justify war or not; and even though we knew it was only a pretext, seeing that it only took place long after war had been determined on, and preparations for it had been begun to be made.” “But the ultimatum and its demands are things of the past. Rivers of blood have flowed to enforce these demands, and now they are put on one side as utterly valueless, both by the settlement of Zululand and the release of Sirayo’s son.”[181] With this humiliating fact we must close our record of the Zulu War. In doing so, we feel that too many of the circumstances which we have thus recorded reflect no credit on the name of England—that name which as English men and women we most desire should be honoured by the world at large; and we realise with pain that, so far as our work may be perused by dwellers upon other shores, so far have we lessened the glory of our motherland in their eyes. But, however much we may regret the necessity, we do not therefore think it a less imperative duty to bring to the light as much as possible whatever wrong and injustice has been committed and concealed by those to whom England has entrusted her power and her fame. That the light of publicity should be thrown upon them is the first step towards their cure, or at least towards the prevention of any further wrong, and it is with the truest loyalty to our Sovereign, and the deepest love and reverence for our country, that we have undertaken the task now completed. THE END. CHARLES DICKENS AND EVANS, CRYSTAL PALACE PRESS. FOOTNOTES: [1] “Few things struck me more than the evident haste and temporary character of the defensive measures undertaken by the English part of the population”—in the border districts of Natal. (See letter from Sir Bartle Frere to Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, dated March 28th, 1879. P. P. [C. 2318] p. 32.) [2] Spelt thus to give the nearest proper pronunciation of “Cetywayo.” [3] Residence of the Bishop of Natal. [4] These people had refused to leave their homes, or desert their Bishop, as long as he and his family remained at Bishopstowe, although both black and white, for miles around, had sought shelter elsewhere. [5] A system not unlike the Inquisition in its evil results. [6] Who, it may be remarked, have always been well treated in Zululand. [7] Portions of this letter are omitted from the Blue-book. It would be interesting to see the letter as originally received. [8] One put to death in 1861 was condemned on a charge of high treason. [9] As he had previously, in the year 1861, visited Zululand for the purpose of fixing the succession upon the house of Cetshwayo. [10] Since by our desire he refrained from protecting it by force of arms.