Mini Biographies of Scots and Scots Descendants (Mc)
Captain Alexander L. McDonald

In the early forties (1840s) of the last century a sailing vessel slowly tacked its way into Table Bay.  At the rail stood, quietly taking in the scene, two young officers;  one tall and blonde, with lively deep blue eyes, and the other short and swarthy, paying but casual heed to his companion's earnest conversation.  They had come to take up stations in the military organization of the Cape, the first Subaltern McDonald, in the Paymaster's Office in the Castle, and the second, Lieut. McInroy, in the naval squadron at Simonstown.  McDonald was pale and worn from the effects of the long voyage from England.  He was a rotten sailor and had spent most of the time of the voyage in the little wave-tossed cabin and now, at the age of 23, was about to land in a country which he was not to leave for more than thirty years;  years full of stirring history forming the background to the life of as gentle and cultivated an officer of the Crown as ever worshipped the Christian God in the Church of the Presbyterians.  His passion for religion and knowledge amused Lieut. McInroy, who was indifferent to such interests, and thinking rather of fun and frolic far removed from the reproachful eye of his father, the Earl, who held McDonald's views about conduct, but with all the tears thrown in.

During that early stage of the development of our now flourishing sub-Continent the attention of the military was focussed on the movements of the Amaxosa tribes who displayed a dangerous tendency to actively oppose the intrusion of the English in their rich and fertile territory.  The Frontier was situated at Grahamstown, from which centre the 'Kaffir Wars' which established the foundation of our 'white civilization' were successfully waged.

The two friends landed and took up their quarters at the Castle, and soon afterwards were married to two sisters of the name of Brooksbanks.  From this period the course of their lives is described, in McInroy's case rather vaguely, in a Diary which McDonald kept until his death 36 years afterwards.  Where and how they met their wives we can only conjec-ture, but in that young community it is possible that they were companions, McDonald would have indignantly rejected the appellation 'servants', employed by comfortably cir-cumstanced immigrants from Home who had settled in the Cape Peninsula. 

The two young couples shared a domestic establishment, but affairs did not progress harmoniously.  Children were born without any approach to modern fashionable procrastination and then we read in the Diary, "During the month there have been occasional un-pleasantness and petty disputes between the women of the house, and McInroy himself pays too much attention to trifling matters.  I don't see how we can continue our present arrangements, and McInroy must certainly look out for a separate house…   Have been regularly to Church, and frequently at the week evening services." 

McInroy appears to have been going the pace, for, "9/5/45:  Endorsed a Bill for ₤150 for McInroy,  Mr Jerrain discounts it".  Then, "Lodged ₤10 in Savings Bank, an effort to save a little.  This is Hannah's birthday, and we made merry over it in the evening."  A happy occasion, when trivial differences in the household were, we hope, temporarily forgotten  in an atmosphere of brotherly (and perhaps sisterly?) concord.  We may be sure that McDonald, when the merrymaking was done, offered up a prayer, and that the rest of the family took the action as a matter of natural course.  On another occasion, when he was busy entertaining a newly wed couple just off for their honeymoon, he expresses delight and satisfaction over their holy regard for religion.  "We exchanged many sympathetic remarks on Church doctrine" he writes, "and parted after joining in worship of our Maker upon our knees." 

The truce was not to last very long.   30/6/45: "During the last two days matters have come to a crisis between us and the McInroys and ended in their leaving, a moment much too long delayed."  

The McInroys were not the only cause of domestic irritation in the Castle, for we learn that the McDonalds had some trouble during the month with 'old Mrs Dallas',  "… who lives too near us on the Ramparts.  She possessed a notoriously evil tongue, and scandalizes her neighbours at a sad rate.  What makes the matter so much worse is that she makes such a loud profession of religion."   Old Mrs Dallas vanishes into oblivion at this point, for we hear nothing more about her.  Who were the victims of her 'evil tongue' ?   Probably the McInroys, and particularly the spendthrift disposition of the young Lieutenant, upon whom McDonald characteristically refrains from sitting in judgement  –  has he not backed a Bill for (to him) a rather terrifying amount?

On the 19^th August:  "… The McInroys embarked today for England.  Hannah and I went on board and stayed a while.  He has sadly displeased his father by leaving the Service in which his prospects were so bright, but we may, on going home, do something in the way of reconciliation."

"Received a letter from the Purveyor-in-Chief at the War Office informing me that I was placed on the list of Purveying Clerks and would receive Servant's Allowance.  This in-creases my income nearly ₤30 and now gives me upwards of ₤190 a year."   Not a great sum after three years of married life and two infants (boys) to rear.  

To add to the difficulties, the Bill of McInroys had been dishonoured and was being pain-fully liquidated.  "This is very annoying and Hannah is in a great state about it.  We had had quite enough trouble with the McInroys already to be spared this misfortune."   The burden grew intolerable, so,  "… wrote to McInroy's father stating how matters are in regard to this Bill".  "Of course", is the charitable comment, "such a contingency as this was far from my thoughts when I endorsed the Bill, and I do believe that McInroy himself had no intention whatever of deceiving me." 

The Earl McInroy proved most ungracious, as we subsequently learn.  "Received a letter from McInroy's father in reply to the one I wrote about the Bill.  He positively refuses to pay, having, he says, made a firm resolution to decline doing so on account of the many Bills he has had to meet of the same kind.  This is rather bad news for me, but the whole affair is not nearly settled."   Even now, no indication of censure of the ungrateful McInroy and his selfish father, but the Diary says little more about them until McDonald's return to England 36 years later.  The first cordiality was, however, never resumed.

With so much crying out to be done, the earnest and energetic young officer soon forgot the small unpleasantnesses of the first years in Cape Town.  Church, morning and evening, and work in the 'Sabbath School'.  Books of an edifying and instructive nature to be read and absorbed;  schemes for the assistance of missionary effort amongst the Hottentots and 'Kaffirs' to be considered, pressure of work in the office, because of Frontier disturbances to be grappled with;  the direction and instruction of a young wife and family, and the writing up into the small hours of the morning of the Diary. 

The editing of this Diary, which is here being attempted, is baulked by the fragmentary nature of those portions which survive.  McDonald kept it as a method of self-examination and confession and has withheld details of his life prior to his arrival in the Colony.  In a periodical called the 'School Reformer' which he conducted in Grahamstown, we are told that a purely military career was early discovered to be unsuited to his temperament and that he had been engaged during his youth as a military schoolmaster and then transferred to the office of the Paymaster. 

He was of Highland peasant origin.  In an unrelated note amongst his papers he says  "I remember when we were very young, we assisted on the farm.  One of our occupations was winnowing the corn.  It was hard work, and we longed for it to be over.  We used to watch my father as he came round to look at it and decide whether or not it was clean enough.  He would take up a handful and, putting on his glasses, he would look and pause and hesitate, and sometimes throwing it back he would say to our dismay, 'Put it through again'." 

It was through self improvement, untiring energy and inborn talent that McDonald wormed his way into the aristocratic ranks of the Victoria Officer Caste.  He was a nature similar to that of General Gordon with whom he did, in fact, once appear publicly in London on the Evangelical platform.  The difference between the two was in the interest that McDonald consistently took in scientific and literary affairs.  In Grahamstown he sponsored a Literary Scientific and Medical Society and poems and articles from his pen frequently appeared in the Press of the Infant Colony.  It is with his personal life that I am most concerned here, although I will try to include some samples of his work in general culture further on in this memoir.

The  'Servant's allowance' permitted the employment of one Mary Jane as a nurse for the children, a doubtful acquisition according to this entry:  "Mary Jane has been very trouble-some of late, and today has run away somewhere, causing us great anxiety.   Having heard that M.J. intended to go to Simonstown, I at once hired a gig and started in pursuit.  Saw nothing of her in Simonstown, but just on leaving, I fortunately caught sight of the young fox and bundled her at once into the gig, started for home again which I did not reach till pretty late.  Again, much annoyance with M.J. who cannot be trusted out of our sight, and is growing full of tricks and deceit."

24/7/1849:  "My birthday.  Twenty-seven years of age;  27 years spent, I fear, to very little purpose spent thoughtlessly and carelessly with reference to the important matter of Eter-nity.  I pray the new year now entered upon may be a great improvement." 

Having sown her wild oats, Mary Jane eventually married and settled down and was to play an important part in the tragedy of Subaltern McDonald's second marriage.

Life was running normally in the little menage in the old Castle.  Our young Subaltern was beginning to have thoughts about the future of his little family.  "Applied for admission to the Mutual Life Assurance Society.  I had intended to do this long ago.  Sir Harry Smith & Staff arrived in the 'Vernon'.   The town was splendidly illuminated at night in honour of his arrival."

