A RETROSPECT. (From the South African Commercial Advertiser.}

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 196, 15 April 1848, Page 3

A RETROSPECT. ( From the South African Commercial Advertiser.}

The great event of the year that hus just expired, was that which concluded its history, and which by sealing the complete conquest and subjugation of Caffcrland, left sunshine antl a serene sky to greet the entrance of its successor. It opened in the midst of a very tire some and apparently inglorious »truggle between the most powerful and weakest of nations, in whioli victory w»s not always to the strong, nor the race to the swiit; it ended in absolute triumph on the right «ide, and with the fairest promise of lasting peace. In announcing tins gratifying intelligence, Sir Harry Smith ascribes the happy termination of the war to the wisdom of his predecessors, the valour of the forcew, and the talents of their commanders. He bestows upon them thanks and praises with glowing cordiality, for having completed the rough woik of war, and left him the more genial works and labours of peace. Such applause ii as honourable to him who gives as to those who receive it, and coming from such a judge, it cancels all inferior criticisms, and will be at once received and ratified by the world. The end crowns the work. What more do men exact than victory ? This is the second appearancs ot §ir Harry Smith amidst South African tempests, and on recalling the impression made by his genius, twelve years ago, it is impossible not to indulge in transcribing some of the words in which his career was then traced in this paper. He is the same man, and he meets with the same welcome, —and the tame watchfulness, delighting to applaud, but not slow to name a slip, or seeming slip, where the fortunes of thousands depend on the movement of a mind incapable, by reason of its strength, of committing small errors, but able to redeem the greatest by its native elasticity :— Already Colonel Smith has given us a ••BecoUectton of the Peninsula." He left Cape Town with a single attendant on the Ist January ; on the 6th he arrived at Grahams'* Town, a distance of 104 hours* hard riding, encouraging, exhorting, and commanding everything into its proper place on his way ; on the 7th he proclaims martial law, and orders universal enrolment: on the Bth he authorises all field-cornets, or other municipal officers, to place any house, stable, building, &c..in a state of defence, by loopholing, barricading, or by such othpr means, as they may think necessary. And all public Officers, Military and Civil, are diieeted to seize all straggler! who have not enrolled themselves, or who have quitted their several parties or places of residence; on the ipme day he commits to the drum head and the drummer's lash, all Liars, Raisers, or Repeaters of false Reports; at the same moment, he intorms the Inhabitants of Albany and Somerset who have not enrolled themselves under their respective Field-cornets, or Provisional Fieldcornets, agreeably to orders, that all euch personi who shall not have done so in Albany before the 15th, and in Somerset before the 20th of this month, will be apprehended as deserters, and proceeded against as such, according to the usages of war. So far we proceed on his own authority. Fnvate letters of the Bth and 9th say that he was examining his strength, and it was probable that in a week he would be able to face the enemy /—lhus on the Bth, writes a gentlemen who knew »11 that the public knew. But Colonel Smith knew a little more. At the moment his forces in different divisions were mustering under his orders to seize position!, to recover abandoned posts, and to penetrate into Cafferland itielf, there to occupy stations by which all reinforcements could be stopped, and all retreat with cattle intercepted. What a pity that War is a deadly,game I There is evinced in it something io magnificent—such a superiority of mind over matter —of decision over imbecility —-of sagacity over in discretion. Who that traces the course of thin accomplished Commander, does not bum

