he died during the following year。
Durban； Natal： July 13； 1892。
My dear Haggard； — Your gift reached me when I was very seedy and unable to do much in the writing way。 I have e down here for change from the cold of Maritzburg； and am much better。
I need not say how gratifying to me that gift was； nor how deeply touching to me the kind words of the Dedication were。 Indeed you give far more credit than I am entitled to。 Your kindly expressions； however； vividly brought to mind a whole chapter of the pleasant past between us； the exact counterpart of which will； I suppose； never occur to any other two。 I feel extremely grateful to you for your affectionate remembrances； and for your plucky avowal of them； for I do not think that at present it is fashionable to look either upon myself or my work with much approval。
I cannot； however； help thinking that if some of my views and advice had been acted on we should have avoided both the national disaster and disgrace that took place after the “pleasant past” that you and I spent together in the Transvaal。
The Boers did not really want to fight； and we are always pusillanimous enough before we make up our minds to begin； so we did not want to fight either； but it appears that the Home Government did want to undo the annexation。 Nothing could have been done more easily； or have looked more gracious to those concerned。 Why not have plainly told me their wish and authorised me to carry it out？ We should have parted with embraces and the best of mutual good feeling； as it is we have earned the contempt as well as the hatred of the Boers； and very much puzzled the native races； who from considering us their staunchest and most powerful protectors have e to look upon us as the most unreliable of fri