Sir Bartle Frere replies, December 6th, 1878 (2222, p. 175):[107] “I have since made further inquiry (he does not say what), and have _no doubt_ that though His Excellency _may possibly_ be right as to the number regarding which there is _judicial evidence_ (Sir H. Bulwer plainly decides that there was _no evidence at all_); the missionaries had _every reason to believe_ that the number slain _on account of their inclination to Christianity_ was considerably greater than three. One gentleman, who had better means of obtaining the truth than anyone else, told me _he had no doubt_ the number of converts killed was considerable.” This gentleman, Sir Bartle Frere assures us, “knows the Zulus probably better than _any living European_; he is himself an old resident in Zululand, and a man _above all suspicion of exaggeration or misrepresentation_(!). He gave me this information, under stipulation that his name should not be mentioned, otherwise it would, I am sure, at once be accepted as a guarantee for the accuracy of his statements.” With such phrases, “I have no doubt,” “every reason to believe,” “I feel sure,” etc. etc., has Sir Bartle Frere continually maligned the character of the Zulu king, called since the war by Mr. John Dunn, “the most injured man in South Africa.” One is rather puzzled who the man may be to whom Sir Bartle Frere gives so high a character, his opinion of which he evidently expects will quite satisfy his readers. We should much like to have the gentleman’s name. The number of gentlemen “long resident in Zululand” are not so many as to leave a wide field for conjecture. Besides the missionaries, the only names that occur to us to which the phrase can apply are those of Mr. John Shepstone, Mr. John Dunn, and Mr. Robertson. The only point in the indictment against Cetshwayo which we have now to consider, is that of the killing of girls under the Zulu marriage law, and the reply to Sir Henry Bulwer’s remonstrance on the point, which Sir Bartle Frere speaks of in his final memorandum as expressed “in terms of unprecedented insolence and defiance;” while _The Times of Natal_ (generally recognised as the Government organ) went still further, and has twice charged the Zulu king with sending _repeatedly_, insolent messages to the Natal Government. As to the _repetition_ of the offence, it need only be said that there is no foundation in the Blue-books for the assertion. And as to this particular offence it is enough to say that no notice had been taken of it to Cetshwayo himself, till two years afterwards it was unearthed, and charged upon him, as above, by the High Commissioner, notwithstanding that, whatever it may have been, it had been subsequently condoned by friendly messages from this Government.