A Vindication 6f Sir Battle Frere "Sir Battle Frere: a Footnote to the history of the British Empire."
By W. Basil. Worsfold. Messrs.
Thornton Bullerworth Ld.), The author says in the preface to this volume that it is his hope that "'the evidence contained in this book will enable the historian at length to reach a valid judgment on the question of Frere's alleged disobedience" and he offers the book not merely as a tribute to the reputation of a great Imperial Administrator but as a contribution to the history of the British Empire.
It can be well said on a per-usual of this volume that the author has not failed in his mission. Here is an official of deser-vodly high reputation, earned by conspicuously meritorious service in India, sent out fo South Africa at a time of great stress with the widest of powers to put the country in order. He might well anticipate that he will receive the necessary backing from the Home Authorities. He commences his career well, exercises the judgment of the man on the spot with full knowledge of the. facts, with every hope of success, when a misfortune oceure—the disaster at Isandhlwana—for which he is in no way responsible, and then he is made the scapegoat of the Government_at home who are in politi-ca] troubles; from that time on his misfortunes multiply, culminating in his partial supersession by Sir Garnet Wolseley and ultimate recall by the new Government. Is not his history the history of other officials abroad in times past? Nothing succeeds like success but failure entails the blame of authorities far away! South Africa has been for many officials, civil and military, the grave of their reputations, and it was the pecular misfortune of Sir Battle Frere to be included in the list of these officials.
A perusal of this volume will however bring the reader to the conclusion that the words of Sir Battle Frere in a despatch to the Colonial Secretary "unless my countrymen are much changed they will some day do me justice" carry conviction. The work he did in South Africa has borne fruit and the present condition of that country is much what he was working for—confederation of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.