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was a tall； refined…looking man of about sixty…five； who always seemed to me to be employed in collecting first…hand information； questioning everyone whom he met on the chance of extracting something of value。 I think that occasionally the Colonial officials and others rather resented his continual cross…examination。 Indeed there is a trace of this in a report that he wrote to the Colonial Office as to Shepstone’s character； dated February 1879； in which document he plained that he could not get as much out of Sir Theophilus as he would have wished。 Now knowing my Chief as well as I did； my conclusion is that he did not altogether like being pumped； especially as he was not sure what use would be made of the information or if it would be correctly assimilated。 Shepstone was always open enough with those whom he thoroughly knew and trusted； but these； I admit； were not very many in number。 Sir Bartle describes him as “a singular type of an Africander Talleyrand； shrewd； observant； silent； self…contained； immobile。” So he may have appeared to him； but I doubt whether he ever really understood the man or with what keys to unlock his heart。
In short； I imagine that when he was in Frere’s pany Shepstone always remained more or less on the defensive。 Whatever may be the truth of this matter； Sir Bartle makes one undoubted mistake in the paper from which I have quoted。 He says that Shepstone had no sort of sympathy with the Boers。 This was not the case； as I know from many talks with him。 He was full of sympathy for the Boers； and understood them as few men did。 Moreover he appreciated all their good points； and most of them admired and were attached to him personally。 Had this not been so he could never have annexed the Transvaal with such parative ease。 Moreover it should be remembered that all the acute troubles with the Boers arose after his departure from that country。
In my opinion； if I may venture to give it； Sir Bartle Frere was a great administrator and almost a great man。 But I do not think he was suited to the position in which he found himself。 Had Lord Carnarvon been a better judge of men and of character； he would not have appointed Frere to the High missionership of South Africa。 Frere imported into South Africa the methods of the great Indian administrators； and attempted to apply to peoples as far apart in all essentials of habit and of character as is the North Pole from the Tropics the policy that he had learned in the training and traditions of the East。
Had he been a younger man he might have adapted himself； and without altering his principles； which were just and good； changed the manner of their application。 But age had already overtaken him when he landed at the Cape。 He looked upon the Zulus as though they had been some Indian clan whom he； the Satrap； had only to lift his hand to sweep away in the interests of the mighty and remote Dominion which he served。 He overlooked the wide divergence of the circumstances of the two lands and of the plications introduced by the existence in South Africa of two white peoples — the English and the Dutch — hereditary foes； who only awaited the removal of a mon danger to spring at each other’s throats。 I do not believe that he ever grasped the problem in its entirety as； for instance； Shepstone did。 He saw the Zulu war cloud looming on the frontier of Natal and determined to burst it even if it should rain blood。 But he did not see that by this act of his； which； after all； might perhaps have been postponed； he was ensuring the rebellion of the Transvaal Dutch。 His Indian traditions came into and dominated his mind。 Yonder was a savage people who threatened the rights of the Crown and the safety of its subjects。 Let them be destroyed！ Fiat justitia ruat coelum！
Even at this distance of time it is difficult to speak of the treatment meted out to this most upright public servant and distinguished man； who； be it remembered； had only accepted his office at the urgent prayer of the British Government； without using words of burning indignation。 By the Liberals he was of course attacked； since his action gave them a convenient stick wherewith to beat the Government。 This was to be expected。 What was not to be expected was the lack of； or rather the half…hearted nature of the support which he received from his official superiors。 About this time Lord Carnarvon resigned the Colonial Secretaryship owing to some difference of opinion between himself and his colleagues on other matters； which； in view of the state of South African affairs； many people will think he might have overlooked； and Sir Michael Hicks Beach filled his place。
The next step in the persecution of Sir Bartle Frere was to attack him through his pocket； as Shepstone was afterwards attacked in the same way。 A certain special allowance of 2000 pounds a year； which he had made one of the conditions of his acceptance of office； was publicly withdrawn from him。 This was done by Lord Kimberley； the Liberal Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1880； and as even then Frere would not allow himself to be goaded into resignation over a money matter； a few months later the sacrifice was pleted。 He was recalled with ignominy； no other word seems to meet the case。 He retired to England to die； as thought many of his friends； of a broken heart。 Thus did Britain reward her faithful servant whose greatest crime was an error of judgment； if indeed he really erred； a matter that may well be argued。 Well； he took with him the love and respect of every loyal man in South Africa； and oils are forgotten； his name will shine on serene and untarnished in the sky of history。
To return to my personal reminiscences of this great Governor。 During the year 1877； in an unguarded moment I wrote an article descriptive of my visit to Secocoeni； which was published in an English magazine。 In the course of this article I gave an accurate and lively account of the menage of an ordinary Transvaal Boer； in the course of which I was so foolish as to say that the ladies were； for the most part； plain and stout。 I do not think that I signed the paper； but from internal evidence it was traced back to me； and； needless to say； translated into Dutch by the journals of the Cape Colony。 Then a great hubbub arose； and ultimately； two years later； the matter came to the ears of Sir Bartle Frere。
He sent for me and very rightly reproached me for my indiscretion。 In defence I replied that I had written no word that was not the strict and absolute truth。
“Haggard；” he said in his suave voice； “do you not know that there are occasions on which the truth is the last thing that should be uttered？ I beg you in future to keep it to yourself。”
I bethought me of Talleyrand’s saying that language was given to us to conceal our thoughts； but did not； I think； attempt to cap the argument by its quotation。 In fact； his censure was well deserved。 As St。 Paul teaches us； all things may be lawful； but all things are not expedient； and at this juncture it was certainly inexpedient to make little jokes about the uncountable fleas in Boer bedsteads。
Another noted man who visited us was Mr。 Anthony Trollope； who rushed through South Africa in a post…cart； and； as a result； published his impressions of that country。 My first introduction to him was amusing。 I had been sent away on some mission； I think it was to Rustenberg； and returned to Government House late one night。 On going into the room where I was then sleeping I began to search for matches； and was surprised to hear a gruff voice； proceeding from my bed； asking who the deuce I was。 I gave my name and asked who the deuce the speaker might be。
“Anthony Trollope；” replied the gruff voice； “Anthony Trollope。”
Mr。 Trollope was a man who concealed a kind heart under a somewhat rough manner； such as does not add to the fort of colonial travelling。
I think that my most pleasant recollections of the Transvaal are those connected with my journeys on circuit in pany with Judge Kotze。 Generally we travelled in an ox…waggon from town to town； and employed our leisure as we went in shooting； for at that time parts of the Transvaal veld were still black with game。 Then at night we would sit by our camp fire eatin