Page:George McCall Theal, History of South Africa from 1873 to 1884, Volume 1 (1919).djvu/127

 1878] Retireme7tt of the Molteno Ministry. 107 " As the Queen's High Commissioner you are ' specially required and instructed to do all such things as you lawfully can to prevent the recurrence of any irruption into Her Majesty's possessions of tribes inhabiting the adjacent territories, and to maintain those possessions in peace and safety.' And ' all the Queen's officers and ministers, civil and military, are commanded and required to aid and assist you to this end.' " The governor was still residing in a barrack in King- Williamstown, separated from his family and without the comforts and conveniences of his home in Capetown. He believed it to be his duty to remain on the frontier while the disturbances lasted, but at length the necessity of preparing for the meeting of parliament compelled him to return to the seat of government. On the 26th of March he left King-Williamstown, and in the afternoon of that day reached Alice, where he met a warm welcome at the Lovedale missionary institution. On the following afternoon by his desire the chief Oba and three or four hundred men of his clan, under the guid- ance of the author of these volumes, paid their respects to his Excellency, and were very kindly received and com- mended for their conduct in following the advice given to them by the government agent. The work being done at the institution was inspected, and was regarded as most satisfactory. On the 28th the governor and his attendants went on to Fort Beaufort, and on the following evening reached Grahamstown, where the usual preparations had been made by the municipal authorities and the inhabitants to entertain him in a becoming manner. Two full days were passed here, and then his Excellency made the last stage of his land journey to Port Elizabeth, where a repetition of his entertainment at Grahamstown awaited him. The receptions and dinners and speechmakings, at which no one could excel Sir Bartle Frere in suavity of manner, being at length finished, his Excellency embarked