PREVIOUS TO THE RECENT RUPTURE. 133 
notwithstanding fourteen years’ friendly intercourse 
has been kept up with the Caffer nation, and ample 
means afforded of becoming thoroughly acquainted 
with their character, and the feelings they enter- 
tained of the system pursued towards them, such a 
period should have been allowed to pass away with- 
out removing the cause of grievances complained of, 
and establishing a better system of policy amongst 
them. iw 
I am happy to be enabled to lay before the reader 
‘a concise and impartial statement of the ostensible 
and primary cause which appears to have led to the 
present unhappy state of affairs in that distracted 
country, from the pen of the Rev. W. Shaw, who 
has recently addressed a letter to the Earl of Aber 
deen on the subject, and who, from his knowledge of 
the character and language of the Caffers, obtained 
during a residence of many years in their country, 
together with an intimate acquaintance with the 
measures adopted by the Colonial Government to- 
wards them, is pre-eminently qualified for the task 
he has undertaken, and entitled to a degree of atten- 
tion which few others can claim. | 
“ Every one asks,” says Mr. Shaw, “ what has 
been the cause of this ruthless attack by the Caffers ? 
Doubtless your Lordship would be glad to obtain 
a satisfactory answer to this question. I will endea- 
vour to give it. But before I doso, permit me to per- 
form an act of justice to the British settlers of Albany. 