An outbreak had occurred amongst the Amaxoxas, the most turbulent of the native tribes, and there was a lot to do in the office.  There was church morning and evening and often lectures and readings, and soirees in the company of kindred pious and earnest spirits.  Naught remained to fill the cup of happiness, but more of the dross of this world to feed and clothe the family properly. 

"As it is urgently necessary that something should be done in the way of income, I have determined to turn to account the little knowledge I acquired in youth of the very useful if not very noble art of making shoes.  Through a most capricious and wayward freak of fancy, three of the most interesting and important years of my youth (about 16 to 18) were spent in this work.  My poor mother remonstrated, but in vain, and knowing full well that a thoughtless young fellow as I was would soon grow tired of such employment managed to engage me to a master for the least possible term of apprenticeship.  I certainly did very soon realize in some degree the position in which my waywardness placed me, and my progress in the art was very slow, so much so indeed that, had I been destined to continue the trade, I would have made but a sorry livelihood.  At all events, I acquired sufficient knowledge to enable me to superintend a small business with one or two men employed, and this being the limit of my present design, I have resolved on commencing forthwith.  Macklin has recommended a native man to begin with  –  so here goes for the next attempt of setting my wits to work towards supplementing my small government salary."  

The 'native man' turned out incompetent and dishonest and the venture was a wretched failure.  Shrewd commercial enterprise was not a strong point with McDonald, nor with any of his descendants up to this hour. 

In the meantime, the little boys had their share of accidents and sickness.  "Alick had a severe fall from the bed today  – not much hurt.  Dr Chiapinni was called to see William, the eldest, who fell seriously ill.  The doctor still visits William, but the dear little fellow is nearly well.  We have had a great deal of anxiety on William's account, and Hannah feels it more deeply than I could have done, for day after day when he was so unwell, she sat weeping over him for hours.  Indeed his pinched, pale, emaciated little face, and his large dark eyes with such an unusual and unearthly brightness, and which fastened on yours with such calm resignation, could not but awaken the deepest emotion."

Then the old bogey of want kept nagging.  "Had a reply to my application for increase of salary.  Unfavourable."  Hannah's father, who appears to have had no fixed occupation of any kind, was a source of anxiety, and mother-in-law had to be helped.

A serious drain, all this, on that poor ₤190 a year;  there are occasional references to letters from his mother in the Highlands and from William, a brother, who subsequently emigra-ted to Canada.  William was also a keen seeker after knowledge and in the army, but not in the fighting forces. 

This same William once rather seriously displeased his brother.  "Letter from William who tells me he has been at the theatre.  I am much pained to hear this and must write him about it.  He seems to have felt that he was doing something wrong and had some compunction, and I don't suppose it is likely to occur again in a hurry."

A sister, Catherine, is living with her mother, and tells him "that Ronald has decided on learning the saddlery business, and has commenced with Mr Robertson of Invergordon."   Was Ronald another brother, or Catherine's husband?

25/5/1850:  "Have lately thought of a study of the French language and have done a little towards it, but have not a good dictionary, so have ordered Turrenne's.  Could speak colloquial French pretty freely when in St Lucia, West Indies."  

This entry throws a little light on McDonald's movements immediately after leaving his Highland home.  For this bilingual South African generation the preference of French for Dutch seems very unpractical.  There is hinted evidence in the Diary that McDonald had no high regard for the Cape Dutch with whom he mixed.  The failings and degeneracy of the Northern Boers are often admitted by Africaners who will brook no criticism of the 'aristocratic' Cape Dutch. 

But, listen to this, quoted with approval from a book of observations written by a traveler, Richard Barnard Fisher, in 1816.  His description of the Africanders (or Dutch) is woeful.  Coldness, apathy, ignorance, indolence, selfishness, pride, and immorality of all kinds are attributed to them.  "They universally rise on account of all the heat, at a very early hour, and take their coffee.  The men immediately take their pipes and the women walk with folded arms up and down the stoep.  A second breakfast takes place about 8 or 9 of the clock, after which the men are again at their doors with pipes in their mouths, and the women when dressed walking as before on their stoeps.  As they are cold , shy and indifferent, even in their address to each other, and certainly possess no very fine feelings in their mode of living, they are equally disagreeable to a European.  They are enormous eaters, but not great drinkers.  They dress well, which seems inconsistent with the custom of smoking with the men, and the filthy habit of spitting, with both men and women, prevalent in the best houses.  With the wretched education, if any, that they receive, and such lax notions of religion and morality, neither purity of manners nor chastity of conduct can be expected to prevail.  On the contrary, I am apt to think there are few countries I ever heard of where the social virtues are less in practice, or where immorality and debauchery exists, than the Cape.  There are well authenticated stories in Cape Town that fill the mind with horror.  The illicit intercourse between the sexes is everywhere notorious, not only amongst the slaves and inferior sort, but with the higher ranks, and the offspring from such intercourse are variously disposed of  –  some, indeed very many, becoming slaves to their own fathers.  The parents of such children conceived they have the power of life and death over them, at least until a certain period, and may destroy them at pleasure.  The women of colour are almost all prostitutes….    The records of the place will furnish instances of the most savage cruelty and barbarity ever practiced in any country and the Hottentots come in for such treatment as well as the slaves."

This picture may be over coloured, but it aptly describes the present day Africaner of the bigoted and illiterate variety.  If the Cape Dutch were really like that, when they had the political control of the country, then one can only account for their improved character through association and intermarriage with the immigrant European (British and French) stocks.  Testimony of this kind makes the doctrine of 'Pure Afrikanderdom' not only a stupid and inexpedient doctrine for any sane South African to embrace, but a dangerous and wicked one as well.  McDonald had no preconceived prejudice against any race.  His disposition, and the manner in which he interpreted the tenets of Presbyterianism, to which he was so steadfastly devoted, made him an advocate of the brotherhood of man. He mixed with natives in the true spirit of equality before God.  His own sons attended elementary schools where they sat by the side of 'kaffirs'.   He studied and lectured about customs and origin of the Hottentots and Bushmen tribes.  It is all the more striking that he should have gone to the pains of entering such stuff in carefully preserved notebooks. 

Before going on with McDonald's personal history, I am tempted to quote a little more from Mr Barnard.  It is hardly likely that his work will be found in any Afrikana Museum.  Proceeding with his description of the Cape under Dutch rule he says:  "The murder of a slave or Hottentot is never punished with death and the murder of infants is quite unregarded.  The most open profligacy and unrestrained intercourse of the sexes every day and every hour, exists not only without notice taken of it, but even women of apparent consideration are known to live solely on the wages of the prostitution of their slaves…"

"Many offences committed by the Dutch and French settlers are hardly, or never, taken notice of by the Courts.  An instance is mentioned:  A person of considerable property, Stephanus Johannes Cloete, and one of the first families of the Cape, most cruelly and deliberately shot a poor Hottentot woman with a child at her breast.  At the express command of the Governor he was tried and convicted.  The sentence was not one which one would naturally suppose. A ridiculous farce was to be exhibited of a drawn sword over the head of the criminal, in a kneeling posture before a heap of sand, blindfolded and his neck bare, by the common executioner, and afterwards a partial sort of banishment.  From this mild and lenient sentence he had the temerity and impudence to appeal to the Governor.  The appeal was indignantly dismissed.  The punishment of slaves is very severe.  I have often heard the mode of punishment described, but it is too disgusting and horrid to relate.  Whatever may be the sense of feeling in the poor wretches, they are not allowed even to cry out under their sufferings, for the mouth of the criminal is either extended to the utmost expansion of the jaws, of filled up with rags, old rope, or tow."  

What a terrible picture of early Africaner culture…   Is it not to be wondered at that an 'Old Hanoverian' put the precedence of ladies in Africa in the following order:

1.    The Madagascar women who are the blackest and handsomest.
2.    The Malabars.
3.    The Buganese or Malays.
4.    The Hottentots…  and last and worst of all, the white Dutch women.

26^th June:  "On getting home from work I found Hannah in great pain, and after tea it was thought advisable to go for Mrs McDougall without delay.  The pains increased and continued till 20 minutes to 10 p.m. when I was blessed with an additional member to my small family.  A girl this time, and she seems remarkably stout and healthy and at present very like William." 

A letter arrived from brother-in-law Lieut. McInroy.  "Heard from McInroy.  He has just had a son, this is his third boy, named him 'Henry John' after his own brother and Hannah's father."  We may be sure that McInroy said nothing about the unpaid Bill.  With three sons and his expensive tastes there could have been no surplus in the exchequer.

