was perfectly obvious that the "Irish Party" were destined to be a terrible disturbing element.
The strong and drastic measures pursued by the preceding Government had never found favour with the Conservatives, and one of their first steps was a decision not to renew the "Crimes Act" which had been passed by Mr. Gladstone's Government. In fact, even if the Government had been willing to renew it, it could hardly have been done in the face of the Home Rule element in the House of Commons. This concession, which met with considerable opposition from the Liberals, was received in Ireland with great satisfaction, but it at once caused an increased agitation against the union, and a louder clamour for Home Rule.
The next step of the new Government was to despatch a force of 5,000 men, under Lord Wolseley,—"England's only General," as he had been sarcastically termed,—to South Africa. His lordship had only just returned from Egypt, where he had been engaged on a thankless and useless task. His appointment to the South African campaign was a guarantee that the Government was in earnest. Those who knew him knew that his mission would be prosecuted with vigour, and the disgrace of Majuba Hill would probably be avenged at last. It is true that there was some uneasiness felt at the news that the Boers were assembling an army of thirty thousand men, well armed, and provided with breach-loading cannon. But still it was considered that five thousand British troops, assisted with local forces and native contingents, would suffice to teach the saucy Dutchmen a lesson. The nation was, therefore, thunder-stricken when one morning it read in the papers:—
GREAT BATTLE IN THE TRANSVAAL.
TREMENDOUS SLAUGHTER.
THE BRITISH ARMY ALMOST ANNIHILATED.
THE BOERS MARCHING ON THE CAPE.
An electric shock ran through the country at this news which had been flashed by telegraph during the night. There was not a right-thinking man or woman but felt that the hour for playing with the Boers had passed, and
