sters to consider in the colony itself, while his position of high commissioner throws upon him the personal responsibility for action outside the Cape Colony.
Robinson went to the Cape at, one of the most critical periods of its history. On 16 Dec. 1880 the malcontent Boers in the Transvaal had declared their independence. He arrived in Cape Town on 22 Jan. 1881. In February he was called upon to negotiate terms of peace in circumstances which were a source of deep indignation throughout the greater part of the British Empire. When peace was concluded he had to face an extremely difficult situation. British and Boers were entirely out of sympathy. The antagonism was not only between the British colonies and the free republics, but between British and Dutch throughout South Africa wherever they came into contact. The native races also were restless and discontented. So far as his personal influence could affect such a situation, he handled the problem with rare tact and sagacity. He warded off in great measure the bitter hostility which the British in Africa at that time nourished towards the home government; he showed an active sense of the necessity of maintaining British influence; and throughout he fostered the idea that a cordial union between British and Dutch was the real foundation of peace and progress in South Africa.
It was not very long after the convention of 1881 that further difficulties with the Boers became inevitable owing to their action in the native territories immediately beyond their borders. In October 1881 the Bechuana chief Montsioa felt apprehensive and begged British protection, which was not conceded. Native disputes gave excuse for Boer interference. The Transvaal government professed to be unable to restrain its subjects from overrunning the Bechuana country. By the end of 1882 Robinson was satisfied that things could not drift on indefinitely (Mackenzie, Austral Africa, i. 157). But general negotiations with the South African Republic caused delay, and the Transvaal deputation to England in November 1883 brought Robinson also to this country to assist in settling the revised convention of 1884. On returning to the Cape in March 1884 he made great efforts to arrive at an understanding with the government of the South African Republic as to their responsibility for checking Boer raiders, and in November obtained the despatch of Sir Charles Warren's expedition, with a view to a definite settlement. The result was the annexation of Bechuanaland to the British dominions on 30 Sept. 1885. This settlement was to some extent marred by a dispute with Sir Charles Warren, as special commissioner, respecting the general control of the high commissioner. Sir Charles Warren, on his return home, urged the separation of the functions of high commissioner from those of governor of the Cape; suggestions were made as to the divergence of interest between the colony and the home government, and a controversy began which lasted for three years. The matter was strenuously taken up by Mr. John Mackenzie, who had been a commissioner in Bechuanaland. But there were strong arguments on the other side. Robinson was supported by the Cape parliament, and eventually the existing arrangement was maintained (Parl. Paper C. 5488 of 1888; Williams, British Lion in Bechuanaland, sect. ix. p. 47).
In October 1886 Robinson was commissioned by the imperial government to proceed to Mauritius to investigate the charges which had been brought against Sir John Pope-Hennessy [q. v.], the governor of that colony; he decided against the governor, whom he suspended from the exercise of his functions. He left Mauritius on 18 Dec. and returned to Cape Town on 1 Jan. 1887.
Although the ordinary term of a governor's administration had now run out, the value of Robinson's work was such that his term of administration was extended. He was now called upon to take a fresh step towards consolidating the British power in South Africa. It became known during 1887 that the Boers were contemplating an extension to the north, and early in 1888, by the energy and insistence of Mr. Cecil Rhodes, a treaty was made with Lobengula which secured for Great Britain the key of the great area to the northward. Robinson has been accused of being lukewarm in this matter; he certainly moved more slowly than Mr. Rhodes, but he cannot be denied credit for his share in the policy. This treaty was followed on 30 Oct. 1888 by the Rudd concession; but before the Chartered Company had its birth Robinson had ceased to be high commissioner. On 1 May 1889 he left the Cape, having been largely instrumental in establishing peace, in promoting good feeling, in improving internal communication, in opening up new territories to British enterprise, in securing to the Cape Colony a surer trade and improving revenue, and in fostering a sense of common interest with the Dutch republics, as shown by the customs union with the Orange Free State, which was consummated in 1889. His farewell speech created some stir in official circles because
