has been harassed with despatches and threats concerning its
internal Government. I also need not tell your Excellency that
outside influence was used in order that memorials to His Majesty's
Government might be drawn up concerning alleged grievances, so that
His Majesty's Government might have the desired opportunity of
interfering with the inner policy of the South African Republic.

As I have said, I do not think it necessary to remind your
Excellency of the above-mentioned facts, because I am of opinion
that they are well known to you. I, however, should like your
Excellency to be good enough to pay attention to the following
facts:--

When, at the time of the circulation of the last-mentioned
Memorial, I could see that a certain party was working hard to
involve the British Government in a war with the South African
Republic, I stepped into the breach, and endeavoured, by bringing
the parties together, and by using my influence with the South
African Republic, to induce the latter to give in to the demands of
His Majesty's Government in order to maintain the peace.

I succeeded in getting the Transvaal to yield, not because I was of
the opinion that the English Government had any right to make such
demands, but only in order to prevent bloodshed. When the British
Government was still not satisfied, then the South African
Government made concession after concession to the ever-increasing
demands made upon them, until at last there came a request that the
law on franchise should be laid before a Commission. On the behest
of the British Agent in Pretoria, the South African Republic made a
proposal granting far more than was demanded by the High