NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE news from the front has during the past week been extremely meagre. In fact, all the information that has been allowed to reach us consists in a few statements in regard to the peace negotiations. On Thursday, Renter's Agency announced that the Boer leaders are to reassemble in joint conference at Vereeniging on May 15th; and on Friday the same Agency circulated a statement to the effect that, "having deliberated and arrived at a decision as to the terms of surrender which they are prepared to accept, they will proceed to the British headquarters at Pretoria for the purpose of definitely settling matters with the Commander- in-Chief." It is difficult not to believe that this action points to a willing mind on the part of the Boers, and such willing mind is, after all, the essential condition. Of course, the country must not be too hopeful, for in this strange contest the unexpected and the unlikely thing is the thing that has invariably happened. Still, it is difficult to believe that the Boers mean to stretch their stiff limbs for another "rally." Anyway, if they do, we are ready, and shall by the time hostilities begin again, if they do begin, have some ten thousand fresh troops in South Africa. Reinforcements are sailing, and have been sailing every week since the nego- tiations began.
