第20部分(第4/7 頁)

cumstances；　and　if　I　should　do　so　I　am　sure　you　will　understand　that　it　will　be　because　I　thought　it　on　the　whole　best。

Of　course　the　lawyers　are　making　a　desperate　stand　against　my　appointment；　but　with　very　little　effect。　It　does　not　at　all　suit　their　book。　They　want　to　get　in　a　man　of　the　old　clique　who　would　not　be　above　a　“consideration。”　When　first　I　acted　one　of　them　tried　it　on　indirectly　with　me；　wanted　to　pay　me　double　fees　for　some　missioner’s　work；　but　I　think　I　rather　startled　him。

The　next　letter　runs　as　follows：

Pretoria：　April　7；　1878。

My　dear　Father；　—　I　have　to　tell　you　what　I　am　sure　you　will　be　glad　to　hear；　namely；　that　I　have　won　the　day　with　reference　to　my　appointment　as　Master　and　Registrar。　I　have　seen　H。E。‘s　minute　to　Sec。　to　Govt。；　so　I　am　certain　about　it　now。　The　last　question　has　also　been　settled　in　my　favour；　i。e。　whether　I　was　to　receive　300　or　400　pounds　per　annum。　I　believe　I　am　by　far　the　youngest　head　of　Department　in　South　Africa。　I　have　also　the　satisfaction　of　knowing　that　my　promotion　has　not　been　due　to　any　favouritism。　My　connection　with　the　Chief　has　been　against　me　rather　than　otherwise；　because　people　in　his　position　are　very　slow　about　doing　anything　that　can　be　construed　into　favouritism。　He　was　good　enough；　I　believe；　to　speak　very　kindly　about　me　when　he　settled　the　matter　of　my　appointment　this　morning；　saying　that　“he　thought　very　highly　of　me　and　was　sure　that　I　should　rise。”　This　turn　of　affairs　to　a　great　extent　settles　the　question　of　my　going　anywhere　else。　I　am　very　glad　to　have　got　the　better　of　those　lawyers　who　petitioned　against　me；　and　also　to　have　held　the　office　so　much　to　the　satisfaction　of　the　Government　as　to　justify　them　in　appointing　so　young　a　man。　When　I　began　to　act　ei