On the day following the despatch of Messrs. Leonard and Hamilton to Capetown it was decided to send messengers to Dr. Jameson to emphatically prohibit any movement on his part, also to explain to him the position of affairs in Johannesburg with reference to the flag, and above all to impress upon him the condition of unpreparedness.  Major Heany was sent by train via Kimberley, and in order to facilitate his travelling a telegram was sent to Mr. Rhodes in Capetown asking him to arrange for a special train, and acquainting him with the purpose of the trip.  Captain Holden was sent on horseback across country to Pitsani.  Both gentlemen carried the most definite instructions to Dr. Jameson on no account to move.  Both gentlemen have since stated that they delivered the messages in word and in spirit absolutely as they were given to them in Johannesburg, and that they carried no private messages whatever from any individual member of the Committee in any way conflicting with the purport of the official message with which they were charged.

On the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday telegrams and messages were received from Dr. Jameson, all revealing impatience and a desire if not an intention to disregard the wishes of the Johannesburg people.  Replies were sent to him and to the Capetown agents protesting against the tone adopted, urging him to desist from the endeavour to rush the Johannesburg people as they were pushing matters on to the best of their ability and hoped for a successful issue without recourse to violent measures, and stating emphatically that the decision must be left entirely in the hands of Johannesburg as agreed, otherwise there would be certain disaster.  Besides what would be regarded as the official expressions and messages of the Johannesburg people, several individual members of the party telegraphed to Dr. Jameson informing him of the position and adding their personal advice and testimony.  The probability of achieving success without firing a shot was referred to in the sense of a most satisfactory prospect.  It did not occur to any one among the Johannesburg party that it was this prospect that moved Dr. Jameson to start.  That idea is of later birth.

On Sunday morning, at about ten o’clock, two telegrams of importance were received.  The first was from Messrs. Hamilton and Leonard, to the following effect:  ’We have received perfectly satisfactory assurance from Cecil Rhodes, but a misunderstanding undoubtedly exists elsewhere.  In our opinion, continue preparations, but carefully, and without any sort of hurry, as entirely fresh departure will be necessary.  In view of changed condition Jameson has been advised accordingly.’  Portions of this message were in code.  It left Capetown at 2.20 p.m. on Saturday, the 28th, and was received on Sunday at about ten o’clock.  The second telegram was one from Dr. Jameson to his brother, Mr. S.W.  Jameson, and had been despatched at about the same time.  It was in the Bedford-McNeil Code, and was much mutilated—­so much so that it was thought to have been purposely done in the telegraph office in order to obscure the meaning.  One expression was clear, however, and that was:  ’I shall start without fail to-morrow night.’  It concluded with the words:  ’Inform Dr. Wolff—­distant cutting.  He will understand.’