God was about to deal his servant a cruel and undeserved blow, for Hannah, after the confinement, gradually sank.

14^th  -   Friday:  "This is the most eventful day of my life, for all is over with my dear wife.  God has seen fit to lay upon me the bitterest affliction which man is called upon to bear.  The stroke is heavy, the trial is truly severe.  God, do Thou grant grace to bear it all.  I watched at her pillow all last night with intense pain and anxiety.  Oh, how it pained me at heart to hear her moan, and how distressing to look at her lying before me, intently gazing at me but unable to speak.  This morning I knew that her last moments were rapidly approaching.  She declined the usual nourishment, found great difficulty in swallowing anything and showed other alarming symptoms.  She kept her eyes steadily fixed upon me till her last breath, and made several efforts to speak, but failed.  I had William and Alick brought to her, and though she could not move a limb, I could clearly see from the emotion in her now sadly pale face that she knew her dear boys and would gladly speak if she were able.  Poor little fellows, they looked very sad, but did not understand the loss they were just about to sustain.  About half past twelve her moans were heartrending as life was struggling to maintain its hold in vain.  Never did I look upon such an agonizing scene.  I grasped her hand firmly and felt the cold damp of death too surely upon it.  I held it firmly till that poor dear pain-distracted frame succumbed to its sufferings. 

"Oh, what a time of agony, never did I expect to have to encounter this shock.  My long pent-up feelings now found vent, and I could not help weeping aloud for some time.  This had been a morning of deepest sorrow and weeping.  After the first violent outburst of feeling a painful depression took hold of me, worse to bear than the excitement of grief.  My loneliness is hourly felt more keenly and distresses me much. 

"After a few days, the poor little boys seem a little concerned at all that has been going on around them, and though not conscious of the loss we have all suffered, they seem to know that something of a very sad nature has happened.  One of the most heartrending scenes of this fatal illness was the taking away of the baby.  The wet-nurse who, from the great difficulty of getting one, only came yesterday, attempted to take the child who was lying by dear Hannah's side.  She would not, however, let baby be removed, but gathering unusual strength she clasped the little creature to her breast, looked wildly round for help and sympathy as if the child was about to be removed for some evil purpose, and persisted in retaining it.  I tried to soothe her fears and release the baby from her arms, but found it a difficult and most painful effort.  Finding at last that we would insist on the removal, she pressed the child to her bosom in a paroxysm of love, kissed it wildly and in a most reluctant manner, suffered her treasure to be handed to the nurse."

The prematurely bereaved young father's head was bloody but unbowed.  He accepted his destiny courageously and immediately made the future well-being of his three little ones his principal concern.  Hannah was buried on Lot 21 and a removal was made from the Barracks to a cottage in Orange Street, accompanied by Mary Jane, now thoroughly sobered and sympathetic, and a St. Helena woman as nurse for the babes.

The infant was baptised, Hannah Elizabeth, after her mama and my own mother.

Did McDonald reproach Providence?  On the contrary.  He applied himself with greater earnestness to prayer and the practice of the Christian life.  He decided to hold family prayers daily, with some misgiving.  "Of course, William and Alick are young and will not take much notice of what is taking place, but there is the nurse and Mary Jane, who no doubt have their own ideas and impressions and are not likely to think much favour on this new phase of domestic daily routine, and doubtless will laugh between themselves at what so deeply troubles my mind."  But, the plan had to be executed.  Let the 'little fox' snigger as she may, and a visit to Hannah's grave confirmed the pious resolution.

"How difficult", he sighs in the Diary, "to realise fully that she (Hannah) is really gone.  Her image constantly before my mind, and suggests continually saddening and melancholy musings.   Ah, me, Ah me, there is little Alick with a painful swelling on his neck which the doctor thinks may not come to a head and directs the application of hartshorn and oil.  It is very painful to the poor little fellow.  Anxiety was so great that he was not in time for Church and for the first task of Sabbath School teacher, and Mary Jane is up to her tantrums again."

5^th September:  "Mary Jane not going on well at all.  The nurse has no control over her for she seems to be rather a giddy being herself."

What is a troubled and conscientious young father, not yet thirty, to do?  Well, the call to life on a healthy young man is not to be unanswered.  "Went picnicking with the Maclins and Mr & Mrs Jennings to Camps Bay.  The day was warm, but very happily and pleasant-ly spent.  Had to carry my little fellows part of the way going, but to my agreeable surprise they walked all the way home.  I had a bathe in the sea and a great deal of running about."

Again, "Have been somewhat diligent lately in improving my French.  Have also been acquiring a little knowledge of the flute, and dipping into the science of Botany.  These pursuits occupy my spare time very profitably."

29^th December:  "Wrote to William proposing that Catherine be sent out to the Cape at once." (It would appear from this that Ronald was a brother).  "She could take charge of the little ones who sadly want the care of someone who would have an interest in them.  The nurse is very careless on the whole and requires close looking after, and, as I am away so much all day, she has it all her own way.  I often see baby in a dirty, wet condition  –  at times groping about the yard on the dirty flags and in a wretched plight.  If Catherine were with me she could rectify all this, and take proper care of us all.  The undertaking will be a serious matter to her, unless she chanced to come out with some friend."

Serious indeed, in those days when the voyage occupied weary weeks instead of days, with perhaps the family tendency to sea sickness to bear as well.  In the meantime the glorious summer of the Cape Peninsula provoked sentiment in keeping with the season. 

A poem entitled "Dew Drop" appeared in a local paper, the Mirror.  Amongst McDonald's papers are many poems, some in manuscript and others cuttings from various papers in which they were published.  Most of these are of a religious nature, a few describe the change of the seasons, and fewer still are extremely chaste appreciations of the beauty of women. They all show a command of descriptive and picturesque English truly astonishing in a man almost entirely self-taught.  There is no space here for more than the quotation of two or three verses from a poem entitled:  "A Garland for Ellen"

       "The saucy poppy aye too merrily dancing
          Flaunting and proud seeks the glare of day,
          The gorgeous tulip enrobed in dress cerulean
          Wantonly dallies with the glowing ray.

          Bring me not these, not the ruder marigold,
          Nor folly's own flower, the columbine
          The mournful cypress, nor the sad sighing willow,
          O, these I shall not in thy wreath entwine.

          I would weave thee a garland of spring's gleesome blossoms,
          That charity, faith, love and hope reveal,
          These emblems true of the heart's deep mysteries,
          Telling the feelings that our lips conceal.

          And round thy fair brow the floral treasures
          Shall scatter a playful and mystic wile,
          And brighter still seem the nameless witchery
          That gleams in thy winsome and sunny smile."

About this time appear references to some new acquaintances, the Jandrell family, and it is significant that they are contemporaneous with quite an efflorescence of shy love poems similar to the one quoted above.

Alick and William were afflicted with bothersome ailments, and a discouraging reply had come from sister Catherine.

25^th June:  "Had a long letter from Catherine in which she tells me with great regret that she is afraid to come out alone.  There would doubtlessly be difficulties to encounter and I must not lose sight of this, but perhaps the strongest objection she has to leaving home is the parting from mother, and it is most natural that mother is most loathe to lose her, and this is just what I might reasonably expect.  I wish she could have come, but under the circumstances I must be content."

27^th September:  "My lines, 'I saw her in life's dawning' appeared in the S.A. Journal today.

24/7/1852:  "My 30^th Birthday.  Had a letter from McInroy's brother William.  He says that McInroy is not at all doing well, and declines receiving any more letters and papers for him.  What an unfortunate reckless fellow he must be and hardships and poverty seem to have no good influence upon him in awakening him to sober thought and energy.  I am heartily sorry for his family.  I thought that he was doing well, and feel sad at receiving so unfavourable an account of him.  When will he do well?"

22/4/1853:  "Took William and Alick to Mr Paul's place and had their likenesses taken.  The thing was very successful and the likenesses look well.  They were both dressed in their usual Highland costume. Took Miss Jandrell to Mr Paul's to have her likeness taken."

Our sober and thoughtful hero was about to commit the most serious indiscretion of his career.  One can see in the Diary his timid approach to the crises, which was hastened by the plight of the sadly neglected little children.  Little Hannah especially, was a constant perplexity.  The boys he could look after in a fashion, but baby Hannah was moved from pillar to post amongst well intending strangers in that small Cape British community with, only too often, disquieting consequences.

Mr Jandrell, we glean from a casual entry, was an elementary schoolmaster of sorts and the two boys were sent to him for instruction, with but little satisfaction to the solicitous father.  Jandrell was indolent and over indulgent and the boys made little headway under his care.  The father with his sense of high responsibility notes this, and he notes other things, that Jandrell was always in money difficulties, which he seems surprisingly eager to assist in liquidating. 

