ugees. Hearing them continually mention cases in which rebel
Dutch had, in this way or that, shown their want of allegiance to the
British Government, conclusions were jumped at that there must exist a
reason for these recriminations and allegations, and that British
officials were in reality too anxious to conciliate the anti-English
elements in the Colony, to the detriment of the loyalists, whose feelings
of patriotism they considered, as a matter of course, required no reward
and scarcely any encouragement. These people, unequipped with the truth,
took up with a warmth which it certainly did not deserve the cause of
these loyalists, sought their advice, and formed a totally wrong and even
absurd opinion both as to South African politics and the conduct of the
representatives of the Queen in Cape Town.

All the misrepresentation and misunderstanding which took place
increasingly, led to animosity on the part of the Dutch. Rightly or
wrongly, it was taken as a matter of course that Rhodes favoured the idea
of a total annihilation of the Cape Dutch. And as he was considered a kind
of demigod by so many the idea was widely circulated, and became at last
deeply rooted in the minds of most of the white population of South
Africa, who, without being able to say why, considered it in consequence a
part of its duty to exaggerate in the direction of advocating severity
toward the Dutch. This did not contribute to smoothen matters, and it grew
into a very real danger, inimical to the conclusion of an honourable and
permanent peace. Federation, which at one time had been ardently wished
for almost everywhere, became a new cause for anxiety as soon as it was
known that Rhodes was in favour of it. People fancied that his ambitions
lay in the direction of a kind of dictatorship exercised by himself over
the whole of South Africa, a dictatorship which would make him in effect
master of the country.

This, however, was the last thing which the financiers on the Rand wished.
Indeed, they became quite alarmed at the thought that it might become
possible, and hastened to explain to Sir Alfred Milner the peril which
such a thing, if it ever happened, would constitute for the community at
large. Their constant attendance upon Sir Alfred, however, gave rise to
the idea that these financiers wanted to have it all their own way with
him and with the Cabinet at home, and that they meant to confiscate the
Transvaal to their own profit.

The