They will encourage us to entangle ourselves, as they did with the Diamond Fields, and then leave us to get out of the mess as we can.

South Africa cannot be self-governed in connection with this country, except with the good-will of the Dutch population.

Enough may have been done, however, to quiet Parliament (which knows nothing about the matter) in the approaching Session--and that, I suppose, is the chief consideration.

Carnarvon writes to me preliminary, I suppose, to some attack when Government meets.

I have told him exactly what I have told Lord D.I hope I may turn out mistaken, but the course of things so far has generally confirmed my opinion whenever I have seen my way to forming one.