The lesson of his experience with harum-scarum McInroy was deliberately forgotten, despite the circumstance that pressure of financial liabilities was as relentless as ever.  There is no doubt that infatuation with pretty 15 year old Maggie Jandrell, daughter of the impecunious schoolmaster, was the cause of this temporizing with principle.

The nameless witchery in the winsome and sunny smile of fair Maggie was the cause of the undoing of the vigorous sex-starved young officer of 30.  There is a suspicion that both Mr and Mrs Jandrell looked upon McDonald as a good catch for their daughter.  In their strained financial circumstances the placing of Maggie in matrimony was a natural ambition.  What Maggie's feelings about the projected union were we cannot definitely say.  She was a mere child and it is hard to conceive that she took any serious view of marriage with a man with three small children.  Her behaviour during the tragic affair is explicable on the theories of modern sexologists.  Any deep disturbance of the sexual norm during or near the period of puberty is likely to result in the distressing physical symptoms so poig-nantly described by McDonald.

With our wider knowledge we can feel for her a sympathy which was not possible for the bewildered husband.  Goaded by the urgency of nature, he knew not what he did, and if Maggie had not been a neurotic, all might have turned out well, as it did in so many similar Victorian marriages.

21/5/53:  "For some time past I have felt a more than friendly partiality for Miss Jandrell, and it is sufficiently evident that the attachment was mutual.  I have just come to an under-standing with the young lady on this delicate point.  I think the commencement of house-keeping again has become urgently necessary, as the boys are not properly attended to nor cared for, and then baby is growing up and becoming quite a little stranger to us all.  I have often thought of these matters with great anxiety.  Miss J. is still young, but I hope teach-able and I must, by attention to the housekeeping arrangements, endeavour to make up for her inexperience."

There follows a few illuminative entries by the impetuous lover…

9^th August:  "Maggie Jandrell's birthday, so we had lots of fun and amusement in the evening.  Stayed rather late."

10^th August: "Stayed very late at Jandrell's."

11^th August: "Have caught a nasty, severe cold, no doubt from coming home so late at night from Jandrell's.  I must be more careful of myself and certainly more considerate of them."

12^th August: "After all my resolutions for amendment, stayed too late again at Jandrell's."

The Subaltern was obviously head-over-ears in love.

17^th August: "Still overstaying reasonable hours at Jandrell's.  I wish I could resist this."

18^th August:  "Late again last evening."

19^th August:  "Failed again in keeping my oftmade resolution of observing proper hours at night."   He was burning the midnight oil in Venus's honour with a vengeance.  Maggie showed the strain. 

Maggie has been at Macklin's all day and looks unwell.  This no doubt the result of sitting up so unreasonably late at night.  The pace was getting too hot and Ma & Pa Jandrell hastened events to the desired end.

25^th August:  "Had myself measured for some wedding clothing.  A black dresscoat, of course, and a handsome white-flowered silk waistcoat.  These to be made by Mr Steedman, but I prefer Meredith for making trousers.  He makes trousers admirably."

Tailor Meredith was the father of the illustrious novelist George Meredith.  He was estranged from his famous son and is said never to have read a line written by him.  If he shared McDonald's religious convictions this antipathy is understandable, for George Meredith was the prince of heretical Victorian artists.

Slender as were his means, he bought a handsome little gold watch for Maggie which he got for ₤8.10.0.  There are signs of perturbation.

3^rd October:  "Banns published last time.  Feel somewhat anxious and uneasy as the time approaches.  Spent most part of the day with M. who is in a fever of restlessness and excitement, indeed hardly knows what to do with herself.  Tomorrow is our wedding day, which of course accounts for all this."

4^th October:  "I rose about 7 o'clock after a pretty good night's rest, and in some sort of manner, passed the time till 9 when I began to dress.  Saw that the carriages were got ready, of which I have three, each drawn by four horses.  Found a great many folk at the Church waiting there to witness the proceedings.  Maggie was dressed very neatly and looked really well.  Wore a fine white figured satin dress, a handsome wreath, a very large white veil and white satin shoes, and the usual softness and simplicity of her face were heightened by the seriousness of the matter in which she was engaged.   During the ceremony and for some time previously, her face and neck were deeply flushed and she seemed deeply agitated.  All this however soon passed off.  After the knot was tied, we all drove to two miles beyond Wynberg, and here we had a small dinner."

After a short honeymoon, the couple returned to housekeeping, the scattered family again under one roof.  Trouble was not long delayed in coming.

24^th October:  "Maggie very unwell all day, grew worse, and in the evening showed evident symptoms of hysterics."

10^th December:  "Mrs Jandrell spent the day with us, and the day being wet, had to remain all night.  Gave two Bills to Jandrell (₤16 and ₤15.10.0) he being in difficulty."

What with an importunate father-in-law and an hysterical young wife, the prospect looked uneasy enough.  Maggie got worse and the atmosphere of religion with which she was surrounded, helped nothing at all. 

The good folks at the church must have shaken their wise heads a lot over McDonald's selection of a wife.   "Fits have been less frequent and taken the character of long and stressing faintings."

McDonald had added another child to his family circle, and by no means a teachable child.  Disillusionment slowly dawned upon him.   "Paid a Bill, ₤9.1.0. for Jandrell.  I was never so urgently in want of money, and have lately become involved deeply in debt through M's thoughtlessness.  Indeed, this was no doubt the cause of her late illness, for having contracted large debts and dreading my soon having to know all about it, the thing had so preyed on her mind as to bring on those hysterics so severely.  I sincerely hope this may be a caution for the future, for I dread the idea of being so hopelessly involved as I appear so suddenly to be at present."

1/3/1854:  "M. told me of a heavy bill she had contracted, and I feel much hurt about it.  This is foolish and unkind and she sees the evil of it and feels grieved.  She is very unwell this evening."

10^th April:  "My cash box containing ₤10 or ₤12 was taken from the Book room.  This is a serious mishap, and I the more regret it as I feel fully convinced the thing was not done by a stranger."

Hoping against hope, the unfortunate McDonald assiduously attended his beloved church, composed poems, wrote articles on all kinds of 'self-improving' subjects, and delivered lectures to a devoted band of admirers.  He tried by such means to check the dismay that threatened to shatter him, but sometimes the struggle was more than he could bear.

He got ill, off and on.   At times the unheard of occurred  –  his enforced absence from the tabernacle of the Lord on the Sabbath.  What did Maggie do with the money she squandered so unkindly?   Perhaps the neighbours knew a thing or two.

27^th June:  "Our next door neighbour, Mr Freeman, has been making himself awfully offensive.  He has abused Maggie like a pick-pocket and I have thought it advisable to have the fellow brought up.  This was the sequel.  Having had notice to attend the Police Court, we went, but the evidence was not sufficient to prove an assault and so the wretch got off."  After this, the neighbours surely were more than careful to hold their tongues about Maggie.

25^th July:  "Finished reading 'The Life of Newton', a noble and most deeply interesting life.  The parts relating to his wonderful discoveries are tough reading and require close thought and attention.  His Theory of Light has been almost quite superseded, modern speculation and experiment seeming to support and confirm the theory of undulations in ether."

No problem was too abstruse for McDonald to tackle and, had he lived in our day, he would almost certainly have been amongst the few laymen to understand Einstein's theory.  His curious and active intelligence denied the application of advancing knowledge to only one venerated object, The Holy Bible.

In the course of his life, Christian orthodoxy was shaken as never before in history by a withering scientific criticism and the publication of Darwin's 'Origin of Species'.   There is  evidence that he read the works of the enemies of his Faith, some of their philosophical writings he quotes with approval, those of George Henry Lewes for instance, although one is inclined to question whether he realised that Lewes lived in sin, with George Eliot, from whose novels he seems to have extracted much pious edification.  He was probably un-aware that this cunning delineator of the religious character was also an 'infidel', a name he was fond of applying to free-thinkers. 

Like many of his great contemporaries, he clung with stubborn fanaticism to the doctrine of the infallibility of Holy Writ.  For him it was the indispensable foundation of the good life.  This might be a suitable place to indicate his reaction to the growing asceticism of the times. 

