497.
-- The state of Natal, which was then perplexing the Colonial Office, puzzled Froude still more.

Four courses seemed to him possible.
Natal might be annexed to Cape Colony, made a province of a South African Federation, governed despotically by a soldier, or left to join the Dutch Republics.

The fifth course, which was actually taken, of giving it responsible government by stages, did not come within the scope of his ideas.

The difficulty of Federation lay, as it seemed to him, in the native problem.
"If we can make up our minds to allow the colonists to manage the natives their own way, we may safely confederate the whole country.
The Dutch will be in the majority, and the Dutch method of management will more or less prevail.

They will be left wholly to themselves for self-defence, and prudence will prevent them from trying really harsh or aggressive measures.