Downing Street may possibly welcome the news of another Caffre
war as a diversion in its favour : as an argument for making no important modifications of the Budget ; as an excuse for Sir Harry Smith, engaged in military duties, postponing the com- pletion of a constitution for the Cape ; as likely to prevent that inconvenient Sir Andries Stockenstrom from leaving the colony. But in this Downing Street may also reckon without its host. The persons best acquainted with local circumstances rrgard the movements in Caffreland as in all probability the connnewriment of a protracted and costly struggle ; and though Elul Grey de- clared in the House of Lords, on Thursday, that the events in British Caffraria have taken him by surprise, it is certain that he was urgently forewarned of the danger as long ago as December last. Downing Street may have to defend itself from the charge
of having by gross neglect of duty allowed the country to be in- volved in expensive hostilities.
-Up to the date of do latest adviees, active hostilities appear Tee have been confined to the upper valley of the; Keiskamma, and 16 country between that nig King William's Tian. But this is fie of the most difficult and impenetrabk regions of Oaffraria : The whole male population appears to be in arms ; and if they prove successful there is little doubt that the neighbouring tribes will join them. We shall in that case undoubtedly hear of their cross- ing the colonial frontier in predatory swarms, and devastating the Eastern Districts like locusts. To keep them in cheek till rein- forcements arrive, Sir Harry Smith has not in all two thousand aoldiers, and has numerous forts to maintain. Trusting to big words and mystical denunciations, Sir Harry and the other com- manders, after provoking the Caffres, have allowed themselves to be taken by surprise. Sir Harry had deposed the greatest of the Caffre chiefs ; a force was detached to arrest him ; and this force, marching through the most difficult pass of the country in single file, with unloaded muskets, was surrounded, assailed, and com- pelled to abandon the enterprise. Sir Harry Smith, with a small detachment, was surrounded about the same time at Fort Cox ; from which, with difficulty:, he fought his way to King William's Town. An attempt to join him, made by Colonel Somerset, was frustrated by the Caffres. The question arises, who is to pay for all the expense that will be incurred ? Assuredly not the colony. The district in which the troubles have originated is not within the colony ; it is Downing Street territory, and has been altogether governed (or rather mis- governed) by the officials of the Downing Street bureau. The colonists have no concern in it—it is literally "Smith's Folly." The melodramatic vapouring of Sir Harry has mainly contributed to provoke the war, which his negligence or over-confidence has allowed to become dangerous. It is a purely Imperial war ; of which this country: must bear the brunt, and for involving it in which our reckoning must be with the Colonial Office. It will, however, be the fault of Parliament if the present session be al- lowed to pass without the enactment of responsible government for the Cape ; thus leaving the colony to choose its own frontier policy, and precluding the recurrence of Imperial liabilities either for government or defence.
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