since the greatness of a great nation like the United States will be still more enhanced if it aid a small nation in a struggle for its rights and freedom. Our aim is to put an end to this cruel bloodshed on both sides, but especially the destruction of our own fellow-citizens, who are indispensable to our continued existence as a people. We hope this appeal to the Government and people of America will not be in vain, and that our manner of conducting the war will have shown that we have the right to demand the independent existence of our people as an independent State in South Africa." Their errand was fruitless, as the conclusion of the Secretary of State's reply serves to show. "The President sympathises heartily with the sincere desire of all the people of the United States that the war which is now afflicting South Africa may, for the sake of both parties engaged, come to a speedy close, but having done his full duty in preserving a strictly neutral position between them, and in seizing the first opportunity that presented itself for tendering his good offices in the interest of peace, he feels that in the present circumstances no course is open to him except to persist in his policy of impartial neutrality. To deviate from this would be contrary to all our traditions, and all our national interests, and would lead to consequences which neither the people nor the President of the United States could regard with favour." The same attitude was taken up by other Powers who were appealed to by the still optimistic Dutchmen. General Buller by this time had located himself on Spitz Kop, which stands some 7100 feet high and commands an enormous expanse of country. Here fifty-eight burghers surrendered, and he captured trophies--300,000 bales of supplies, and 300 boxes of ammunition. But the Boers were luckier elsewhere. An engineer convoy under Lieutenant Meyrick, Royal Engineers, with an escort of nineteen Hussars, in act of repairing telegraph line, was attacked near where the road crosses the Crocodile River. The young officer was wounded and the escort was missing. Generals Pole-Carew and Hamilton meanwhile pushed on, the Boers retreating as they saw themselves in danger. General French surprised the enemy and occupied Barberton on the 13th. He came on sufficient supplies to last three weeks, and made a splendid haul of prisoners, ammunition, and waggons, together with forty-five locomotives, which latter came in handy at a moment when engines were much needed. On the 17th fifty more locomotives were captured by French's Cavalry at Avoca Station, while six more on the arrival of the 18th Brigade (Stephenson's) were found at Nel Spruit. At the same time Generals Pole-Carew and Hamilton were moving towards Kaap Muiden Station.