It is difficult, as the Cabinet conceals all information, to
esti- mate precisely the character of the news from the Cape. It seems certain, however, that Sir Garnet Wolseley intends to attack Secocoeni, who has refused his terms ; that his force, say 2,000 regulars, though large enough to be expensive, is but just sufficient, the work to be done being the storm of an entrenched mountain ; and that if he does not succeed, the Boers may become actively hostile. They are not quite in rebellion yet, but they are seizing powder, calling mass meetings in arms,. and threatening Middleburg. They know they cannot face- regular troops, but they can occupy the "high-veldt," and keep up from thence a systematic annoyance. The best hope is that Secocoeni may be defeated, and that the Boers may then split into two parties, the reasonable farmers sullenly submitting, on a pledge of fair representation, and the fanatical party, or Doppers, once more moving north-west, or retreating- into the Orange River Free State, where, for a time, the British settlers will not follow them.
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