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Some pleasures I had； however。 My journeys to London to eat my dinners at Lincoln’s Inn were a change。 So were the examinations； though these I faced with fear and trembling； having read up for them entirely by myself； which I imagine few people do。 Occasionally some of my old African friends came to see me when they were on visits to England。 Thus Sir Theophilus Shepstone came； and with what delight did I wele him！ Here is an extract from a letter of his； in which he alludes to his proposed visit； dated from London on May 26； 1883：
I have only just received your note of the 23rd。 I see that you sent it to the Colonial Office； but I have not yet been there； for I don’t think they care much for me； except perhaps a few personal friends； and with the same exception the feeling is mutual as far as I am concerned。 I think I shall make my number there about noon on Monday for the purpose of seeing those I care for； but for nothing else。 I shall be very glad indeed to have a look at you again。 How is your good wife？ I hope well and strong。
Another letter from Sir Theophilus in this year has some allusions of more general interest； so I ost of it：
1 Charles Street； London： August 21； 1883。
My dear Rider； — Your warm…hearted and to me most touching farewell letter reached me last night on my return from a few days’ rushing about the country to say some good…byes。
I am sure I need not say； although it is pleasant to me to say it； that all the affectionate feeling which I know you entertain for me fills a warm place in my heart for you and for your dear wife。 May God bless and prosper you both！ Of course no one can tell what may happen in the future； or whether this is a permanent or only a temporary parting。 At the dinner which was given me by the Empire Club Sir Robert Herbert spoke of me and of my services in the most remarkable language； and said plainly that I was still a young man so far as capacity for work went； and that he hoped soon to see me discharging some high function； etc。 for the good of the country； and so on。 It appeared as if he spoke from some intention of which he had knowledge； but my friend W。 Sergeaunt； who sat next to me； said that if such a speech had been made by anyone else it would have meant a good deal； as it was it meant nothing； perhaps so。 Of course every day I have in England adds to my consciousness of the influence that I could exert if I tried； but what is the use of it with such an abject Government as now rules and will for years to e； I fear； rule England？
I am glad that my speech did not wholly disgust you； I had no idea that the dinner was to be what it was； still less did I expect that reporters would be there； so I congratulated myself when I sat down。 I shall look forward to the publication of your book with a great deal of interest； the trouble is that the real merits of a book are not the measure by which it is meted； as crushed strawberry is preferred to the beautiful natural colour of the fruit because it happens to be the fashion of the season； so with books： even they must pander to the taste of the hour whether it be good or bad； or they will not be read and therefore not bought。 I hope； however； that the taste will be good when your book es out； because； if it is； I have no doubt of its success 。 。 。 。
Always affectionately yours；
T。 Shepstone。
Towards the end of this letter Sir Theophilus says he is sailing in a few days for South Africa。 I do not think that he ever saw the shores of England again。 It is needless to add that Sir William Sergeaunt was right in his estimate of the value of Sir Robert Herbert’s speech。 No further permanent employment was ever offered to him。 Indeed； it was after this date that the persecution of him began； of which I have already written。
In 1883 Osborn wrote me a letter concerning some imantophyllum12 plants that he had collected for me in Zululand； which at this moment； twenty…eight years afterwards； are blooming in the greenhouse； in the course of which letter he makes some rather interesting remarks。
12 One of these plants was still blooming in Sir Rider’s bedroom in 1925。 — Ed。
Zulu Reserve； via Stanger； Natal：
August 2； 1883。
。 。 。 The place I am living at now is about a hundred miles south of Inhlazaty and is one of the loveliest spots in South Africa。 I have a very fine forest within half a mile of my house； and a sea view a good sixty miles along the coast。 My position here as supreme chief representing the paramount Power is certainly an improvement on the last。
You will have learnt ere this of Cetewayo’s fate。 It could not have been otherwise： he was bound to e to grief； as from the day he set foot in Zululand — since his restoration he has never ceased in doing that which he ought not to have done。 He proved himself to be as bad a character as ever wore a head…ring。 It is to be hoped that he will do better in the happy hunting…grounds whither he betook himself on Saturday； 21 July； through the persuasive influence of several gleaming blades and sundry rifle bullets。 As to myself I am getting thoroughly sick and tired of this dark country full of dark deeds of evil and violence。 。 。 。 I suppose that by this time you will have developed into a full blown barrister； and I need not tell you that from my heart I wish you every success。 You ought to try for an appointment as Attorney…General in a colony （Crown）； as you have the pull of private practice in addition to your official employment in such an office。
It is evident that when Sir Melmoth Osborn wrote thus of the death of Cetewayo as having taken place on July 21； 1883； he was deceived by some false rumour which had reached the Reserve from Zululand proper。 Cetewayo did not really die until February 8； 1884； and Osborn saw his corpse before it was quite cold。 An account of the circumstances of his death； which Sir Melmoth told me afterwards he believed to have been caused by poison； will be found on pp。 28 and 29 of the Introduction to the 1888 and subsequent editions of my book “Cetewayo and his White Neighbours。”
I think that we left Ditchingham； which at the time I thought I had let for some years to a gentleman who unhappily died before he took possession；