But from the Uitlanders' petition, to which allusion has been made, it is evident that armaments had begun before.

Among the alleged grievances we find the following:-- "A policy of force is openly declared against us; L250,000 have been expended on the construction of forts; upon one alone, designed to terrorise the inhabitants of Johannesburg, L100,000 has been spent.

Large orders have been given to Krupp for big guns and maxims; and it is said that German Officers are coming to drill the burghers." The Uitlanders of Johannesburg treated with contumely, adopted the theories made use of by the Boers in their Petition of Rights of February 17th, 1881, by which they justified their insurrection against British rule, of December, 1880.
"Then the cause was unexpectedly helped on by the courageous resistance of O.Bezuidenhout against the seizure of his household effects for non-payment of taxes.

Here was a breach of the law easy to lay hold of; here was a crime indeed! It was illegal, undoubtedly, but illegal in the same sense as was the refusal of Hampden to pay the four or five shillings "ship money"; the taking of den Briel by the Watergeuzen (Waterbeggars) in 1572; as was the throwing overboard of a cargo of tea in Boston; as was the plot in Cape Colony against the importation of convicts.

All these acts were illegal, but of such are the illegalities in which a people takes refuge, when a Government fails in its duty to a law higher than that of man." In virtue of the principles invoked by the Boers, the Johannesburg Uitlanders entered into a conspiracy; Jameson was to come to their aid after they had risen.Messrs.Leonard and Phillips put themselves in communication with Cecil Rhodes.