In New Zealand he visited the venerable Sir George Grey, who had violated all precedent by entering local politics, and becoming Prime Minister, after the Duke of Buckingham had recalled him from the Governorship of the Colony.

He was not equally successful in his second career, and Froude's unqualified praise of him was resented by many New Zealanders.

That the Colonies would be true to the mother country if the mother country were true to them was the safe if somewhat vague conclusion at which the returning traveller arrived.

He came home by America, and met with a more formidable antagonist than his old assailant Father Burke, in the shape of a terrific blizzard.
But hardships had no deterring effect upon Froude, and his love of travel, like his love of the classics, suffered no diminution while strength remained.

He returned from the Antipodes early in 1885.
Before 1886 was out he had started on a voyage to the West Indies, so that his survey of our Colonial possessions might be complete.
Ardent imperialist as he was, Froude was not less fully alive than Mr.Goldwin Smith to the difficulties inherent in a policy of Imperial Federation.