Sir Bartle Frere ended his reign in South Africa with
a deliciously characteristic despatch,—a lecture to her Majesty's Government on their invincible ignorance. He is " not conscious of any divergence in principle " from the Government policy. "In every case of importance, it will be found that the view of such facts, which I reported, has either already been proved to be true, or will be found to be true by all who impartially seek the truth." He reproaches the Government for not recalling him at once, and utterly denies that confederation has been rejected. It will be accepted when the Transvaal and Zululand are settled, when "fair conditions " have been proposed, and when, ho hints very distinctly, the Liberal party, being out of power, shall have ceased to encourage the advocates of Particularism. He antici- pates that his recall will make the disarmament policy in Basutoland difficult, as " it will naturally appear to the Basutos " an emphatic disapproval of every act of his Government. Sir Bartle Frere certainly has the courage, not to say the impud- ence, of his convictions, and we sincerely recommend him to Lord Beaconsfield for his next Cabinet. It would be a grand intellectual experiment. If Lord Beaconsfield can master Sir Bartle Frere, as he mastered Sir Stafford Northeote, he need never be afraid of any future destiny. He would master the " first Whig."
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