It is believed that the negotiations between Sir Evelyn Wood
and the Boers are about to terminate in a peace. Sir Evelyn informed the correspondents on Wednesday that the Boers had accepted almost all the British terms, but some points remained to be decided by the Authorities at home. Up to Friday after- noon, the Government, through Mr. Gladstone, had declined to answer any questions ; but the extended armistice expired on Friday at midnight, and it is understood that early in next -week the nature of the final result will be known. No intelligible account of the terms has yet oozed out, and so far the demands of the Boer leaders, Mr. Joubert excepted, have seemed far too great. They harp upon " independence," which would involve the abandonment of the natives, and will not be conceded. Even Sir Wilfrid Lawson has, we perceive, abandoned his allegation that there is no slavery in the Transvaal. He now► admits that there is a system of apprenticing " deserted " children, i.e., children whose fathers have been killed, iudis- tinguiskable from slavery, and only asks whether we have freed one slave, or annexed the Transvaal to put down slavery P Very likely not; but having annexed it, the duty has arisen, and if the British flag still flies, will be performed. It is only for a moment that some Radicals have become indifferent to the treatment of the dark races.
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