"After dinner H. brought on a discussion on religious topics, and it is really painful to listen to well-educated men and hear how lamentably deficient they are in the knowledge of those great truths on which their eternal welfare is based.  I endeavour with pleasantness and a good-natured way to disabuse their minds on some important subjects of which they appeared to have but a very imperfect acquaintance.   H. insisted that an infidel who led a (godly)? life, would go to heaven sooner than a Christian who led a longer career of sin and only repented a short time previous to his death.  Also that we are saved by Christ's example (?).   E. in his turn insisted on the uselessness of going to Church, that he can be equally right by keeping at home and reading the Church Service.  I tried to reason them out of these foolish and childish ideas, and though I did so in a pleasant and cheerful manner, yet I did not suffer them to remain in ignorance of the real merits and nature of Religion.  We often talk on religious topics and sometimes I blame myself for showing apparent indifference to a subject of great and paramount importance, the absolute necessity of sincere religion, but on the other hand, if I did not present the truth in a good-tempered and friendly manner, I would lose the opportunity of doing so at all.  As it is, H & E take what I say in good part, even when it bears hard upon their own way of thinking."

But, he was mortally terrified of 'The Theory of Evolution".  "Attended distribution of prizes to Art & Science classes.  The Chairman gave an interesting address with the exception of its close relating to the descent of Man, which he might have left untouched before an audience composed principally of young people.  He seems to look on this theory with some degree of favour."   One wonders what the good man would have felt if he had listened to some of the lectures addressed to the young today, on birth control, etc.

17/8/54:  "Meeting at Mr Ross's, but Maggie insisted on going to Mr Greig's entertainment."   What the nature of Mr Greig's entertainment was we are not told, but Maggie apparently enjoyed it, for 20^th September Maggie would attend the second entertainment by Mr Greig,  "… though I disapproved of it.  Such silly and persistent indifference to my wishes is sure to bring its own evil fruits by and bye."

So what could the poor man do but trudge off alone to the Meeting and Church & Lecture Hall with sad regrets for the happy days when his dear Hannah was only too eager to join him in these pious and instructive exercises.   Still, he had married this headstrong Maggie and he meant to carry out the responsibility like a good Christian man;  besides, he was really fond of the little ingrate on balance;  no woman with a soft and simple face like that could be really bad. 

The wretch Freeman.  His blood boiled with the unpunished insinuations the cad had made.  Perhaps, he may have reflected, the interests I have are too austere for a child-wife.  So, picnics were arranged and jaunts into the country, one of them lasting ten days, and his only regret was the expense ₤8 odd, hardly spared from small savings at the mercy of the Jandrell family. 

We learn that Maggie was good at fancy needle work and a teacher was engaged to make her better still.  Then he bought a flute for Alick and a guitar and violin for himself, upon which he learnt to "scrape out a few lively tunes".   A parrot, purchased from a sailor, was installed on the stoep, and a pretty little canary bird and cage, "bought at a sale for 22/6".   With all these enlivening domestic amenities one could surely anticipate some peace.  One could even take up intellectual pursuits again.

4^th November:  "Having agreed to give a course of Conversational Lectures on 'Optics' in the Mechanic's Institute, I commenced this evening.  The attendance was good.  I had previously written the lecture carefully out, but having given the subject such close attention for some time past I was able to deliver it extempore, merely assisted by a few memoranda of headings."

26^th November:  "My beautiful parrot made its escape.  Extremely sorry for this."

7^th December:  "My poor little canary bird has escaped from the cage which was carelessly left on a chair outside and blown down by the wind…   I am sorry for this and shall buy no more pets.   Little Hannah, we note, is growing tall, but has not been to school yet.  Her hair is still quite white and flaxen.  She is rather mischievous and occasions us much trouble sometimes.  Alick was affected with a ludicrous lisp;  a tall and spindly youngster, and slow at lessons."

William was father's pride, industrious and alert.  On Constitution Day the precocious little chap composed and presented an address to the Admiral of the Fleet on behalf of the children of Cape Town.  He was only 9 years old.

3/1/1855:  "Maggie's 17^th birthday.  She is oppressed with that abominable drowsiness which is the certain precursor of those hysteric fits.  The gloom is occasionally broken." 

30^th March:  "Most agreeably surprised to get a letter from Mrs McInroy (Lude, Blair Athol) offering to pay one of those rejected Bills for which I stood security some time ago.  The amount ₤25 was paid long ago and I had not the least hope of repayment."   It will interest McDonald's descendants to know that McInroy, his brother-in-law, was in some way connected with the stock of the Duchy of Athol.  The present Duchess of Athol is a well-known member of the House of Peers.

Welcome promotion came to the Subaltern on the recommendations of the Governor, Sir Harry Smith. He was appointed "Paymaster, Quarter Master and Superintendent of Levies" a high resounding title with but a vague indication of duties to the present writer.

The Amaxosa were giving much trouble to the Military stationed in Grahamstown, the details of which are now familiar to all students of South African history, and McDonald was transferred with the greatest expedition of the zone of disaffection.  His friends were sorry to lose him:  "The grand soiree came off last evening and it was a most superb affair.  The evening was delightfully pleasant and the rooms were crowded with choice company.  To me, of course, the evening was more than ordinarily interesting as I had the honour and pleasure of being presented with a purse of 30 sovereigns as a token of the estimation in which my services were held.   The eloquent Colonel presented it accompanied with the highest eulogiums, so I did the best I could  in manufacturing a short speech in reply and I imagined I did very well."

There must have been upwards of 200 persons, the half nearly being ladies.  We must presume that Maggie was amongst the company.  From the Church folks tribute was equally unanimous.  "Dr. Abercrombie handed me a parcel accompanied by some kind expressions of his feelings and wishes on my behalf.  The parcel contained 10 volumes of 'Dr Cumming's Works',  'Layard's Ninevah & Babylon'  and  'Jos Montgomery's Poetical Works', all very handsomely bound."   The dust of oblivion has buried the works of Cummings and Layard, but Montgomery still survives faintly as a hymnologist.  He wrote 'Songs of Praise the Angels Sang'  and 'Forever with the Lord'.

The steamer sailed on the 3^rd May for Port Elizabeth.  It was decided that Maggie should stay with her parents until it was convenient to send for her.  Little Hannah was left with friends, and William and Alick went with their father.

The faithful but wayward domestic Mary Jane was now married to one Archie, an early prospector in the hinterland, of amiable character but very unsteady habits.  There are frequent references of counsel and money given to this incorrigible Archie.  Mary Jane eked out some sort of existence in Cape Town and kept up a desultory correspondence with her former employer in Grahamstown.

"Poor Maggie is awfully cast down about my leaving and I feel extremely low spirited myself, tho' it is but a temporary separation.  On the voyage to Port Elizabeth, felt sick all the time and took nothing whatever to eat or drink.  The boys are all right."

There follows a description of a week's journey by cart from Port Elizabeth to Grahams-town, which has in it nothing of interest, apart from the necessary hardships of the under-taking except a note of a meeting with Archdeacon Merriman, father of the late John X., at the Bushman's River. 

At first McDonald missed his dear Cape Town friends and felt strange and lonely amongst the new faces and it is probable that the anxiousness gnawing at his heart about Maggie and the children did not dispose him to foster fresh contacts readily.  But he was destined to remain with short intervals at the Cape for many years in Grahamstown and they proved to be the most active and happiest years of his life.

28^th June:  "Forgot to note on the 26^th that it was Hannah's birthday, and the boys, who insisted on it, had a good treat of cakes etc. at tea.  The little creature is now six."   From this we gather that the little creature had not long delayed in following her papa and brothers.  Her step-mother can be assumed not to have cared a jot about her and some kind friend must have brought her on the long journey to the father.

Maggie's conduct, in fact, becomes more and more unruly.  There are  letters from Mrs Jandrell admitting that she can do nothing with the impossible girl.  "Heard from M. that she has resolved to leave her mother's and has got a small place to herself.  Her mother is greatly annoyed and hurt at this, and I think it a foolish move…"

14^th July: "Suffering from toothache for the last week or so.  Last night I had no rest at all."   No.  Rest was to be out of the question for troubled months to come, as we shall see.

24^th July:  "My 33^rd Birthday.  Should be wiser and better at this time of life."

29^th July:  "No answers to my letters from M.  Spent a restless and feverish time of it all last night.  I am awfully anxious.  How can this be?"

How indeed….   The age-long interrogation of the good on the torture rack of Fate.  Now for a surprise.  "Heard from M. who wishes to join me at once.  Advised her to do so in the September trip of the 'Natal'.   She insists on coming to the Frontier at all hazards.  Perhaps it is as well.  But by the same mail there is a letter from Mr Jandrell.  He has mentioned some matters about M. which are exceedingly painful, and I am beginning to lose hope.  Heard also from Mrs Jandrell  –  news most unfavourable and painful.  All these things make me intolerably unhappy."  We can read between the lines that Maggie was a fickle jade.  Urged by her parents she had married McDonald "for a lark" and for the gratification to her vanity of having an officer as a husband.  She was "carrying on" now to such a degree that even her parents were obliged to tell her husband.  Her behaviour in this crisis was not that of a stern and unforgiving puritan. 

