the struggle against us, and by perpetrating murders and committing
all kinds of horrors, an impossible state of affairs has been
brought about in many districts of both Republics, an instance of
which took place lately in the district of Vryheid, where fifty-six
burghers were murdered and mutilated in a shocking manner at the
same time.

"(4.) That by Proclamation of the enemy, which he has already
carried into effect, the burghers still in the field are threatened
with loss of all their movable and immovable property, and so with
total ruin.

"(5.) That through the circumstances of the war it has already long
ago become impossible for us to retain the many thousands of
prisoners-of-war taken by our forces, and that we thus could do but
comparatively little damage to the British troops, whilst our
burghers captured by the British are sent abroad; and that after
the war has raged for nearly three years there remains only a small
portion of the forces with which we entered into the war.

"(6.) That this remnant still in the field, which forms but a small
minority of our entire people, has to contend against overwhelming
odds, and, moreover, has reached a condition virtually amounting to
famine and want of the necessary means of subsistence, and that
notwithstanding our utmost endeavours and the sacrifice of all that
we value and hold dear, we cannot reasonably expect a successful
issue.

"This meeting is therefore of opinion that there is no reasonable
ground for thinking that by continuance of the war our People will
retain the possession of their Independence, and considers that
under the circumstances the People are not justified in carrying on
the war any longer, as that must tend to bring about the social and
material destruction not only of ourselves, but also of our
descendants.

"Urged by the above circumstances and motives, this meeting
authorises both Governments to accept the proposal of his Majesty's
Government, and on behalf of the People of both Republics to sign
the same."

Such was the condition of the two Republics at the termination of the
war. Well may one pause and ask: Has ever small nation, in similar
circumstances, placed greater sacrifices, personal and material, on
Liberty's shrine than the Republics? Have they not a law