Prussian Constitution We will Ourselves exercise the legislative power. We will maintain the laws and institutions of the Duchies in so far as they are the expression of legitimate characteristics, and can remain in force without injury to the unity of the State and to the necessities of its interests. Our Lord Lieutenant, Baron von Scheel-Plessen, is accordingly charged with the duty of taking possession. Such is Our will. Given at Berlin the 12th January 1867. CT. V. BISMARK-SCHÖNHAUSEN. BARON V. D. HEYDT. CT. v. ITZENPLITZ. CT. ZUR LIPPE. CT. ZU EULENBURG. (L.S.) WILLIAM. V. ROON. ANNEX 4. Statement by the Librarian and Keeper of the Papers in the Foreign Office. SEARCHES in the archives of this Department have been made both by me and by my predecessors, and they have failed to disclose any reports by Her Majesty's Representatives or any information from other sources tending to show that either in the case of the Italian annexations in 1860, or the Prussian annexations in 1866, claims for compensation based on failure on the part of the previous Government to complete contracts, or on wrongful acts of the previous Government, were paid by the annexing Government. R. W. BRANT, Librarian. ANNEX 5. Papers relating to the Annexation of the Transvaal, 1847. Sir, No. 1. Sir Theophilus Shepstone's Commission. (Reprinted from Blue Book, "Native Affairs in South Africa, 1877." Cd. 1776.) The Earl of Carnarvon to Lieut.-Governor Sir H. Downing Street, October 9, 1876. WITH reference to my despatch of the 5th instant* I have the honour to transmit to you the Queen's Commission appointing Sir Theophilus Shepstone, K.C.M.G., to be a Special Commissioner to inquire respecting certain disturbances which have taken place in the territories adjoining the Colony of Natal, and empowering him in certain events to exercise the power and jurisdiction of Her Majesty over such territories or some of them. 2. You will be good enough to hand this Commission to Sir T. Shepstone. I have, &c. CARNARVON. Enclosure. Natal. Draft of a Commission under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet, appointing Sir Theophilus Shepstone, K.C.M.G., to be a Special Commissioner to inquire respecting certain disturbances which have taken place in the territories adjoining the Colony of Natal, and empowering him in certain events to exercise the power and jurisdiction of Her Majesty over such Territories, or some of them. Dated October 5, 1876. VICTORIA R. Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, • Not printed. Empress of India: To Our trusty and well-beloved Sir Theophilus Shepstone, Knight Commander of Our most distinguished Order of St. Michael and Saint George, greeting: Whereas grievous disturbances have broken out in the territories adjacent to Our Colonies in South Africa with war between the white inhabitants and the Native races, to the great peril of the peace and safety of Our said Colonies: And whereas, having regard to the safety of Our said Colonies, it greatly concerns Us that full inquiry should be made into the origin, nature, and circumstances of the said disturbances, and with respect to the measures to be adopted for preventing the recurrence of the like disturbances in the future: And whereas it may become requisite to this end that the said territories or portions of them should be administered in Our name and on Our behalf: Now know you that We, reposing especial trust and confidence in the loyalty and fidelity of you the said Sir Theophilus Shepstone, have appointed you to be Our Special Commissioner for the purpose of making such inquiry as aforesaid; and We do authorize and require you with all convenient despatch, and by all lawful ways and means, to enter upon such inquiry, and We do require you to communicate to Us through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State any facts which ought to be made known to Us, as well as any opinions which you may think fit to express thereon; and if the emergency should seem to you to be such as to render it necessary, in order to secure the peace and safety of Our said Colonies, and of Our subjects elsewhere, that the said territories, or any portion or portions of the same, should provisionally, and pending the announcement of Our pleasure, be administered in Our name and on Our behalf; then and in such case only, We do further authorize you, the said Sir Theophilus Shepstone, by Proclamation under your hand, to declare that from and after a day to be therein named, so much of any such territories as aforesaid, as to you after due consideration shall seem fit, shall be annexed to and form part of Our Dominions. And we do hereby constitute and appoint you to be thereupon Administrator of the same provisionally and until Our pleasure is more fully known. Provided, first, that no such Proclamation shall be issued by you with respect to any district, territory, or State unless you shall be satisfied that the inhabitants thereof, or a sufficient number of them, or the Legislature thereof, desire to become Our subjects, nor if any conditions unduly limiting Our power and authority therein are sought to be imposed. And, secondly, that unless the circumstances of the case are such as in your opinion make it necessary to issue a Proclamation forthwith, no such Proclamation shall be issued by you until the same has been submitted to and approved by Our trusty and wellbeloved Sir Henry Barkly, Knight Grand Cross of Our most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of Our most Honourable Order of the Bath, Our Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Our Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, and Our Commissioner for the settling and adjustment of the affairs of the territories adjacent or contiguous to the eastern frontier of our said Colony of the Cape of Good Hope. And We do further require that you do in all things conform to such instructions as shall at any time be addressed to you by us through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State. And We do strictly charge and command all Our officers, civil and military, and all other Our faithful subjects, that in their several places, and according to their respective powers and opportunities, they be aiding to you in the execution of this Our Commission, and for so doing this shall be your warrant. Given at Our Court at Balmoral, this Fifth day of October 1876, in the fortieth year of Our reign. By Her Majesty's command, CARNARVON. No. 2. Report by Sir Theophilus Shepstone. (Reprinted from Blue Book, "Native Affairs in South Africa, 1877." Cd. 1776.) Governor Sir H. Barkly, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., to the Earl of Carnarvon.-(Received April 23, 1877.) My Lord, I have the received this Cape of Good Hope, Government House, honour to transmit a further Despatch, setting forth in greater detail than he was able to do by |