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e and taxes bills — Much opposition — H。 R。 H。 supported by Judge Kotze — Boer revolt expected — Zulu War threatened — H。 R。 H。 builds house with Cochrane — Jess’s cottage — Sir Bartle Frere — Zulu War — Isandhlwana — Shepstone returns home — Treated shabbily by Government — H。 R。 H。 joins Pretoria Horse — Elected Adjutant — Ordered to Zululand — Orders countermanded — Regiment to defend Pretoria against possible Boer revolt — H。 R。 H。 sent in mand of detachment to watch force of 3000 Boers — Exciting incidents but war postponed — Sir Bartle Frere at Pretoria — Estimate of his character — Anthony Trollope — Journeys on circuit with Judge Kotze — Herd of blesbuck — Pretoria Horse disbanded — H。 R。 H。 resigns Mastership of High Court — Buys farm in Natal with Cochrane to breed ostriches。
Not very long after the Annexation the Master and Registrar of the High Court died； and after some reflection the Government appointed me to act in his place。 It is not strange that they should have hesitated； seeing that I was barely twenty…one years of age and had received no legal training。 Moreover in those days the office was one of great importance。
To put it mildly； the lawyers who frequented the Transvaal courts were not the most eminent of their tribe。 Indeed some of them had e thither because of difficulties that had attended their careers in other lands。 Thus one of them was reported to have mitted a murder and to have fled from the arm of justice。 Another subsequently became notorious in connection with the treatment of the loyal prisoners at the siege of Potchefstroom。 He was fond of music； and it is said that before two of these unfortunate men were executed； or rather murdered； he took them into a church and soothed their feelings by playing the “Dead March in Saul” over them。 He； by the way； was the original of my character of Frank Muller in “Jess。” Even those of the band who had nothing against them were tainted by a mon fame： they all overcharged。 It was frequently their practice to open their bill of costs with an item of fifty guineas set down as “retaining fee；” and this although they were not advocates but attorneys who were allowed to plead。
In those days the Boers were extraordinarily litigious； it to spend hundreds or even thousands of pounds over the question of the ownership of a piece of land that was worth little。 So it came about that before the Annexation they were most mercilessly fleeced by the lawyers into whose hands they fell。 This was the situation which I was called upon to face。 Also as Master I held another important office； that of the official Guardian of the estates of all the orphans in the Transvaal。
I entered on my duties with fear and trembling； but very soon grasped the essential facts of the case。 One of the first bills that was laid before me was for 600 pounds。 I taxed it down by one…half。 Then； either over this or some other bill； the row began。 The lawyers petitioned against me without avail。 They appealed against my decision to the High Court； again without avail； for Mr。 Justice Kotze supported me。 For a whole day was that bill argued in court； with the result that I was ultimately ordered to restore an amount of； I think； six and eightpence！
Considerable percentage fees were payable to Government on these taxed bills； and for a while I trusted to those who presented the bills to hand over these sums to the Treasury。 By an accident I discovered that this was not always done。 So I invented a system of stamps which had to be affixed to the bill before I signed it。 In short the struggle was long and arduous； but in the end I won the day； with the result that I and my flock became the best of friends。 I think that when I left them they were sincerely sorry。 I remember that in one case； a very important divorce action which occupied the court for more than a week； the petition was dismissed not because the adultery was not proved but on the ground of collusion。 Of this collusion the parties were innocent； but the evidence showed that the petitioner’s solicitor had actually drafted some of the pleas for the defendant’s solicitor and in other ways had been the source of the said collusion； thus causing his client to lose the case。 On this ground I disallowed all his bill of costs； except the out…of…pocket expenses。 No appeal was entered against this decision。
Of the surviving letters which I sent home at this period of my life several deal with my appointment to the office of Master and Registrar of the Transvaal High Court； and others with public affairs。 From these I quote some extracts。
Pretoria： Dec。 18； 1877。
My dearest Mother； — 。 。 。 Our chief excitement just now is the Zulu business。 It is to be hoped that the Chief will stave it off till April； because the horse…sickness would render all cavalry useless at this time of year。 I do not suppose that the Home Government will help； though perhaps they may； the Conservatives being in。 If we have to fight by ourselves it will doubtless be at great risk and cost of life。 You see； unless public opinion presses； the Home Government is always glad to set a thing of the sort down as a scare； and to let “those troublesome fellows settle it somehow。” But I do not think that this is a matter that can be settled without an appeal to arms and one last struggle between the white and the black races。 That it will be a terrible fight there is no doubt； the Zulus are brave men； as reckless about death as any Turk。 They are panting for war； for they have not “washed their spears” since the battle of the Tugela in 1856； when the two brothers fought for the throne； and when the killed on one side alone amounted to 9000 men。 They will e now to drive the white men back into the “Black Water；” or to break their power； and die in the attempt。
I think I told you that their plan of battle is to engage us in the open for three days and three nights。 They say they intend to begin by firing three rounds and then charge in from every side。 It will be a magnificent sight to see about twenty thousand of those fellows sweeping 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 hi