He did not look beyond the House of Assembly at Cape Town, which it was his duty to lead, and the Governor, Sir Henry Barkly, with whom he was on excellent terms.
His own origin, which was partly English and partly Italian, made it easy for him to be impartial between the two white races in South Africa.

For the Kaffirs he had no great tenderness.

They had votes, and if they chose to sell them for brandy that was their own affair.
Of what would now be called Imperialism Molteno had no trace.

He would support Federation when in his opinion it suited the interests of Cape Colony, and not an hour before.
Froude left Dartmouth in the Walmer Castle on the 23rd of August, 1874.

He occupied himself during the voyage partly in discussing the affairs of the Cape with his fellow-passengers, and partly in reading Greek.