he declared that there was 'no permanent place in South Africa for direct imperial rule,' but probably too much importance was at the time attached to the dictum.
On his return to England Robinson looked upon his work for the empire as practically at an end, and settled down in London, devoting himself to the duties of various companies which claimed his services as a director. He was in particular a director of the London and Westminster Bank. In 1891 he was created a baronet. For six years he enjoyed this comparative rest, and then in the spring of 1895 came a call which he did not feel himself justified in refusing. He was asked by Lord Rosebery's government to return to South Africa in his old position. The time was an anxious one. The Transvaal Boers had recently had considerable diplomatic successes in their dealings with the British government; and they were inclined to be very high-handed. At the same time there was a deep feeling of resentment among the British who had made their home in Johannesburg, and were there subjected to vexatious and oppressive restrictions.
Robinson had no wish to return to South Africa, but the summons was a great compliment, and the call of duty was one which he felt bound to obey. At considerable personal sacrifice he took up the appointment on 30 May 1895. The choice of the government was fiercely assailed in the House of Commons (Hansard, 1895, xxxii. 426), among others by Mr. Chamberlain, who within a few weeks, by the turn of fortune's wheel, became himself the colonial secretary to whom Robinson was responsible.
Negotiations for substantial concessions from the executive of the South African republic were still in progress when, on 29 Dec. 1895, Dr. Jameson made his raid on the frontier of the republic, and Robinson was face to face with one of the worst situations that the history of the empire has seen. It is almost superfluous to say that Robinson had no sort of part in this ill-advised attempt. He had been kept in ignorance of the project because those who conceived it knew his character. Directly he heard of the attempt he endeavoured to stop it by telegraph, but was too late.
On 2 Jan. 1896 Robinson proceeded to Pretoria to negotiate for the release of the raiders. In this he succeeded, returning to Cape Town on 14 Jan.; but he could not expect to do much more. The troubles which were at the root of the raid were left to breed the war of 1899; but for this Robinson cannot fairly be held responsible. His personal influence at any rate glossed over the apparent friction between Dutch and British, and when in May 1896 he came on leave to England, he left comparative calm and good feeling behind him. Probably he was the only man who had sufficient prestige to cope with such a crisis and save a war. On 11 Aug. 1896 he was made a baron in the peerage of England, by the style of Baron Rosmead of Rosmead in Ireland, and of Tafelberg in South Africa. Immediately afterwards he returned to the Cape, where he proceeded with the work of conciliating all parties among the Dutch and British. But the failure of his health compelled him to ask to be relieved of his government. On 21 April 1897 he left the Cape for England. He never really recovered his health, and died at 42 Prince's Gardens, London, on 28 Oct. 1897. He was buried at Brompton cemetery on 1 Nov.
Robinson may be regarded as one of the greatest of the colonial governors whom Britain has sent out during the nineteenth century; and his name will always be particularly connected with the most vigorous period of the growth of South African empire. He was prudent, cautious, and businesslike; genial, kindly, and free from pomposity; above the middle height, of a dignified presence. An excellent appreciation of him is that of Sir Henry Parkes, the Australian statesman (Fifty Years, &c., i. 296). He was knighted in 1859, became K.C.M.G. in 1869, G.C.M.G. in 1875, and a privy councillor in 1882.
Lord Rosmead, besides being a good man of business and a good speaker, was a sportsman, and a great lover of horses and of horse-racing (Lang, History of New South Wales, i. 422). The best portrait (by Folingsby) of Lord Rosmead hangs in the hall of Government House, Sydney. Others are in the possession of his son, Lord Rosmead, at Ascot, and of his daughter, the Hon. Mrs. Durant, who also possesses a bust by Simonetti.
Robinson married, on 24 April 1846, Nea Arthur Ada Rose D'Amour, sixth daughter of Arthur Annesley Rath, viscount Valentia, and left a son, Hercules Arthur Temple, who succeeded him, and three daughters, all married.
