6 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 
mately lessen the charge upon the imperial exchequer. The island¬ 
ers manifested little enthusiasm although they complied with the 
wishes of the colonial office and accepted the governor’s scheme.^“ 
A similar method of procedure was adopted in dealing with the 
South African situation. Frequent complaints had been made of 
the heavy military expenditures at the Cape, nor did the repre¬ 
sentative system of government, established in 1852, function prop¬ 
erly. A change was deemed necessary, especially one which would 
enable or induce the colonies to assume greater responsibility for 
local defense.^^ In his instructions to the newly appointed gover¬ 
nor and high commissioner. Sir Henry Barkly, Lord Kimberley 
discussed the various problems of the colony and called attention 
to the success of the Canadian federation.-^ This the former inter¬ 
preted as clothing a desire to have a similar change affected in 
South Africa. Immediately upon assuming the duties of his offices 
Barkly, therefore, took steps toward the establishment of a federal 
state. Disregarding the protest of the Cape executive council he 
appointed a commission to consider the advisability of dividing the 
colony into three or more provinces and with these form a federa¬ 
tion which might ultimately embrace all of white South Africa.^^ 
Lord Kimberley approved. In a despatch of Nov. 16, 1871, he 
authorized Barkly “to sanction the convening of Delegates from 
[the Boer republics] and Natal for the purpose of considering the 
conditions of a Union”. Hopes were also expressed that such a 
union, if established, would assume the responsibility for defense.^® 
The policy was endorsed by the House of Commons,^^ but South 
Africa remained indifferent. Only the diamond diggers of Griqua- 
land West supported federation.^® A strong majority at' the Cape 
2sp.P. 1871, XLVIII, cd. 353. 
23 Granville to Governor Sir P. E. Wodehouse, Dec. 9, 1869. P.P. 1871, XLVII, cd, 
459, pp, 13—15. See also Kimberley to Sir Henry Barkly, Nov. 17, 1870; ibid., p. 66. 
2^ Kimberley to Barkly, Oct. 17, 1870; ibid., p. 47. 
Ibid., pp. 170, 171 ‘We . , , record our conviction that . . . the attempt to feder¬ 
ate upon any satisfactory basis the eastern and western provinces of this Colony—the 
Basutos and adjacent native territories—including the Diamond-fields, the two Boer 
republics, and Natal, or indeed, any two or more of them, will present the very greatest, 
if not insuperable difficulties; and we fail to see the practical object or advantages of 
any such federation in the absence of that external pressure and rivalry of a powerful 
adjacent nation, which has had the chief share in effecting the consolidation of the 
Dominion of Canada.” Minute of the colonial secretary, treasurer general, auditor 
general, and collector of customs, April 26, 1871; ibid., p. 180. See also P.P. 1872, 
XLIII, cd. 508, p. 11. 
^<^Ibid., cd. 508, p. 14. 
2’’ Hansard, 3rd series, CCXI, cols. 806—815. Debate May 28, 1871. 
28P.P., 1873, XLIX, cd. 732, p. 121. The address is dated August 28, 1872. It 
should be remembered, however, that Griqualand West was under the crown colony form 
of government which would naturally prove distasteful to the miners, the majority of 
whom were Englishmen. 
