The Sun. — 1858-05-26 (London, England)

THE BOERS.  r e (Front the Cape Argus of el pril 20.) A deplorable the F and tabtleooadnydwtah Basutu n re hasatlasta queetion, which Sir George Clerk left unsettled on the disgraceful abandonment of the sovereignty by the brokention. T out e h between British Government, and the organised system of thieving instituted by the B.,sutus in order to drive out the Boers from the territory claimed by both parties. Mesheet), the paramount chief of the Basutus, has tried in vain to put an end to this constant thieving, which affords but too plausible a pretext to the Boers for hostilities. The real cause is the fierce desire to possess themselves of the lands of the natives, which the Boers consider have been given to them by God for a posses. :ion, and it is well known that this unrighteous war was resolved on two years ago by the Free State Volksraad, sitting with closed doors. Moshesh has several times appealed to the Governor of this colony to mediate or arbitrate, but without effect. The Cape Parliament also stands aloof. The truth is, any war is popular with the majority of colonists, which tends to secure more land for the whites, and to break up the black races. Cape colonists are directly interested in this war, ter there is a constant emigration of our best settlere going on from the co'ony to the Free State caused partly by the aversion to the Government, or rather to its vacillating policy. The Governor seems to have committed him • self to the policy indicated above, and is supposed to regard, if not with satisfaction, at any rats with indifference, the deeds of spoliation and murder now taking place just beyond our birders. If the war continues any length of time, the colony must become involved in it. All that has been done to prevent this, is the issue of a proclamation, forbidding colonial subjects from crossing the Orange River, though no measures that have come to light have been taken to prevent them, bat, on the contrary, insidious atempts are being made, by spreading false reports, to induce the Basutus within celental limits to criminate themselves, by participating in the war, apparently with the object of being down upon them if they do so. A large party of the mounted police force, under Commandant Currie, is watching their movements. But nothing will, probably, prevent the partisans within the colony, of both parties, from going to assist their countrymen. The war commenced by the Boers, by order of President Boshof, attacking and sacking the French missionary. station of Beersheba, within the Free State boundaries, and massacreing its unoffending inhabitants. A great quantity of cattle and other property was captered. Various collisions and reprisals have taken place, gene. rally resulting in favour of the Boers, and in considerable loss of life to the Basutus ; but the main forces on either side have not yet come into contact. The Beers are concentrating with the intention of attacking Mostiesh near his stronghold of Thaba Bossiou. The Basutus are numerically strong, but they are a peaceful and unwarlike people, very different from the frontier Kafir, and both intelligent and industrious, and far from barbarous. If something be not shortly done for them, they will be destroyed. All this comes of the shamefel want of faith on the part of the British Government towards native tribes, which it undertook to protect and afterwards abandoned. The field-pieces used at Beersheba were, we believe, presents made by Sir G. Clerk, and others are daily expected, which Sir G. Grey undertook to send home for, for his friend Boshof. A large order for gunpowder, lead, and muskets has been received in the colony from the Free State, but the unfortunate Basutus are not allowed to have an ounce. All this is called non-interference. The philanthropists have not yet begun to lift up their eyes and hands in pious horror at these iniquities ; it will be time enough for that when the Bee utus have nothing left to lose, and are reduced to a condition worse than slavery.