第35部分(第1/7 頁)

“I　am　glad　to　find　that　my　view　as　regards　the　Transvaal　should　be　endorsed　by　one　who　had　such　good　opportunities　of　judging　as　yourself”；　and　again：

Private。

Dear　Mr。　Haggard；　—　I　am　very　much　obliged　to　you　for　your　extremely　interesting　book　on　Cetewayo。　I　have　been　so　engaged　with　the　accumulations　of　eight　months’　business　and　with　all　the　hundred　and　one　questions　which　arise　on　our　return　to　England　that　I　have　only　been　able　to　look　at　those　parts　which　most　closely　interested　me　personally　from　their　relation　to　events　in　which　I　was　myself　concerned；　but　I　read　these　with　great　satisfaction。　The　English　public　was　so　deceived　by　misrepresentations　of　the　annexation　of　the　Transvaal　that　the　real　history　was　never　understood；　and　the　humiliating　surrender　of　it　was　accepted　in　partial　ignorance　at　least　of　the　facts。　A　true　statement　of　it　is　therefore　very　valuable；　and　I　am　grateful　to　anyone　who　has　the　courage　to　say　what　really　did　occur。　It　was　as　needless　as　it　was　discreditable；　and　though　the　unexpected　discovery　of　gold　is　solving　many　difficulties；　the　unworthy　nature　of　the　cession　has　done　great　mischief　to　all　time。　I　hope　I　may　have　the　opportunity　of　talking　about　this　to　you。

Believe　me；

Very　faithfully　yours；

Carnarvon。

I　gladly　quote　an　extract　from　a　letter　written　by　Sir　Marshal　Clarke　from　Basutoland；　since　it　tempers　my　criticisms　of　Sir　Hercules　Robinson　（Lord　Rosmead）；　a　gentleman　of　whom　I　have　the　most　kindly　personal　recollections。　He　says；　referring　to　this　book：

I　don’t　think　you　have　done　quite　justice　to　Sir　Hercules　Robinson。　He　appears　to　me　to　have　been　the　right　man　for　the　place　and　for　the　time。　He　is　not　a　very　popular　Governor；　but　his　opinions　carry　great　weight　here