Throughout its course the fortitude of Great Britain and of the Empire had never for an instant weakened, but her conscience had always been sensitive at the sight of the ruin which had befallen so large a portion of South Africa, and any settlement would have been eagerly hailed which would insure that the work done had not been wasted, and would not need to be done again.

A peace on any other terms would simply shift upon the shoulders of our descendants those burdens which we were not manly enough to bear ourselves.

There had arisen, as has been said, a considerable peace movement among the burghers of the refugee camps and also among the prisoners of war.

It was hoped that some reflection of this might be found among the leaders of the people.

To find out if this were so Lord Kitchener, at the end of February, sent a verbal message to Louis Botha, and on the 27th of that month the Boer general rode with an escort of Hussars into Middelburg.