But the whole of Sir Bartle Frere’s statements at this period concerning Cetshwayo are one-sided, exaggerated, or entirely imaginary accusations, which come in the first instance with force from a man of his importance, but for which not the slightest grounds can be traced in any reliable or official source. He brings grave charges against the king, which are absolutely contradicted by the official reports from which he draws his information; he places before the public as actual fact what, on investigation, is plainly nothing more than his own opinion of what Cetshwayo thinks, wishes, or intends, and what his thoughts, wishes, and intentions may be at a future period. Every circumstance is twisted into a proof of his inimical intentions towards Natal, the worst motives are taken for granted in all he does. When the king’s messages were sent through the ordinary native messengers between him and the Government of Natal, they are termed mere “verbal” messages (as what else should they be?), not “satisfactory or binding;” when they were sent through Mr. John Dunn they were called “unofficial,” although Mr. Dunn had been repeatedly recognised, and by Sir B. Frere himself, as an official means of communication with Cetshwayo on matters of grave importance; and, when Mr. Dunn writes, on his own account, his opinion that the “boys” will not be given up, Sir B. Frere calls his letter “a similar informal message (_i.e._ from the king), couched in insolent and defiant terms.” In nothing that passed between the king and the Government of Natal during this whole period is there one single word, on Cetshwayo’s part, which could possibly be thus described. There are, indeed, many apologies and entreaties to the Government to be satisfied with some other atonement for the fault committed than the surrender of the culprits, and there is a great deal from various sources, official and otherwise, about cattle collected, even beyond the demands of the Government, as a propitiation; but of Sir B. Frere’s “semi-sarcastic, insolent, and defiant” messages not one word.