Deceitful as was the conduct of his wife, he never calls her by the awful (in those days) name that she deserved, an adulteress.  Rather are the reproaches aimed at his own conscience. 

16^th August: "Heard today from M.  She says she wishes our connection to cease.  Foolish girl.  She is badly advised by evil and designing persons.   Wrote to M, very seriously and plainly, for I cannot stand these things any longer.   No sleep at all last night.  The boys are somewhat surprised at my wretched and mopish manner, but have no idea of the cause."   A fortnight later:  "No rest at nights till my eyes are sore and bloodshot, which makes people take notice that something is wrong.  However, I keep these matters to myself and try to do and bear them alone…    My heart sinks under the many harassing thoughts that oppress me and seems as if it would really burst.   Never experienced anything to be com-pared to this."

4^th October:  "Second anniversary of my wedding which has unfortunately brought much unhappiness with it."   7^th October:  "Letters from Mrs Jandrell and M. and to my great surprise the latter leaves Cape Town today in the 'Natal' for Algoa Bay.  This sudden move takes me unawares and gives me no time to prepare.  Must start by the first opportunity for the Bay in Stubb's Cart."

Stubb's Cart, with its worried passenger, left Grahamstown on the 9^th and arrived at the Bay on the 11^th, where Maggie had already disembarked and was lodged in the Union Hotel. "After all that had passed, our meeting was a happy one on both sides."  Old Nature, it seems, forced a truce, but it was an exceedingly short one.

13^th October:  "Since meeting M. she insists on returning to Cape Town again to settle some business."  What business the tactful husband would not enquire. "I strongly opposed such an absurd notion, and at last prevailed upon her to relinquish it."

A cottage had been hurriedly prepared for the re-united couple.  Indeed, "Colonel Carey had been so kind and thoughtful as to order a fine dinner for us by the time we would arrive.  After dinner we went to see Mrs Hay who had charge of the children in my absence, and on the way to the Prayer Meeting in Trinity Church"  –  which he doubtless hoped would have an exalting effect upon the soul of the erring woman beside him.  But, real conciliation was impossible.

After only a few days spent in the new home her husband had made for her, "M, speaking again of returning to Cape Town.  All arguments and inducements to remain seem to be in vain.  As she positively insists, I got her a seat in Stubb's Cart, and she has gone…  This work has crushed my spirit again and I am out and out unhappy and miserable.   Mr Hunt brought me a bill for a quantity of articles purchased by M. at his shop.  Rather a disagree-able and startling piece of news.  Suspicious letters from the Cape…   See through the whole affair….  base doings….  did not expect these troubles were coming upon me."

Despite the clearest proofs of unfaithfulness to him, and the shameless exploitation of his generous forgiving nature, the dismayed young man was still ready to take back the un-deserving hussy to his bosom.  His infatuation lasted until the bitter end, until 25^th Nov.  "A letter from M., but what an announcement she makes.  Let me commit no more to writing.  'Tis a black, killing letter, with harrowing contents.  But I must write no more and only bear this crushing grief as I best can."

In this black killing letter Maggie must have told him of her intention never to return to him, perhaps of her affection (if she was capable of affection) for another.  Nevertheless, 30^th November:  "Wrote to M. but avoided harsh upbraiding, for this would serve no useful purpose and only make both all the more miserable."

During this painful interlude of marriage with a Messalina, the sweet and gentle nature of McDonald shone its brightest.  There was nothing of the harsh ranter about his religion, as in the case of Milton, the Christian Faith hung like a sombre mantle on shoulders ever erect and squared to the vexation of life.  And the mantle of Faith was not altogether dark and saddening, as it was amongst so many of his Highland forbears from whom he took it over almost in detail, for a gay and sunny temperament had seen to the weaving of some bright threads in the gloomiest folds of doctrine.  Hell had no terrors for him, for although he never expressly repudiates belief in this country, he certainly never affirms it.  We can be quite sure that time left no rancour in his heart for Maggie.  Pity, yes, perhaps mingled with traces of remorse at such a foredoomed union. 

Months elapsed before he took legal steps to conclude it.  About a year later he records:  "Had letter from Mary Jane today and the news of M. quite knocks me up.  I must at once resort to measures I have been for some time contemplating."  A divorce suit resulted, a tremendous calamity in those prude Victorian days, and we learn nothing more of Maggie in the Diary until a note is made of her marriage to one Jones, with whom he cannot with-hold an expression of compassion upon such as alliance.  We can afford to be indulgent to the memory of the hapless Margaret and hope that she was happier with her Jones.

Like all the subjects of this sketch, she has vanished, as we too will vanish and, "left not a wrack behind".  We have still to accompany the pious officer through some happier years before we part from him forever.

24/7/1857:  "My 38^th Birthday".

19^th August:  "Read my Essay on 'Oscine's Poems'.   I made it rather long which much displeased me."

7^th September:  "Rev. Green has an excellent voice but his manner is not agreeable.  There is too much motion of the hands and not of a graceful kind."   Evidence here that the spectacle of worship was not above the notice of McDonald's artistic observation.  "Bought 'History of Highlands' and 'Highland Clans',  50/-….  I was tempted to buy  –  always very extravagant in books."

18^th October:  "Received a long letter from William (brother in Scotland).  Somehow it has been a long time in coming being dated 18^th May."  Rather different to our present Air-mail service.  "William got bitten by a monkey…  not at church on account of his hand.  He had no rest all last night and still complains and cries.   My paper on the 'Polarization of Light' appeared in today's Journal.  Spent last evening at Tudhope's where we had a long and tough conversation on the merits of Teetotalism."   This cause was to occupy a lot of McDonald's attention in the future.

Enthusiasts banded together and financed a paper called 'The Social Reformer',  previously alluded to, of which McDonald was the Editor.  The paper ran for some years until McDonald left Grahamstown, when it languished and died for lack of his talent and enterprise.  Although the editorials and tales with morals were devoted to Teetotalism, the Social Reformer in the hands of its energetic Editor was much more besides.  A few faded issues of the paper are before me and they betray a wide range of interests in the mind of the Editor.  There are from his pen, poems, articles, dealing with scientific research and literature, problems in mathematics, reports of lectures on all kinds of topics, and interesting reprints dealing with the lives and work of the Great Victorians.  The issue dealing with the relinquishment of his editorship is full of glowing tributes from colleagues to his talent, ability and charm.  A special portrait was made of him of which 300 copies were distributed amongst his many and sincere admirers. 

Let me cite a paragraph connected with his work in the Library, 'Scientific and Medical Society':  "He was ever ready for work whether it was the reading of a paper, the delivery of a lecture, conducting an object class, or acting as cicerone to juvenile parties visiting the museum."  Amongst the documents of this period is a letter from an interesting old book-seller in Cape Town by the name of Sammons, which has an amusing postscript:  "There is a correspondent of your paper who writes Temperance Chapters under the signature of 'John H. Chilton'.  He was intemperate enough to leave the Cape without paying me.  Will you have the kindness to find his whereabouts and try and get the money, 18/-.   Have the kindness to say that not hearing from him, I have deputed you to receive it, with my respectful compliments, for he is a courteous gentleman."   This bookseller had been a writer as well as a seller of books and he was the friend and correspondent of Tom Hood, the poet, and George Cruikshank, the famous caricaturist and illustrator of Dickens.

31/1/57:  "Received a long letter from Mr Maclear, Astronomer Royal, in which he has given me much information on certain points of Meteorology.  He expresses himself as being pleased with the observations I sent him.   Finished last night the reading of another volume of 'Hood's Poems', those of a more solemn and serious cast.  Some of them are inimitable for pathos and as showing deep penetration into the miseries and wretchedness of the lower and poorer classes."  

Of Tennyson, then at the threshold of fame, he writes,  "There is a great similarity in his pieces to those of Wordsworth, but I think on the whole Wordsworth's are much superior."  Posterity confirms this judgement, although it opines that it is rather shocking of a pious Victorian to pour such unqualified praise on Wordsworth, a hypocrite who conveniently forgot in his heyday that he had begotten an illegitimate daughter in France.  Probably McDonald had never heard of this scandal.

Poor Laurence Sterne comes in for a scolding. "Finished reading Stern's 'Sentimental Journey'.  It contains many photographs of great elegance and exquisite beauty and pathos such as have been so frequently quoted.  There are also some short apostrophes of striking beauty.  In the midst of all this, however, there is much that is exceedingly injurious to good morals throughout the book.  Matters that are both immoral and indecent are clothed in language in which their repulsiveness is hidden, and the meaning and tendency are unmistakable by even the most cursory reader.  One might tolerate a work of this character from a mere novelist or romanticist;  but coming from a clergyman it is disgraceful.  One shudders at the idea of being taught in high and holy things by such a worthless and unfit teacher, but there are many kindred spirits in the Church to which Sterne belonged, which makes one wonder the less that there is such a meagre amount of gospel religion amongst them…  all being trifling ceremony and external show."

