“I am told that these men (the Boers) are told to keep on agitating in this way, for a change of Government in England may give them again the old order of things. Nothing can show greater ignorance of English politics than such an idea. I tell you there is no Government—Whig or Tory, Liberal, Conservative, or Radical—who would dare, under any circumstances, to give back this country (the Transvaal). They would not dare, because the English people would not allow them.”—( Extract from Speech of

The writer on Colonial Affairs is naturally, to some extent, discouraged by the knowledge that the subject is an unattractive one to a large proportion of the reading public. It is difficult to get up anything beyond a transient interest in the affairs of our Colonial dependencies; indeed, I believe that the mind of the British public was more profoundly moved by the exodus of Jumbo, than it would be were one of them to become the scene of some startling catastrophe. This is the more curious, in

Claims of affairs of Zululand to attention—Proposed visit of Cetywayo to England—Chaka—His method of government—His death— Dingaan—Panda—Battle of the Tugela—John Dunn—Nomination of Cetywayo—His coronation—His lady advocates—Their attacks on officials—Was Cetywayo bloodthirsty?—Cause of the Zulu war—Zulu military system—States of feeling amongst the Zulus previous to the war—Cetywayo’s position—His enemies—His intentions on the Transvaal—Their frustration by Sir T. Shepstone—Cetywayo’s interview

Natal—Causes of increase of the native population—Happy condition of the Natal Zulus—Polygamy—Its results on population—The impossibility of eradicating it—Relations between a Zulu and his wives—Connection between polygamy and native law—Missionary work amongst the Zulus—Its failure—Reasons of its failure—Early days of Natal—Growth of the native question—Coming struggle between white and black over the land question—Difficulty of civilising the Zulu—Natal as a black settlement—The constitution o

Invasion by Mosilikatze—Arrival of the emigrant Boers—Establishment of the South African republic—The Sand River convention—Growth of the territory of the republic—The native tribes surrounding it—Capabilities of the country—Its climate—Its inhabitants—The Boers—Their peculiarities and mode of life—Their abhorrence of settled government and payment of taxes—The Dutch patriotic party—Form of government previous to the annexation—Courts of law—The commando system—Revenue arrangements—Native races

Mr. Burgers elected president—His character and aspirations—His pension from the English Government—His visit to England—The railway loan—Relations of the republic with native tribes—The pass laws—Its quarrel with Cetywayo—Confiscation of native territory by the Keate award—Treaty with the Swazi king—The Secocoeni war—Capture of Johannes’ stronghold by the Swazi allies—Attack on Secocoeni’s mountain—Defeat and dispersion of the Boers—Elation of the natives—Von Schlickmann’s volunteers—Cruelties

Anxiety of Lord Carnarvon—Despatch of Sir T. Shepstone as Special Commissioner to the Transvaal—Sir T. Shepstone, his great experience and ability—His progress to Pretoria and reception there—Feelings excited by the arrival of the mission—The annexation not a foregone conclusion—Charge brought against Sir T. Shepstone of having called up the Zulu army to sweep the Transvaal—Its complete falsehood—Cetywayo’s message to Sir T. Shepstone—Evidence on the matter summed up—General desire of the native

Reception of the annexation—Major Clarke and the Volunteers— Effect of the annexation on credit and commerce—Hoisting of the Union Jack—Ratification of the annexation by Parliament—Messrs. Kruger and Jorissen’s mission to England—Agitation against the annexation in the Cape Colony—Sir T. Shepstone’s tour—Causes of the growth of discontent among the Boers—Return of Messrs. Jorissen and Kruger—The Government dispenses with their services—Despatch of a second deputation to England—Outbreak of war w

Accession of Mr. Gladstone to power—His letters to the Boer leaders and the loyals—His refusal to rescind the annexation—The Boers encouraged by prominent members of the Radical party—The Bezuidenhout incident—Despatch of troops to Potchefstroom—Mass meeting of the 8th December 1880—Appointment of the Triumvirate and declaration of the republic—Despatch of Boer proclamation to Sir O. Lanyon—His reply—Outbreak of hostilities at Potchefstroom—Defence of the court-house by Major Clarke—The massacre

The Queen’s Speech—President Brand and Lord Kimberley—Sir Henry de Villiers—Sir George Colley’s plan—Paul Kruger’s offer—Sir George Colley’s remonstrance—Complimentary telegrams—Effect of Majuba on the Boers and English Government—Collapse of the Government—Reasons of the Surrender—Professional sentimentalists—The Transvaal Independence Committee—Conclusion of the armistice—The preliminary peace—Reception of the news in Natal—Newcastle after the declaration of peace—Exodus of the loyal inhabitan

I THE POTCHEFSTROOM ATROCITIES, &C. There were more murders and acts of cruelty committed during the war at Potchefstroom, where the behaviour of the Boers was throughout both deceitful and savage, than at any other place. When the fighting commenced a number of ladies and children, the wives and children of English residents, took refuge in the fort. Shortly after it had been invested they applied to be allowed to return to their homes in the town till the war was over. The request was