presence of a troop of soldiers, who were sent down to Potchefstroom, caused them to hesitate, and to separate without doing any harm. If the arrest caused great excitement, however, the release of Pretorius occasioned still more. It puzzled both loyalists and malcontents. Nor did it tend to increase confidence in the Administration. The policy of conciliation formerly adopted by the British Government in the Transvaal had given way to one of coercion, which was to some extent successful. The meeting at Wonderfontein appeared to be a sort of last gasp on the part of the disaffected Boers, and after it was over, there was a considerable quieting down. Symptoms of disaffection were manifest everywhere, but there were no further overt attempts to defy the Government. The arrest of Pretorius and Bok was a mistake, inasmuch as it tended to fan the flickering embers of agitation; and the release of Pretorius was a further mistake, since it displayed vacillation of purpose on the part of the Government. The policy of coercion, though not commending itself to general sympathy, was an intelligible one, and seemed as if it would answer its purpose. But it should have been consistent.

The arrest of the two Boer officials and their quick release was, after all, only an episode, and in a short time, in the ordinary course of things, it would probably have been forgotten. But two other events occurred about this time, which were of much greater significance, and to which ultimately may be referred the Boer rebellion and the desertion of the Transvaal by the English Government. These were the withdrawal of the troops from the country, and the Midlothian speeches of Mr. Gladstone, and his subsequent "repudiation" of them.

CHAPTER VIII.

FROM THE MIDLOTHIAN SPEECHES TO THE OUTBREAK OF THE BOER REBELLION.

Boer agitation kept alive by English politicians-The Midlothian speeches of Mr. Gladstone-Meeting at Wonderfontein-Agitation in Cape Colony-Appointment of Sir George Colley as High Commissioner-Withdrawal of troops-Overthrow of the English ministry and advent of Mr. Gladstone to power-The Queen's Speech-Mr. Gladstone repudiates his Midlothian speeches-Mr. Courtney and Mr. Grant-Duff on the TransvaalMr. Chamberlain's contradictory speeches-Lord Kimberley in the House of Lords-Mr. Gladstone's letter to Kruger and Joubert His letter to the Loyalists-Mr. Gladstone's conduct and its effect on the Boers -- Beneficial effect on the material prosperity of the country-Unpopular appointments of the local Government -Payment of arrear taxes the immediate cause of war-The Wakkerstroom manifesto - The Bezuidenhout affair - The Paarde Kraal meeting-Proclamation of the Republic.

WHILE English officials were trying to appease the rising spirit of discontent in the Transvaal at one time by blandishments, at another by threats, English politicians at home were feeding the flames of rebellion. For some time there had been a knot of Radical members of the English House of Commons who, penetrated by dislike for what they termed scornfully the "Jingo" policy of the Government, sedulously advocated the retrocession of the Transvaal. Some of them were in communication with the Boer leaders. They

assisted the two deputations to England with their advice; and after the decisive answer of Sir Michael Hicks-Beach had left no hope of the annexation being undone, they still encouraged the Boers to agitate. It was to these politicians that Sir Garnet Wolseley alluded in his speech at Pretoria, and it was to these politicians that the Boers passed a vote of thanks at the last mass meeting. Their influence tended to keep alive an agitation which might perhaps have been crushed by the vigorous policy which had recently been initiated. The Boers were sufficiently men of the world to understand that while there was treachery and divided councils in England, there was hope for them.

The ranks of the English agitators were now joined by a formidable ally. Mr. Gladstone, waking from a long lethargy, commenced an electoral campaign in Midlothian, in which he vigorously attacked the foreign policy of the Government. Eager to show up the Ministry in the worst colours, he allowed his tongue to run riot. As an experienced statesman he should have recognized the danger of weakening the influence of the nation abroad, and of fomenting rebellion and disorder in the colonies. But every consideration of sound statesmanship was thrown to the winds in the passion of the moment; and, for the sake of gratifying political animosity, words were let drop that bore bitter fruit afterwards. In several of his speeches Mr. Gladstone denounced the annexation of the Transvaal. Thus at Dalkeith, on the 26th of November, 1879, the exPremier said: "In the Transvaal we have chosen most unwisely-I am tempted to say insanely-to put ourselves in the strange predicament of the free subjects of a monarch going to coerce the free subjects of a republic, and compel them to accept a citizenship which

they decline and refuse." In another speech in the course of the same campaign he said: "What is the meaning of adding places like Cyprus and places like the country of the Boers in South Africa to the British empire? And, moreover, I would say this: that, if those acquisitions were as valuable as they are valueless, I would repudiate them, because they are obtained by means dishonourable to the character of our country." These speeches were received with acclamation by the Transvaal Boers. They were printed in the Dutch papers and also on small slips, which were circulated from hand to hand among the Boers. The hopes of the discontented were raised to the highest pitch. Mr. Gladstone was the leading man among the Liberal party, and it was thought after such utterances it would be impossible for him to refrain from giving the country back, if he should return to office again.

On the 18th of March a meeting of the Boer committee was held at the farm of Mr. Prinsloo, near Wonderfontein. A letter was drawn up to Mr. Gladstone, thanking him for his sympathy, and the mass. meeting fixed for the following April was postponed sine die. It was resolved to establish a National Trading Company, so as to render the Boers independent of the English storekeepers; and it was also resolved to send Messrs. Kruger and Joubert as a deputation to the Cape. Sir Bartle Frere was endeavouring to pass his confederation scheme through the Cape Parliament; and the Boers, who identified him with the English Government, determined to spoil his game, if possible. They were backed up by members of the Opposition in the Cape Parliament, who were annoyed at having been dismissed from office by Sir Bartle during the Kaffir war, and who were

opposed to his confederation scheme. The leaders of the Boers were also aware that if Sir Bartle Frere failed, he would probably be recalled and the Home Government discredited; and so the purposes of their political friends in England would be answered. I may remark here, by way of completing the account of the proceedings of the deputation, that they were successful in their operations, and that their agitation assisted in no small measure in bringing about the failure of the plan of confederation-a failure which ultimately resulted in the recall of Sir Bartle Frere. The party who were opposed to the confederation scheme, in their turn were not ungrateful for the aid rendered to them. An address was got up in Cape Colony praying for the rescinding of the annexation of the Transvaal, and it was signed by several Cape politicians.

In March, 1880, Sir George Colley was appointed to succeed Sir Garnet Wolseley as High Commissioner for South-Eastern Africa, Sir Bartle Frere being still retained as the Governor of Cape Colony. The appointment of Colonel Lanyon as Administrator of the Transvaal was confirmed. Almost the last act of Sir Garnet was to publish a notice in the Government Gazette of the 12th of March, embodying a telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, stating that the Queen's sovereignty would not be withdrawn.

The appointment of a new High Commissioner was contemporaneous with the withdrawal of most of the troops from the Transvaal. A garrison was left at Pretoria, and another at Lydenberg, but much too small to cope with the Boers. The peaceful aspect of the country lulled even Sir Garnet into security. At an earlier period of his administration, he was alarmed at the menacing attitude of the Boers, and in a con