der to
check the mischief which this widespread report is causing."

Apropos of Sir Alfred Milner's letter, it must be mentioned that several
of the Bechuanaland Dutch had openly joined the Boers; and on the
occasion of the hoisting of the Transvaal flag in Vryburg, Commandant
Delarey took occasion to deliver himself of an effective speech, in
which he said that the flag of the country was now floating over the
whole Orange River, and that the flag of Britain would never again do so
unless it were hoisted over the dead bodies of the Burghers. At Klipdam
also the Boers put in an appearance, and celebrated their incursion by
holding "at homes" in the Magistrates' Court; but hearing of the British
successes at Kimberley, and judging discretion to be the better part of
valour, they decamped northwards, leaving food and stores behind.

The disaffection of the Dutch was as yet almost confined to the western
border. On the eastern side the inhabitants for the most part were
staunch. Indeed, in the history of the war the splendid loyalty of Natal
as a whole will ever be remembered. Her trials were many and her faith
almost sublime. Weekly the _Times of Natal_ had poured forth its plaint
on the dilatoriness or insouciance of the Imperial Government, yet
nothing was done till those who put their trust in the good faith of the
mother country were deprived of home and fortune, and in their
bitterness were tempted to declare that British protection was as
Dead-Sea fruit--a profitless show, that was apt to turn to ashes in the
mouth. The following letters serve to show the attitude of a staunch
loyalist under the severe strain put upon him, and they are quoted
because they are descriptive, not of individual anxiety and distress,
but of the general feeling of the Colony in those months of supreme
trial.

One letter, dated October 27, began:--

"Those brave fellows up at Ladysmith have been fighting all
day. We heard their cannon even after dusk. What is the result,
I wonder? I fear we shall not hear till to-morrow. That
essential but most aggravating censor causes such delays, and
dishes up such garbled accounts of the actual facts, as to
astound those who know the truth.... There is little chance of
our being able to attempt even to defend this place. It simply
means evacuation or surrender, and stand by and see the
Transvaal flag go up! O England! England! As ever, unprepared."