Lord Carnarvon on Monday read to the Upper House a
telegraphic despatch from Sir Bartle Frere on the annexation of the Transvaal, from which it appears that the new province will continue to enjoy a separate, though subordinate Govern- ment, that all officials willing to serve will be retained, that the Dutch language may be optionally employed, and that the laws will remain unchanged till altered by proper• legislative authority. The payment of the State Debt is to be provided for, and the war-tax is suspended. In another telegram it was stated that the necessity for annexation was generally acknowledged, in order to terminate the existing anarchy, and that perfect quiet prevailed in the l'ransvaal. It is not likely to be disturbed. The Dutch may be annoyed, but they know they cannot resist the British except by a war of despair, and for a war of despair they have no sufficient motive, even if they had the resources. They will submit quietly, though sullenly, and the more carefully they are let alone the less difficulty will there be in -organising the new Government, which can hardly for a short period be elective. An interregnum till the Federation is formed will allow all hostile feeling to subside. Note that the Portuguese are disgusted. They expected to obtain large concessions from the Boers, as the price of the lease of Delagoa Bay. They had much better exchange with us for an Indian district round Goa.
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