68 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



expected home, for to-day the bells have been ringing and th< 

 cannons firing in honour of a treaty of peace being signed witl 

 the Caffre chiefs. So ends for the present this barbarous war, 

 but as usual, it ends in further aggressions on our part. We 

 have gained seven thousand square miles of new territory, which 

 is to be called " Adelaide," at an immense expense of money and 

 life. When will this cease? Never, till we interpose a wall 

 of kindness and brotherly love between us and the poor natives. 

 No other wall will protect us or them, and such a wall I fully 

 believe might be established if our rulers were willing to show 

 full, impartial justice. I fear however the old system, modified, 

 perhaps, will still go on, and while it does the frontier must 

 be insecure. 



So far William's bright anticipations bad been fully realised, 

 but a dark cloud soon spread over his prospects. His brother's 

 health, which on the voyage had been somewhat affected 

 by the tropical climate, quickly gave way on land. He was 

 prostrated by a fever of such a character as to leave him 

 totally unfitted for his official duties, and the physicians recom- 

 mended, as the best means of his complete recovery, an im- 

 mediate return to his native climate. Leave of absence was 

 granted ; but not until late in the spring of the following year 

 could the needful arrangements be completed, or sufficient room 

 be obtained in a homeward-bound vessel for the invalid and his 

 family. William, though having in prospect a transfer of the 

 appointment, the duties of which he had fulfilled almost from 

 the time of their arrival, did not hesitate to return with his 

 brother. The latter appeared at first to gain benefit from the 

 sea air, but no sooner did they reach the warm latitudes than 

 the disease returned, and he sank beneath its force some long 

 weeks ere they reached England. 



William's patient acquiescence in this disappointing turn of 

 events, his steadfast reliance on the constant exercise of the 

 Divine arm, and the pleasure he found under all circumstances 

 in the works of Nature, can be in some measure understood 

 from the following letters : — 



Stellenberg, December 14. 

 We have not been so happy as you imagine. In truth we 

 have had trials enough to bow stout hearts and buoyant spirits. 



