The fact that he took possession of it with a force of some twenty-five men showed the honesty of his belief that no armed resistance was to be feared.

This, then, in 1877 was a complete reversal of the Sand River Convention and the opening of a new chapter in the history of South Africa.
There did not appear to be any strong feeling at the time against the annexation.

The people were depressed with their troubles and weary of contention.

Burgers, the President, put in a formal protest, and took up his abode in Cape Colony, where he had a pension from the British Government.

A memorial against the measure received the signatures of a majority of the Boer inhabitants, but there was a fair minority who took the other view.