your Excellency among us while journeying to
the countries lying beyond the Orange River, and to assure
your Excellency that we have the greatest confidence in
your judgment and tried ability when dealing with the
difficult and complicated questions arising out of the dis-