This was all that was done by an army of 150,000 men, the army of France, containing all her veteran soldiers, to break through extensive lines held by an army not very much their superior. As to any want of ammunition we have only to turn to the amount of military stores finally given up to the Prussians to see the audacious falsehood of such an averment. It is established by the procès-verbal that a value of 36 millions of francs was handed over to the enemy, including above 3 millions of projectiles, and above 13 millions of cartridges for chassepots, besides others, and 420,000 kilos. of powder. After reading the history of those events and still more the attempted explanations of the principal actor in them, it requires to make the effort to recal what soldiers are, what men can do, and what has been done in similar circumstances, to be able to form a just estimate of the case. Exactly similar circumstances it is indeed. difficult to find; but that is because never before, that we are aware of, did an army of such strength allow itself to be quietly invested by one so nearly of its own numbers. It is perfectly evident that by taking the ordinary means to mask movements from the enemy, the army which held the centre of the circle could have broken through that circle at any point had its commander so desired. Marshal BAZAINE himself put the case in the most striking form when he said at one time: "The enemy can only present to us heads of columns, 'while we can advance in masses to attack him."

It is then clear as the sun at noon-day that Marshal BAZAINE deliberately remained under Metz to be there shut up with the best army of France. When his generals at Grimont spoke favourably of remaining in the entrenched camp, it was at least with the idea of using the army against the enemy, in a series of vigorous operations. Marshal BAZAINE could not then have said to them, "I will remain "here, according to your advice, I will give up my plan of marching "into the interior, but I will do nothing to harrass the enemy. Much less could he have said, "I will do nothing to provide against a "siege, so as to enable the army and the town to hold out during a "long period."

The idea of a siege was in the mind of some of them, for Marshal LE BŒUF is represented to have said, "To keep the army of the "Rhine intact is the greatest service we can render to the country, but "how shall we feed it?" (comment la ferons-nous vivre?) The next part will show us how Marshal BAZAINE managed not only not to take any of the means to increase the provisions, but how every means was taken to waste and lose such store as there was of them; so that the problem was solved of how an army can be demoralised, a fortress lost, and both one and the other handed over to the enemy at the least possible expense in men, ammunition, and time to the latter.

* From 50 to 60 kilometres.

The African Diamonds and their

Political Effects.

Ir is not only on the East and the West that the African Continent becomes of interest to us. Our settlements at the South are anything but tranquil. This has arisen out of two circumstances, the first being the alienation in 1854 of that portion of British territory now called the Orange Free State; the second, the recent discovery of deposits of diamonds in territory claimed by the Orange Free State, as belonging to them; this claim being disputed by the Governor of the Cape Colony, not on behalf of the Government, but in favour of a Griqua chief; the Governor at the Cape, meanwhile, taking forcible possession of the diamond fields in the name of this chief.

The case is stated, at length, by Captain LINDLEY, in a recent work.* Although Captain Lindley writes as the advocate of the Boers of the Orange Free State, yet the documentary evidence he produces appears conclusive as to the validity of their claim; and the baselessness of that of the protégé of the Governor at the Cape.

According to Captain LINDLEY, the country where the diamonds are found is a dreary waste of sand and rock, swept over by frequent and terrific thunder-storms, or parched by sun and wind, for nine months in the year, affording but little shelter or support either for man or beast. It is not very surprising, therefore, that the ownership of such a territory should not have been eagerly sought or tenaciously retained, nor that the rights of original proprietorship should be somewhat loose and ill-defined. Probably the earliest possessors were the dwarfish race of Bushmen, who are now all but extinct. They were driven from the territory by the more warlike tribe of the Koranas, who, with their feudatories, the Batlaping Kafirs, held possession of it for nearly a hundred years. Those tribes, however, retired several years ago to the northward of the Vaal river, away from the place where the diamonds have since been found. The territory vacated by the Koranas has since been occupied by the Griquas; a mixed race. After much internal dissension the Griquas separated into three branches, to each branch being assigned, by general consent, certain territory. At the head of these three branches respectively, were the chiefs, CORNELIUS KOK, ADAM KOK, and ANDRIES WATERBOER. The territory assigned to CORNELIUS KOK contained the rich deposits of diamonds. Further to the westward, and separated from the lands of CORNELIUS KOK and ADAM KOK by a very distinct boundary, was the territory of ANDRIES WATERBOER. It is necessary to mark this point, because WATERBOER is now put forward by the Cape Government as being the legal proprietor of the lands on which the diamonds are. At various times the foregoing arrangements have been sanctioned by the Government at the Cape. In the course of time other immigrants made their appearance. Some Boers from the Cape Colony being discontented with the emancipation of slaves, and at interference with their treatment of their native servants, emigrated to Natal, intending there to establish an independent State. Foiled in this attempt by the Colonial Government, the discontented Boers crossed the Drakenberg mountains and moved into the distant and secluded country where the Griquas were settled, probably expecting to be there

