Eztract of a letter from Sir A. Stockenstrom to Earl
Grey, dated "ape Town, 25th October 1850." "I dare not conceal from your Lordship that I believe the delay is dan- gerous. No country can long suffer with impunity such a disorganization as this colony is at present a prey to. The character of its people alone has pre- vented the most calamitous consequences ; but a regular, wise, and just legislation and government, can no longer be dispensed with. The frontier is in a state of ferment from the sea to the Drachberg. In the so-called 'sovereignty' blood is flowing ; North, East, West, and South of it, blood- shed is only postponed. Dashing despatches, flourishing speeches, and news- paper puffs, can no longer conceal the fact. Human nature refuses to bend to either civilized or barbarian sorcery ; and thousands driven from their lands and compressed into spaces sufficient for tens, begin to think it as well to die fighting as to die starving. Such is our predicament, whilst the auc- tioneer's hammer is knocking down for almost nominal prices to the mere land-jobber the enemy's territory, which for every thousand pounds which it will bring into the Colonial coffers, will cost some fifty thousand of British money to defend."
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