"Natal was to remain an English Colony, but the English were to
retire from the Orange and Vaal rivers; it was thus that the
Independence of the Transvaal was recognised by the Treaty of Sand
River, of 17th January, 1852; and the Independence of the Free
State by the Convention of Bloemfontein, of 22nd February, 1854."

Dr. Kuyper is compelled to admit that England was not forced into this
act of generosity, she having on the 29th August, 1848, defeated the
Boers at Boomplaats, on the Orange table land.

But Dr. Kuyper forgets to say that the majority of the Free Staters were
far from desiring the gift made to them by the British Government in
1854. They considered it not as a measure of liberation, but as an
abandonment to the tender mercies of the Basutos. Some years later the
Orange Free State entered into an arrangement with Sir George Grey, for
forming a Confederation with Cape Colony. This was not ratified by the
Cape Government.

Nor do we find that Dr. Kuyper takes notice of certain stipulations
contained in the above Conventions; among others, the abolition of
slavery, and free permission to merchants and missionaries to travel and
settle where they pleased; which obligations continued to England the
right of control over the administration and legislation of those
States.

The development of subsequent events is explained by Dr. Kuyper in the
simplest possible manner:--

"The promptings of selfish and aggressive materialism now took
unchecked sway, and, although bound by solemn treaties which