Well, one shudders at the idea of many present-day works, not even clothed in a decent obscurity, which might have come into our hero's hands had he been alive.  Readers will note the 'to us'  rather unctuous references to the "lower and poorer classes" and the characteristic Victorian insistence on a moral in a work of art in the criticism of Sterne. Such attitudes are of merely archaic interest to the intelligent of this generation.  In those respects McDonald was the creature of his environment.  Here is a well written description of an eloquent Grahamstown minister…  "Went to hear Mr Guard.  He is a pleasing and eloquent preacher but wants solemnity and substance.  The prevailing characteristics of his discussions are beauty and felicity of imagery and expression, and graceful gesticulation. His views are neither deep nor original and he is carried away with his subject so that he makes a fearful noise with his loud harsh voice and pounding of the Bible…  then he speaks so rapidly in those flights that it is difficult to follow him."

The number of those who have heard the sermon's horrid sound is dwindling, but in my tender youth I remember to have listened to it here and there in the nonconformist pulpit.  The species of declaimer is now almost extinct, and for this McDonald would have been thankful.  But men of ability are rare in the Church compared with his day, "Significant of Much" as Carlyle used to say. 

The mention of Carlyle reminds me that there are numerous references in the Diary to the works of this writer, who appears to have exercised much influence on McDonald's thought.  He was the most conscientious of readers, and whatever he read he absorbed and estimated the value of in notes written with the greatest care.  This sketch would swell to a volume were I to attempt to copy even a fraction of the notes that are before me and these are only a portion of much besides which time and carelessness have irrevocably lost to us.  I believe that the author of the notes would not have been concerned about the neglect of prosterity. He wrote primarily for self-improvement and recreation and was extremely modest about his literary skill.  He was what we vulgarly call a great 'stop-out'.  Only when indisposed did he go to bed at nights before the early hours, and nothing tempted him from the self-imposed duty of writing up his notes and diary, often after a heavy evening spent in social service.  Of the practice of reading he says, "Periodicals are useful in their way, and serve a very useful purpose when properly used, but they were never intended as a substitute for the heavier volume;  and whoever makes them such, and expects to possess a well stocked mind, is labouring under a certain delusion, is pursuing a practice that may leave his heart sound enough, but that is assuredly transforming his head into timber.  One work, of any good author well read and thought over, will make a more profitable impression on the mind than all the weeklies, monthlies and quarterlies of a year.  Don't be afraid to read a book merely because it opposes your own personal prejudices.   This is cowardly;  it warps and cramps the mind…  it shuts up our sympathies and crushes our charities…  it makes us unamiable.  When the opposition comes from a manly, rational and candid pen, then hear what is said…  follow your own judgement and judge charitably and just as you would yourself be judged."   A wholesome lesson here for these times of rabid newspapers and bitter political prejudices.  Let the reader search his or her own conscience.

The following are some of the early Grahamstown period:  "The Temperance Society held a social Tea Meeting which a large number of people attended.  I was kept up rather late, in fact, we are growing intemperate in our temperance."

"Letter from mother.  She tells me father arrived from Namaqualand and, as usual, he is in great complicated difficulties.  I believe he shall never be out of such troubles, for as soon as he gets possession of money he spends it in the most extravagant way, often absurdly."  This refers to the parents of his first wife, and sheds a little light on their mode of living.  Old Brooksbanks was evidently a wandering adventurer not fond of hard work, and here again must have existed a further drain on McDonald's slender resources.

"I find that poor F. is no more.  I thought the last time I saw him that he was not far from his end.  Poor fellow.  I fear his end was not a happy one.  He lived an honourable, upright and trustworthy life, but without the least regard for religion, which he called 'rank hypocrisy' and seemed to have little or no faith in the Bible."   McDonald did not believe that an unbeliever could die with resignation and dignity.  In fact few, even the hopelessly incurable, die happily.  His own tragic and premature end in Zululand can hardly be de-scribed as a happy one.

A new chapter of romance had opened for our Lieutenant (for as such he now ranked).  Nineteen year old Emily Diamond, a tiny vivacious and intelligent girl of strictly pious and orthodox habits, had come out from Scotland to act as a companion to her Uncle and Aunt, Mr & Mrs Mackenzie.  I dimly remember her as a little old lady in a white cap and black Victorian bodice holding views pronounced enough to make her not exactly easy to get on with.  To my childish eyes she was rather a forbidding old lady, but then she was in the period of her long bleak widowhood.  She bore her husband 6 sons and 2 daughters and lived with him in unbroken harmony.

Like Queen Victoria, whom she resembled, Emily never got over the shock of her bereavement, for she had loved and adored her husband with all the strength of a grave and earnest woman's heart.   It is comforting for us to remember that McDonald enjoyed this blessing, for had he not undergone sore travail?.

Let us glance at his account of the ripening of this romance  –

19/4/1856:  "Had an answer from Miss Diamond which has put me into a state of anxious and painful excitement."   Here, it will be noted, is the same urgent lover who wooed Maggie Jandrell. "I was quite surprised at some of her scruples which are groundless in the extreme and rejected by the great majority of professing Christians.  However, I have no right to find fault with her conscientious convictions.  I must not attempt to describe my present feelings."   These were feelings of deep mortification, we may be sure, but scrupulous little Emily must be forgiven for hesitating to accept the addresses of a divorced man, however ardent her own sentiments might be and however welcome his proposal.  "Last night I wrote a very long letter to Miss D. principally justifying myself for holding the sentiments I entertained with reference to herself."

"Met Miss D. this afternoon and walked home with her.  Sorry to hear so unfavourable a state of the reception of my letter by her uncle and aunt.  This puts me into a shocking state of confusion."

However, faint heart never won fair lady, so a letter of exculpation was dispatched to stubborn Uncle Mackenzie, but….  "Received an answer from Mr Mackenzie and, as I had been led to expect, a very unfavourable one, and written in a very ungentlemanly spirit…  it was quite uncalled for by my letter to him.   Of course, this settles the question with regard to the uncle and aunt and it has thrown me into a state bordering on delirium.  I must now have a serious talk with Emily and say what I think should be done and then ascertain what she thinks would be the best."

Emily was torn with conflict between the claims of respectability and affection.   Mean-while, the love-sick suitor records:  "I have had a fearful time of it last evening and I feel now in a state that baffles description.  About half past 4 o'clock I saw Emily in the street and hurried after her, but I could barely overtake her she walked so fast.  A few words passed…  they were very, very few.  She begged me not to mention the subject lately spoken of between us, as she would now be watched.  So I bade her 'Good Evening' and thus we parted.  I have not been well treated in this matter at all and I was quite unprepared for the resolution Miss D. seems to have taken.  It has greatly upset me, but perhaps all these things may work for good.  Let me hope so."

Later:  "I did not get ten minutes sleep all last night, I feel so much excited from having seen Emily in the Museum and hearing of the interest she took in my portrait in Atkins".  Emily, artful little minx, had aroused dying hopes.  "I did not go to bed till about 2 a.m. and then did not sleep any the whole night.  I feel therefore very unwell today."

At long last the Mackenzies grudgingly yielded to the pleadings of the lovers.  "I have for some time past visited at Mackenzies every afternoon.  I manage somehow to find time for this additional tax on my day's routine…  so well I may too as this is the pleasantest portion of my time."  Aunt Mackenzie was rather a trial though.  "My poor dear little Emily felt much annoyed today through some of her aunt's capricious whims.  I do feel so deeply that she is subject to these things and fondly hope that circumstances may conspire to hasten to the day when she will leave her present most ungenial and uncomfortable home."

"I hear from Emily that her aunt does not relish my calling so frequently.  I never met such a changeful minded woman.  However, she shall not have cause for such complaint in future." There are limits to a proud lover's toleration of an insinuating aunt.  He deliberate-ly absented himself for a cruelly long period, nearly a whole week.  "I did not call at Mackenzie's since Monday last, and I have felt quite uneasy through the week.  I had intended to call this afternoon.  This morning Emily sent a note giving me a sound scolding for not having called and saying I must do so today…  or else…   what would she not think?  I was both amused and grieved at the earnest and grave tone of the note.  So I went over a little after 4 o'clock and found them all in the very best of temper."

