Sir Bartle Frere has been recalled. On Thursday, Lord Kimberley
stated in the House of Lords, and Lord Hartington in the House of Commons, that " there had never existed between her Majesty's present Government and Sir Bartle Frere that harmony of opinion on many important questions in South Africa which could make it desirable in itself, or fair to Sir Bartle Frere, that be should remain at the Cape, but for this reason, that he had been specially sent out to forward, and it appeared possible that it was in his power materially to forward, the policy of confederation. This special reason has now disappeared, certainly not in consequence of any failure of zeal or ability on the part of Sir Bartle Frere, but solely through the action of the Cape Parliament in withholding its assent from even the initiatory step of holding a conference. Her Majesty's Government have, therefore, decided with regret that 'her Majesty should be advised to replace him by another Governor." We confess to a great sense of relief. Sir Bartle Frere is, no doubt, a man of high spirit and great nerve, but he is so rash and wrong-headed, that all his high spirit and great nerve do for him is to make him dangerous. He has governed South Africa as he governed Bombay, and as he has, by his advice, helped to govern India, under the inspiration of morbid impulses. Government by Sir Bartle Frere is government by spasm, and one never knows whither spasm will lead one.
