TH."

I do not suppose there are any people in the world so well represented
by a single prominent man as the Boers of South Africa are represented
by Mr Kruger. He is pre-eminently the Boer of Boers in character, in
intellect, and in disposition, and that is one reason why he has such
absolute control over his people. His obstinacy--and no man with a face
like his could be otherwise than obstinate--his people call strength.
Age and its infirmities have intensified it. His reserve--born of
self-pride, consciousness of force--limited ambitions, and
self-reliance, they call a diplomatic gift. His disposition, morose
from birth, breeding, isolation fostered by contact with his kind, is
unyielding and selfish, and has been hardened by contempt of the verbose
weaklings who have measured themselves against him.

"Dense, Ignorant, and Impenetrable."

This is the man whom the Johannesburgers hope to weary with their
prayers and petitions; but they never will do it. Nor will they
convince him by their arguments, for he is too dense, ignorant and
impenetrable. This is the man our new High Commissioner hopes to soften
with his cultured letters and amiable allusions to the possibilities of
restoring concord in South Africa. I feel a reluctance to say it, but
his labour will be in vain. This is the man to whom the accomplished
and lovable British Agent at Pretoria has been sent with a view to
obliterate the memory of Jameson's raid, and smooth the way to a kindly
and humane consideration of his countrymen's grievances; but he cannot
make any impression on an unimpressible nature like Kruger's.

THE EFFORTS TO EDUCATE KRUGER.

But the singular thing is that despite repeated, nay constant, rebuffs,
all who have any dealings with Mr Kruger persist in hoping that he will
relent in the end, and may genially try to exercise his authority for
the termination of the existing unpleasantness. I spoke with all sorts
and conditions of men at Johannesburg, and I only met one man who
expressed his convictions that it was utterly impossible to induce the
President to alter, or modify, his views. The rest, so often defeated
and humbled, still continue to entertain a lively hope that things will
improve. They are mostly clever and highly educated men, but whether it
is that they have no time to study the disposition of the man, in whose
hand lie their destinies, or their faith in themselves is so great, I
know not, but it is certain