26 APRIL 1879, Page 1
No intelligence of a trustworthy character has been received
about the attitude of the Boers. According to the latest rumours, they are about to besiege Pretoria, and, if possible, capture Sir Bartle Frere, to keep as a hostage ; but the latter part of this story seems to be a grim joke. He would certainly write a convincing "memorandum of policy " for them, and then they would be ruined. They are hardly likely to abandon their attitude of passive disaffection before they see the issue of the war in Zululand.
