to
cease to correspond with him, was to discredit a public servant before
all the world at the crisis of his work.

Sir Bartle Frere's great object had been to bring about a Confederation
of all the different States and portions of South Africa, an object with
which the Home Government was in sympathy.

What was wanting to bring about confederation was confidence, founded on
the permanent pacification and settlement of Zululand, the Transvaal,
the Transkei, Pondoland, Basutoland, West Griqualand, and the border
generally. How could there, under these circumstances, be confidence any
longer? There was no doubt what he had meant to do. By many a weary
journey he had made himself personally known throughout South Africa.
His aims and intentions were never concealed, never changed. In
confederating under his superintendence all men knew what they were
doing. But he was now to be superseded. Was his policy to be changed,
and how?[22]

It was expected by the political majority in England that as soon as Mr.
Gladstone came into power, Sir Bartle Frere, whose policy had been so
strongly denounced, would be at once recalled. When the new Parliament
met in May, the Government found many of their supporters greatly
dissatisfied that this had not been done. Notice of motion was given of
an address to the Crown, praying for Sir B. Frere's removal. Certain
members of parliament met together several times at the end of May, and
a memorial to Mr. Gladstone was drawn up, which was signed by about
ninety of them, and sent to him on June 3rd, to the following effect:--

"To the Right Hon. W.E. Gladstone, M.P., First Lord of the Treasury."

"We the undersigned, members of the Liberal party, respectfully submit
that as there is a strong feeling throughout the country in favour of
the recall of Sir Bartle Frere, it would greatly conduce to _the unity
of the party and relieve many members from the charge of breaking their
pledges to their constituents if_ that step were taken."[23]

The first three signatures to this document were those of L.L. Dillwyn,
Wilfrid Lawson, and Leonard Courtney.

This has been called not unjustly, "a cynically candid document." The
"unity of the Party," and "pledges to constituents" are the only
considerations alluded to in favour of the recall of a man to whose
worth almost the whole of South Africa had witnessed, in spite of
divided opinions concerning the Zulu War, for which he was only in a
very minor