Note 215 — Chapter XLIX

Sir George Napier, himself an ex-Governor of the Cape, wrote in April, 1852:—“Had the Duke of Wellington ever seen the ‘Cape bush,’ he would not have said what he did about making roads through it; the thing is quite out of the question.... You may rely upon it that Sir Harry Smith would never have delayed one day in making roads had it been feasible.... As for Harry Smith, I am glad to see Lord Grey is abused by everybody for the harsh unjust manner of his recall. In my opinion the great mistake Smith made was in ever giving in to Lord Grey’s folly of withdrawing a single soldier; and when the war did break out, he should have at once acknowledged his error, and boldly demanded reinforcements to the extent of 5000 troops at once. I still hope he may be able to finish the war before his successor arrives, for till lately he had not force to do more than he did.”—Life of Sir W. Napier, ii. pp. 310-312.