The odd thing is that； but for an accident； or rather a piece of carelessness； I should； I believe； have won after all。 When I was making my tour of the constituency on the day of the election I called in at the head office at Yarmouth and chanced to notice a huge pile of letters which stood as high as the writing…desk in the room — there must have been several hundreds of them。 I asked the agent what they were。 He replied with some hesitation that they were polling…cards returned by the Dead Letter Office marked “Not known。” It seemed that the addresses of the out…voters had not been checked for years； and therefore these persons； of whom practically every one； as owners of property and Conservatives； would have voted for me； had never received my polling…card and； consequently； did not put in an appearance。 Moreover； there were individuals in the constituency itself who did not receive their polling…cards； while other out…voters who did receive them were sent to the wrong polling…places； and arrived there too late to reach the stations at which their votes could be legally recorded。 I remember a piteous letter from a gentleman who had travelled all the way from Cornwall； reaching Norwich somewhere about 7 P。M。； only to discover that he must vote at Yarmouth within an hour； which of course he was unable to do。 When one considers how paratively small was the number of votes necessary to turn the scale in my favour； it is easy to understand what this blundering meant to me。 Still； for reasons that I have already given； I do honestly believe that all was for the best。
Although I might have done so more than once； never again have I stood for Parliament。 To tell the truth； the whole business disgusts me with its atmosphere of falsehood； or at the least of prevarication； and its humiliating quest of support。 In such struggles in Britain there is； it is true； little actual corruption； but of indirect corruption there is still a great deal。 From the moment a candidate appears on the field he is fair game； and every man’s hand is in his pocket。 Demands for “your patronage and support” fall on him； thick as leaves in Vallombrosa。 I remember that I was even pestered to supply voters with wooden legs！ Why should an election in a county division cost； as this one did； something over 2000 pounds in all？
Some years before this time my brother Alfred conceived the plan of obtaining some great concession of land and minerals from Lobengula。 He was； I recollect； angry with me because I would not enter into his scheme with enthusiasm； and I think has never quite forgiven me my backwardness。 But I knew a good deal about the Matabele； also I held that Lobengula would never grant him what he wanted unless it was wrung from him by force of arms。 Indeed I am convinced to this day that no one except Cecil Rhodes； with his vast mand of money； could have dispossessed this tyrant and annexed those great territories。
I did not know Cecil Rhodes in Africa； where we never crossed each other’s paths； indeed I think he arrived there only towards the end of my time。 We first met in London； I believe somewhere about the year 1888； when I was asked to meet him at the National Liberal Club。 At that time he was little known； I do not think that I had ever heard of him before。 He impressed me a good deal； and I remember his explaining to me in great detail the provisions of a measure he was introducing into the Cape Parliament — I think it was the Glen Grey Act — in such detail； indeed； that I lost the thread of the thing and grew bewildered。 Rhodes could rarely be persuaded to write a letter； but my recollection is that he could talk at a great pace when he was in the mood。
When he was in England； just before the Jameson Raid； I saw Rhodes several times； for it was then that the African people were anxious that I should stand for Parliament。 I remember going to breakfast with him at the Burlington Hotel。 He was then at the height of his success； and the scene was very curious。 Already before breakfast a number of people； some of them well known； who were not asked to that meal； were waiting about in ante…rooms on the chance of getting a word with or favour from the great man。 It reminded me of a picture I have seen of Dr。 Johnson and others hanging about in the vestibule of； I think； Lord Chesterfield’s apartment for a like object。 There was the same air of patient expectancy upon their faces。 In a china bowl on a table I observed a great accumulation of unopened letters； most of which had a kind of society look about them； probably they were invitations and so forth。 It was； I have understood； one of the habits of the Rhodes entourage not to trouble to open letters that came by post。 Unless these were of known importance they only attended to those that were sent by hand； or to telegrams； and the replies were generally verbal or telegraphic。 Perhaps this was owing to press of business； or perhaps to a pose； or to a bination of both。
The last time that I ever saw Rhodes must have been about a year later； probably when he was in England after the Jameson Raid affair。 I went to call on him on some matter — I entirely forget what it was — at the Burlington Hotel； and found him alone。 We talked for a long while； though again I forget the subject of our conversation。 What I remember is the appearance of the man as he paced restlessly up and down the long room like a lion in a cage； throwing out his words in jerky； isolated sentences； and in a curious high voice that sometimes almost attained to a falsetto。 He gave me the idea of being in a very nervous state； as I dare say was the case。
His was one of those big； mixed natures of which it is extremely difficult to form a just opinion。 My own； for what it is worth； is that he loved his country and desired above all things to advance her interests； also that he was personally very ambitious。 He set great ends before himself and went to work to attain them at any cost。 To begin with； he saw that money was necessary； so he rubbed shoulders with speculators； with Jews； with anybody who was useful； and by means of this deal or that deal made the money； not for its own sake； but that he might use it to fulfil the purposes of his busy and far…reaching brain。 He outwitted Kruger； he destroyed the Matabele； he seized the vast territories of Rhodesia； and persuaded the British public to find him the gold wherewith to finance them； most of which the British public has； I imagine； lost。 But the Empire has gained； for Rhodesia does not run away； like the capital； in over…financed and unremunerative panies。 One day it may be a great asset of the Crown； if the Imperial possessions hold together。
It would almost seem as though Rhodes was one of those men who have been and still are raised up by that Power； of the existence of which he seems to have been dubious； to fulfil certain designs of Its own。 There have been a good many with somewhat similar characteristics。 Alexander； Caesar； Napoleon； Chaka； e to my mind as I write。 Roosevelt； though his is a finer mind； may or may not prove another： at the moment it rather looks as though his cards were played； but who knows？
Had it not been for Rhodes I incline to the belief