to be at his aide ? We seem to hear the spirit-stirring drum, and to see the royal banner, and all the pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war, rendered yet more glorious by the appearance in the back ground of a whole community delivered in an instant, by one powerful head, from the lowest deptlu of dispondency and helpless terror 1 Such things make Ambition Virtue ! But in the hour of victory and triumph, let us remember we are men. Let the wretched foe who in his presumption and ignorance has brought dowti upon his country a thunderbolt that can lay it desolate — let the disarmed and prostrate foe leurn from experience that the white men, like his God, in wrath can remember mercy. Let him know that cowards alone are cruel, while the brave love mercy and delight in a doui ble victory over the heart, as well as over the arm. Clemency, coming after a just and fear-inspiring- chas- ; tisement, will seul conquest with peace, and confound i nil the arguments of thostf tmbulent men who delight j in war. — S. A- C. Advertiser, January 17, 1835. I The following extract from a letter dated "King J William's Town 9th January, 1835,'' bears honourable i testimony to the spirit manifested to Colonel Smitl) :—: — Colonel Smith stands high in my estimation. He manages the people admirably ; invites all to give him hints, but acts upon his own excellent judgement. It it quite pleasing to see the confideace and friendship that appears to exist between hin and the chiefs. He is a well disposed man, and I shall be happy to see him Lieutenant-Governor. He deeply regrets Hinlza's death, aad was speaking of this yesterday in a pleasing manner. He is juit the man to keep the colonists in capital order, and is down upon them in an instant, if they talk any of their barbarity about (hooting the Cbffers.— lb. buch was "Smith" in 1836. On his return afte* twelve years, in spite ot Indian suns and tremendou service, he stands out before the mind's eye more Smith than ever, — rapid, prompt, unexpected, and successful. Obscurity, uncertainty, confusion, which existed, if not in the tilings themselves, most undeniably in the minds of all beholderst vanish at his approach, leaving the whole scene distinct and clear, aad peifcctly intelligible. Every man feels that within the last week the whole Caffer question has clnnged its colour. The black cloud bus become transparent lain drops. Men actually I laugh as awaking from a grotesquely horrid dream, when they see the lions that threatened to tear out the heart of the colony converted into dog» licking the feet of its governor. Such a ni<ia may be called fortunate, and like an ancient Roman he may take that as the grandest of bii titles. But it was not the fortune by men called luck that opened the prison doors to Sandilli, and after humbling him in the dust, commanded the proud Paramount Chief ot Cafferland to leturn instantly to his people, and with his dependant chiefs to meet him their lord and master on a given day in the heart of his dominions, at their peril, there to abase them- [ (elves at his feet in the eyes of all who had worshipped , them from their birth as superior bemg» 1 Such an idea stamps the man of genius, and its success distin- ! guish.es the hero from the madman. ! Nor is the admiration excited by this wonderful termination of the long protracted war diminished by a | perusal of the proclamations, in which he sketches the I outlines of his future policy, and recalls to their rcspecI tiva spheres the elements of power and of civilisation. ( The fort, the town, the village, the agriculluriit, the trader, the missionary — nothing is overlooked, and all seem naturally to present themt elves ai the words are prenouueed. Without a doubt, the colonists, and the Gaffers, h*ve good cause to thank the Almighty that tUeir all'oiri have, at this critical moment, been committed to such hands. But the war and its conc'usion exhaust not the memorable things of 1847, though too little has yet transpired of the proceedings of the High Commissioner, aad the Lieutenant-Goirernor, to justify any remark* on their real character, value, or importance. Both of them were men of known ability, and they spent many mouths in assiduous labour on the following relations and internal government ot the colony. As Commissioners or Inquirers, however, candour compels the admission that what of the fiuit of their researches has been made public, dd O es not impress the mind favourably, either with r ega rd to the purity of the sources from which they drew their information, or the depth of their own discernment in dipping buckets into wells, that all the world knew were empty, or held only mud at the bottom. In legislation, and" good works," Sic Henry Pottinger's short Government is better known and highly appreciated. The Bill for Improvement of Ports and Harbours, will, by itself render him a name of respect with all posterity. Under his Government also, the great Road Works, and the admirable Convict System of Public Labour, have been carried onward witb proper spirit and judgment. His readiness in acknow- j ledging the importance of Communication by Steam, with Great Britain and the East, and hi* recommendation that £bQOO per annum, ihould be granted for ten years to encourage any Company that mi^ht undertake to accomplish it, received the heartiest approbation of the whole colony. The two great works of the year, the. road through the magnificent pass of Cradock Mountain, and that through Mostert's Hock, have been carried forward with energy, consummate ability, and taste, promising to become not only incalculably uteful, but highly ornamental to the colony. Ihe noble road across the Cape Downs, the bold line along tbe front of the precipices called Sir Lowrys Pass, with the beautifnl sweep through the Houw Hock, taken in connexion with those just named, are some of the monuments vf hich the genius of Colonel Michell leaves for the admiration and gratitude of the present and future I times. His name is engragen ou the rocks, with the [ names of those invaluable public servants, under whose auspices he has releazed his conceptions, in gigantic characters, as lasting as the mountains. If, as there is reason to fear, the chivalrous spirit of this most accomplished officer, and high minded gentleman, I is about to be withdravroby Him who bestowedit, from 1 the active service of his country, he will be followed to its temporary or lasting repose, by that affectionate regret which generous worth, great an^ varied tHients, fine genius, and bright honour , inspire in tUe bosoms of all mankind. j The construction of the Light House sn Cape Agul1 has, and the plan for a sea wall, redeeming from the sea in Table Bay a large area of building grouud, a a still larger space behind it being rendered valnabje and ornamental, while the first object of the work, the easier landing and shipping of goods, will be secured, are also among the good works and schemes of 1847. And their again the energy of Government aud the genius and taste of Michell, receive willing applause. But it must always be understood, that, in speaking of Government and its meritorious officers, no separation is admitted betweea them and the people, whose they are, and whom they serve. In the public mind, in the common mind of Governors and governed, all these schemes of beneficence have been growing and ripening for yeais. Neither has been before nor after the other. \Yhe« it is so, there are no results. But »cc

the fruits in a few years of an improving government, in lively union with a people longing for improvement. With the exception of a series of floods in the great riven, causing considerate loss of life and property, the incidents af the war were the chief domestic c»lamnitics of the yeur. The wheat crops have suffered somewhat from rust, but the other crops are excellent in all respects. Trade and commeace have flourished beyond example,— not speculation, not gambling, in imaginary property with imaginary capital, but real trade and real commerce, the production and distribution of the necessaries, conveniences and comforts of life, Aad the report of the close of the year ii— Solid Prtsperity.