, asking for detailed account of the money
granted by the Boer Government to Johannesburg but without getting an
answer.

"Of course I know from previous correspondence that you and the
President are not disposed to minimize the blots on the
administration of the South African Republic, the weak points in
the Constitution, and the ignorance and laxity that prevails in
financial matters. To do so would be to fatally complicate the
situation.

"I am sure that you will, and I most strongly urge you to use your
utmost influence to bear on President Krueger to concede some
colourable measure of reform, not so much in the interests of
outsiders as in those of his own State.

"Granted that he does nothing. What is the future? His Boers, the
backbone of the country, are perishing off the land; hundreds have
become impoverished loafers, landless hangers-on of the town
population. In his own interests he should recruit his Republic
with new blood--and the sands are running out. I say this
irrespective of agitation about Uitlanders. The fabric will go to
pieces of its own accord unless something is done."

Such is the opinion of Mr. Merriman, a friend of the Transvaal, yet
every day in Europe one is told that its misfortunes are due to the
Uitlanders.

Mr. Merriman thought on the contrary that it was necessary to ask them
to come forward and help the State out of its ruinous course.

"Surely it would be better to come forward now and earn the
gratitude of South Africa by a comprehensive and liberal measure
than to have the State torn and distracted by constant irritation
and bad blood. A moderate franchise reform and municipal privileges
would go far to satisfy any reasonable people, while a maintenance
of the oath ought to be a sufficient safeguard against the swamping
of the old population.

"President Krueger should reflect that nine out of ten people that
receive the franchise will be supporters of the Republic in which
they will have an interest, and that he will, by granting liberal
reforms, disarm all opposition provoked.

"Try and persuade President Krueger to confer a benefit on the whole
of South Africa by granting a broad measure of reform, and you will
have done the best day's work any statesman ever did in South
Africa."

Two months after the declar