Adamantia, the Truth about the South African Diamond Fields, &c. Collingridge; Aldersgate-street, E.C.

out of reach of the Government at the Cape. The results that we might expect followed. Regarding their quarrels with the natives, Captain LINDLEY represents them as more sinned against than sinning;" that is a question, however, we cannot here enter upon. We must content ourselves by saying that by one means or another-by purchase or hire, as Captain LINDLEY represents-much of the land of the Griquas passed into the possession of the Boers. This did not proceed without disputes and disturbances, causing much trouble to the Government at Cape Town; and, on the 3rd of February, 1848, Sir H. SMITH, at that time Governor, proclaimed the Queen's Sovereignty over the whole of the Orange River territory, including the lands of the Chief's MoSHESH, ADAM Koк, and others, as far north as the Vaal, and east to the Drakenberg mountains, thus giving the natives the protection of English law. In this territory he established a Resident with a small force to support him. The territory thus proclaimed contained the diamond fields, but, as stated by Captain LINDLEY, the name of ANDRIES WATERBOER does not appear in the list of chiefs protected by the British Government; it is clear, therefore, that his territory was outside that of the diamond fields, and that it is not under this Proclamation that he can claim British protection.

If this proclamation had been adhered to, the present position of affairs could not have arisen. The restraint thus imposed on them was, however, unpalatable to the Boers, and in July of the same year they rose, and overpowered and drove out of the Territory, the British Resident. Sir H. SMITH, with a force of 500 men, subsequently marched into the country, and restored the QUEEN's authority. Having done that he endeavoured, as Captain LINDLEY admits, to remove any grievances of which the Boers complained.

But little change occurred now for six years. The Boers continued to acquire by sale or lease many farms from the Griquas. Some of the farms were on the land where diamonds have been found, and the transfer of those farms to the Boers has been sanctioned by the British Government as being in the proclaimed territory and sold by GRIQUAS of the tribe under CORNELIUS KOK; the name of WATERBOER never appearing. At the end of those six years, however, a most astounding event occurred in respect to that Orange River Sovereignty; an event which probably only the excitement and noise of the Crimean War prevented from being noticed as it deserved. Occurring concurrently with the suspension of England's maritime rights before commencing that war, it emulates that proceeding in its illegality. Without deigning to consult Parliament in the matter, the Cabinet, through the Duke of NEWCASTLE, as Secretary for the Colonies, by a stroke of the pen surrendered this British territory, even against the wish of the inhabitants, the Boers included; withdrawing from the territory and handing over the Government of the Orange River Sovereignty to the Boers as a free and independent State. To carry this design into execution a formal Convention with the Representatives of the Orange River State was concluded on the 23rd of February, 1854, to which the name of Sir GEORGE RUSSELL CLERK is appended as Her Majesty's representative. So far as the terms in which this illegal surrender is expressed nothing can be more clear or complete. The Proclamation issued in the name of the QUEEN declares as follows:

"Whereas we have thought fit by and with the advice of our Privy Council, and in exercise of the powers and authorities to us in that behalf appertaining, to abandon and renounce for ourselves, our heirs, and successors, all dominion and sovereignty of the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, over the territories designated in our letters

patent, &c." The second clause of the Convention entered into with the Boers, states that the British Government has no alliance whatever with any native Chief or Tribe to the northward of the Orange River, with the exception of ADAM KOK, and that " Her Majesty's Government has no wish or intention to enter hereafter into any Treaties which may be prejudicial or injurious to the interests of the Orange River Government." The first article of the Treaty," guarantees, on the part of Her Majesty's Government, the future independence of that country and its Government," and promises that this shall be ratified by an instrument (the Royal Proclamation), "declaring them to all intents and purposes a free and independent people, and their government to be treated and considered thenceforth as a free and independent government." This free, independent, and sovereign State has since been officially acknowledged by France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Prussia Russia, the North German Confederation, the Netherlands, and by the United States of America. From 1854 until 1870, tho British Government did not interfere in any respect with the new State. About 1857, CORNELIUS KOK the head of one of the Griqua tribes, in consequence of advancing years transferred the chiefship of his tribe to ADAM KOK, the head of another division of the Griquas, who has been previously mentioned. The territory of which ADAM Kok thus became sole chief, contained the whole of the so-called diamond diggings in a portion of it. To this formal transfer of teritory, the chief WATERBOER, neither at the time, nor for years afterwards objected. And in 1861 a meeting was held between ADAM KOK and WATERBOER, with a view to exchange that very portion of ADAM Kok's territory, for a part of WATERBOER's land, but they separated without coming to an agreement. It is thus made clear that WATERBOER could have no title to the ownership of that land.

