rous commandos also roaming about." Then follows
a startling revelation of the character of the men whom the Bond
organisation had sent to Parliament:

[Sidenote: Condition of Cape parliament.]

"One member of the House of Assembly," ministers write, "is
undergoing a term of imprisonment for seditious libel, three
members are awaiting their trial on the charge of high treason,
two seats are practically vacant by reason of the absence of the
members without leave during the whole of last session. Those two
members are alleged to have welcomed the invaders of the Colony,
and encouraged rebellion, and then fled to Holland, where they
are now living. One seat is vacant by the resignation of the
member, who has accepted an appointment in the Transvaal Colony.
Another seat is vacant on account of the death of the member,
another member is sending in his resignation owing to ill health,
which compels him to reside in Europe. In all these cases the
divisions concerned are either under martial law or in a state of
disturbance, which makes new elections impracticable.

"Besides the cases enumerated there are members who have been
deported from their homes on account of the seditious influences
which the military authorities allege they were exercising, and
others who are under military observation, with respect to whom
their attendance in Parliament must be regarded as uncertain.
Several members also are engaged in military operations, whose
attendance could not, in the present condition of the country, be
relied on. There are also some members who would be unable to
attend owing to the state of war and rebellion prevailing in the
districts where they reside, whose personal presence is
necessary for the protection of their families and property."

Such a legislature, they concluded, could not be regarded as "fairly
representing the people." Moreover--

"There is also the further consideration that the probability of
good resulting from the meeting of Parliament now is but small,
while the likelihood of evil consequences accruing from the
publication of speeches of a character similar to many that were
delivered last session is strong. The tendency of such speeches
would be to encourage the spirit of rebellion which unhappily
prevails in the Colony over a large area, a