g　down；　but　perhaps　more　picturesque　than　pleasant。　However；　I　have　little　doubt　but　that　we　shall　beat　them。　Besides　the　thing　may　blow　over。　I　am　going　to　volunteer　this　afternoon。　。　。　。　I　see　that　Sir　Henry　is　getting　unpopular　in　Natal。　All　the　papers　are　pitching　into　him　for　being　too　“timid　and　cautious。”　He　will　be　in　a　terrible　way　about　this　Zulu　business　。　。　。　。

P。S。　—　I　have　just　“taken　the　shilling”　as　a　cavalry　volunteer。

Pretoria：　Feb。　11；　1878。

My　dearest　Mother；　—　。　。　。　We　are　rather　in　a　state　of　excitement　（as　usual）；　as　the　Boers　are　making　some　decided　manifestations　against　us；　and　even　talking　of　summoning　the　Volksraad。　They　think　because　we　are　quiet　we　are　afraid。　I　should　not　at　all　wonder　if　we　had　a　row；　and　in　many　ways　it　would　not　be　a　bad　thing。　Paul　Kruger　when　he　came　back　was　entirely　with　us；　but　since　his　return　has　bee　intimidated　by　the　blood…and…thunder　party　and　now　declares　that　he　considers　himself　to　be　still　Vice…President　of　the　country。　There　are　some　very　amusing　stories　told　of　him　whilst　in　London：　when　asked　what　made　the　greatest　impression　on　him　there；　he　replied　the　big　horses　in　the　carts；　and　Lord　Carnarvon’s　butler！　“He　was　a　‘mooi　carle’”　（beautiful　fellow）。

Pretoria：　March　4；　1878。

My　dearest　Mother；　—　。　。　。　At　home　you　seem　rather　alarmed　about　the　state　of　affairs　here；　and　it　is　not　altogether　reassuring。　The　Zulu　business　hangs　fire；　but　that　cloud　will　surely　burst。　Luckil