About this time (1861) the Cape Government prevailed upon the Griquas under ADAM KOK to remove from the Orange Free State into a district provided for them by the Government in a territory called "No Man's Land," near Natal. The name was somewhat of a misnomer for many parties afterwards advanced claims to it. Previous to this removal of ADAM KOK's Griquas, nearly the whole of their land was disposed of by them to the Boers, either by private sales or through ADAM Koк as chief of the tribe. Amongst the land so disposed of was the diamond ground, and ADAM KOK received on account of those land sales about 80007. from the Boers.

We come now to the discovery of the diamonds, about three years ago. The course of this narrative has, we think, clearly demonstrated one point, namely, that the chief, WATERBOER, had certainly no tittle of claim to that particular portion of the territory. But on the discovery of the diamonds, the Cape Government, awakening from its slumber of sixteen years, and the British renunciation of the territory being too complete to permit any claim on behalf of the Colony itself, some claims now put forward by WATERBOER were adopted; WATERBOER and his tribe were received as British subjects, and those claims supported by an armed force, and by threats of war. The Boers of the Free State, who were in possession of the diamond fields, and as Captain LINDLEY avers, maintaining perfect order among the heterogeneous population of diggers, and to their entire satisfaction, were expelled, and possession was taken by the British authorities. For this proceeding and the loss consequent thereon, the Orange Free State demands reparation; offering repeatedly to submit the matter to arbitration, somewhat after the fashion of that of the Alabama settlement. This offer has hitherto been refused by the British Government.

F

It remains now to notice conduct on the part of a British official-Sir H. BARKLY, the Governor of the Cape Colony-which certainly appears to call for inquiry. Having forcibly dispossessed the Orange Free State of territory which had been in their possession for several years, even containing farms belonging to Boers, the titles to which had been given by former British Governments, the next step was to endeavour to annex this adamantiferous tract of country to the distant Cape Colony. To this Earl KIMBERLEY, in the name of the Home Government demurred, declining to assent unless, along with other conditions, "The Cape Parliament will formally bind itself. . . that the Colony will undertake the responsibility of governing the territory to be united to it, together with the entire maintenance of any force which may be necessary... such force not to consist of British troops, but to be a force raised and supported by the Colony." To meet this requirement of Earl KIMBERLEY some vague and ambiguous Resolutions were submitted to the Cape Parliament, engaging them, however, to an interim government of the territory, and to "take into consideration" the question of annexation when submitted to them. These Resolutions passed the House of Assembly by a majority of five only, and the Legislative Council by a majority of one; one of the members, Mr. DE SMIDT, remarking, "That making such provision was doing that which was tantamount to a declaration of war against the Free State:" the Treasurer-General subsequently observing that "The resolution was intended to strengthen the hands of the Government while the question of annexation was still pending." In face of these narrow majorities the Governor in Council decided not to propose the direct annexation to the Parliament until the next Session. That these Resolutions were not considered satisfactory by Earl KIMBERLEY, we may see by the following extract from his despatch, dated October 2, 1871. .. Although the second Resolutions do not in themselves amount to a formal compliance with the conditions laid down in my despatch, No. 78, of May 18."

Notwithstanding Earl KIMBERLEY's objections, Sir H. BARKLY, on the 27th of October, 1871, proceeded, by proclamation, to annex the whole of the disputed territory to the Cape Colony. It has come in these days to be accepted almost as an axiom, that, in public affairs, an offence committed must be condoned because it is a fait accompli. It is pleasant, therefore, to record that when the House of Assembly were asked, in the next Session (June 5th, 1872), to sanction this usurpation by Sir H. BARKLY, they almost unanimously expressed their determination to be no party to it. Out of thirty speakers on the motion, twenty-six declared their intention to vote against it. The Colonial Secretary seeing defeat was inevitable, withdrew the Bill. Unfortunately Earl KIMBERLEY lacked the virtue that the Cape Parliament possessed; following the dismal precedent set by recent statesmen, he proceeds to justify the crime he has not the courage to condemn, and himself furnishes Sir H. BARKLY, with the excuse that there "must have been imperative reasons against further delay," and he therefore conveys to Sir H. BARKLY, "Her Majesty's gracious approval and confirmation of his Proclamation."

After ten years of unwholesome polemics, we have just paid, with the largest amount of degradation possible, the penalty for one illegal, reckless act, in respect to the United States; perhaps about 1883, we shall be performing a similar penance for the present act of Sir H. BARKLY, to which Earl KIMBERLEY has accorded Her Majesty's gracious approval.

C. J.