Dr. Hodgkin prefaced this extract by the following lines, addressed to the Editor of the Friend: 

“Dear Friend,—­In re-perusing a few days ago the life of my late brother-in-law, Sir R.N.  Fowler, I came upon the enclosed passage, which I think worthy of our consideration at the present time.

Of late years the disputes between our Government and the African Republic have turned so entirely on questions connected with the status of the settlers in and around Johannesburg, that we may easily forget the old subjects of dispute which existed for a generation before it was known that there were any workable goldfields in South Africa, and before the word “Uitlander” had been mentioned amongst us.  I must confess that for my part I had forgotten this incident of Sir R.N.  Fowler’s Mayoralty, and I think it may interest some of your readers to be reminded of it at the present time.  I am, thine truly,—­THOMAS HODGKIN.  Barmoor, Northumberland.”

* * * * *

The late Dr. Dale, of Birmingham, was one of those whose minds were painfully exercised on the matter of the abandonment of the natives of the Transvaal to the Boers.  An extract from his life was sent in February this year to the Spectator, with the following preface:—­

“Sir,—­I have been greatly impressed by the justice of much that has been said in the Spectator on the fact that the present war is a retribution for our indifference and apathy in 1881.  We failed in our duty then.  We have taken it up now, but at what a cost!  In reading lately the life of Dr. Dale, of Birmingham, I was struck by his remarks (pp. 438 and 439) on the Convention of Pretoria.  These remarks have such a bearing on the present situation that I beg you will allow me to quote them:”—­

“In relation to South African affairs he (Dr. Dale) felt silence to be impossible.  He had welcomed the policy initiated by the Convention of Pretoria (1881) conceding independence to the Transvaal, but imposing on the Imperial Government responsibility for the protection of native races within and beyond the frontiers.  In correspondence with members of the House of Commons and in more than one public utterance, he expressed his satisfaction that the freedom of the Boers did not involve the slavery of the natives.  At first the outlook was hopeful, but the Boers soon began to chafe against the restrictions to which they were subjected....  The Rev. John Mackenzie brought a lamentable record of outrage and cruelty....  Dr. Dale particularly urged that the Government should insist on carrying out the 18th article of the Convention of Pretoria.  ’The policy of the Government seemed to me both righteous and expedient, singularly courageous and singularly Christian.  But that policy included two distinct elements.  It restored to the Boers internal independence, it reserved to the British Government powers for the protection of native races on the Transvaal frontier.