of Natal. The author and instrument of the Zulu war was Sir Bartle Frere,
a man of tenacious character and grave and lofty if ill-calculated aims.
The conservative government, as I have already said,(10) without
enthusiasm assented, and at one stage they even formally censured him.
When Mr. Gladstone acceded to office, the expectation was universal that
Sir Bartle would be at once recalled. At the first meeting of the new
cabinet (May 3) it was decided to retain him. The prime minister at first
was his marked protector. The substantial reason against recall was that
his presence was needed to carry out the policy of confederation, and
towards confederation it was hoped that the Cape parliament was
immediately about to take (M10) a long preliminary step. "Confederation,"
Mr. Gladstone said, "is the pole-star of the present action of our
government." In a few weeks, for a reason that will be mentioned in
treating the second episode of this chapter, confederation broke down. A
less substantial but still not wholly inoperative reason was the strong
feeling of the Queen for the high commissioner. The royal prepossessions
notwithstanding, and in spite of the former leanings of Mr. Gladstone, the
cabinet determined, at the end of July, that Sir Bartle should be
recalled. The whole state of the case is made sufficiently clear in the
two following communications from the prime minister to the Queen:--

_To the Queen._

_May 28, 1880._--Mr. Gladstone presents his humble duty, and has
had the honour to receive your Majesty's telegram respecting Sir
B. Frere. Mr. Gladstone used on Saturday his best efforts to avert
a movement for his dismissal, which it was intended by a powerful
body of members on the liberal side to promote by a memorial to
Mr. Gladstone, and by a motion in the House. He hopes that he has
in some degree succeeded, and he understands that it is to be
decided on Monday whether they will at present desist or
persevere. Of course no sign will be given by your Majesty's
advisers which could tend to promote perseverance, at the same
time Mr. Gladstone does not conceal from himself two things: the
first, that the only chance of Sir B. Frere's remaining seems to
depend upon his ability to make progress in the matter of
confederation; the second, that if the agitation respecting him in
the House, the press, and the country should continue, confidence