But Sir Bartle Frere, who succeeded him, was not more fortunate, and the real mistake was interference from home.

To Froude his experience of South Africa came as a disagreeable shock.

A passionate believer in Greater Britain, in the expansion of England, in the energy, resources, and prospects of the Queen's dominions beyond the seas, the parochialism of Cape Colony astonished and perplexed him.

While he was dreaming of a Federated Empire, and Paterson were counting heads in the Cape Assembly, and considering what would be the political result if the eastern provinces set up for themselves.

If South Africa were federated, would Cape Town remain the seat of government?
To Froude such a question was paltry and trivial.