At this point the Mackenzies must have changed their tactics of obstruction and affairs progressed comparatively smoothly to a happy conclusion.  Comparatively, I say, for there was a rival to Emily for McDonald's hand:  "I received a note from S.B. which struck me as rather curious, for she said she had a very particular message for me and would be glad to see me for a few minutes in the evening.  I accordingly carried out her wishes and called about 6 o'clock.  She appeared in a very dejected mood, with a sad looking face.  After being seated for a short time, she said she had just heard that I was paying attentions to a young woman, and earnestly desired to know if this was true.  I said, yes, it was the case.  And, continued she…  almost suffocated with the words 'are you going to be married?'   I said, that was not definitely decided on, but it was of course likely.  She then endeavoured to say that she hoped I would be happy and that the woman I was to make my wife would love me as I deserved and be kind to my children. 

"After stammering out in some such way these words, she burst into a bitter fit of weeping, and wished to God she might die this evening, saying that now she had nothing to live for and many other expressions of a similar kind.  I did not know what to do, but when the first paroxysm subsided I told her she ought to have more sense than allow her feelings to over-come her in that way, and so forth.  However, she went on weeping in such a bitter manner and saying so many strange things, that I thought Hysteria would follow.  Thinking that it would be best to quit such a painful scene, I rose and bade her 'Good Evening', telling her she should compose herself.  She told me it was easy for me to say so, but the case was not so on her part.  She then hurried away to another room and I left, with a saddened and gloomy mind.  I am truly sorry that such a thing should occur and that any young woman should be so indiscreet as to cherish hopes and feelings which had not the least shadow of encouragement from me.  I esteemed S.B. as a highly respectable and pious lady, and as a very old acquaintance, but I certainly had no idea of making love to her, nor have I given her any reason whatever to think so. 

"However, this will wear off in time, and as she intends to leave town very soon now, she will meet other faces and forget mine.  May God give her grace to overcome everything in which she has so injudiciously indulged, and soon may her peace of mind be restored and her wounded feelings become calm and composed."

Isn't this like a scene from a novel by Jane Austen?  I trust I am not doing the character of McDonald an injustice by retaining a vestige of suspicion that he was not sufficiently conscious of the magnetism of his personality when cultivating the society of pious and respectable young ladies.  And who says that Victorian girls were all a crowd of simpering and timid misses…  ?

10/7/1858:  "Bought the ring for Emily!"  The personal note rarely obtrudes in the Diary after McDonald's marriage with Miss Diamond.  He was now joyfully united with a lady who fully shared his interests and would have gone to Church with him a dozen times a day had he so wished.  Many years of congenial activity followed during which children were born.  William obtained a situation in the Cape of Good Hope Bank, and Alick, after serving an apprenticeship with an apothecary and a short term in the Post Office, went into commerce in Port Elizabeth.

Brother William and the old mother in the Highlands died, but sister Catherine survived him to a ripe old age.  Hannah grew up and married a Mr Birnie, after energetically re-fusing a match made her by her father and stepmother with a Mr Bompas.  A large young family inevitably meant money difficulties which the two eldest sons took a pride in relieving whenever they could afford to do so.

Like most of those who are conscientious and of a proud and independent nature McDonald was shamefully exploited by the authorities.  He performed his official duties with superb efficiency but promotion was denied to him because he refrained from following the custom of intriguing for what he knew full well were his just deserts.  I will now attempt to give a short outline of the last years of this loving life.  In an appendix will be found copies of other interesting notes he made in the course of his reading.

In the early seventies McDonald was transferred to Cape Town, the troubles with the Amaxosas at the Frontier having been finally settled.  His departure was deplored by the wide circle of friends he had made, but the pulpit of Trinity Church from which he had so often communed with the Faithful was never to hold his gracious and persuasive presence again.  The place called Grahamstown was to see him no more.

On arrival at Cape Town he found the visit of Prince Alfred making a great stir.  "Looked in at the 99^th Regiment Ball….   a most brilliant and imposing affair….  the place was profusely decorated and there was the great luxury to the dancers in the shape of punkhahs, which were kept in motion by relays of soldiers.  I stayed to supper for the sake of the presence of the Prince, who most thoroughly enjoyed himself."

"Eclipse of the sun this afternoon.  Had not thought of it and was quite surprised at the peculiarly dark ominous appearance of the sky, as if a storm was brewing.  The light of the sun gave a leaden hue to surrounding objects and the general aspect of things was ghastly."

Hannah's wedding to Birnie is noted:   "Quite forgot to note a few days ago that we at last received a lump of Hannah's wedding cake, and Emmy and I enjoyed it very much, accompanied by a bottle of champagne indulged in for the occasion."   Was this an aberration on the part of these usually steadfast advocates of temperance?  If so, Hannah's joy was to blame.

"The rejoicings of the Queen's Birthday were held today so there was an opportunity of wearing my cocked hat, to the great merriment of the children.   Had baby baptized…  called him Duncan Munro…   the former a name in my father's family and the latter my mother's maiden name."

He was not long in Cape Town.  Did he visit Hannah's grave, one wonders?   An order came for his return to England.  We next find him installed at the Royal Woolwich Arsenal, as full of zeal for good works as ever!

20/5/1876:  "Changed my socks for the summer.  During the month have been reading among other things the 'Tragedies of Sophocles', a copy of which I picked up in an old bookshop."  (How the old London bookshops must have delighted his heart). "They are extremely interesting reading and throw  a light on the ancient modes of thought."

Church interests, as usual, predominate.  "Took the childrens' service in the Chapel, Plumstead, this evening….   a large number there, but a rough lot."   But his second love, literature, was by no means neglected:  "At the Literary Society this evening a paper was read by Mr C. on the 'Times and Works of Shakespeare'.   Poor C. has no knowledge whatever of grammar and, as might have been expected, made a great number of most ridiculous blunders and excited many a hearty laugh.  It won't do to have lectures of his stamp."

At the Arsenal he was Honorary Secretary of the Soldier's Central Widows Fund, and the great city afforded many opportunities for exercise of the Christian duty of visiting the poor and the afflicted.  "Called this evening to see Sgt. Major Adams who looked very ill indeed.  He could not speak much and expressed a regret that he could not read, so I offered to do so for him, with which he seemed much pleased.  I read the 90^th and the 103^rd Psalms and endeavoured to offer a few remarks upon these beautiful passages of Scripture.  I then asked him whether he would like me to pray, and he faintly replied:  'If you like to do so, Sir'.   I therefore engaged in prayer for a few minutes and then left.  When I took his hand to say good evening he pressed me warmly and cordially and thanked me repeatedly for coming to see him."

There was, of course, much sightseeing to do after all those years away from Home.  As soon as he could arrange it he visited Scotland, and Emmy and the children went to see her father and mother who lived in Exeter.  "It was good to see the old Highland home again.  In the afternoon went to the Sunday Sabbath School where I had been both a scholar and a teacher in days of yore.  We drove to Ardross where we had a real picnic tiffin under the widely spreading boughs of a giant beech."   In Edinburgh he met his brother-in-law McInroy, now a widower.  "Had not seen him for about 33 years, so of course we both were very much changed.  McInroy had almost forgotten the roistering Cape Town days of his early manhood and appears to have subsided into a condition of querulous and stodgy middle-agedness."

There is a letter to McDonald welcoming the latter back to Scotland, full of complaints about the dullness of business.  The envelope bears the Athol crest, but his was evidently a case of faded gentility.  I have not been able to trace what sort of business he was struggling in.  McDonald was not interested enough in him (?) to tell us.

The religious atmosphere in which McDonald found himself in England was vulgar com-pared to that he had become used to in the Cape.  There he had worshipped God in the select company of individuals akin to himself, elegant, entertaining and of careful behaviour and speech.  In Britain lots had happened since he had left it as a youth.  The working masses were reaping the privilege of elementary education and all sorts of men of the people were saying very unkind things of good well-fed Christians of the higher orders who came to exhort and advise them in their irredeemable poverty.  Furthermore, the work of the great "infidels" which McDonald had laboriously explained away to his own satisfaction, had wrought havoc among the poorer classes.

There was Charles Bradlaugh challenging in public a horrified House of Commons for the right of an atheist to be treated as a normal human being.  And Charles Darwin, that absurd monkey-theorist, had actually been acclaimed by the world as one of England's most illustrious scientists.  Nothing is said of all this in McDonald's papers.  In common with Mr Gladstone, he rested on the Impregnable Rock of Holy Scripture, but, remembering his advice to read books of opposing views, the great controversy must have worried him a great deal.  Amongst his papers are exercise and pocket books filled with reflections written in a clear, fluent style justifying the doctrines of Presbyterian orthodoxy to his own intellectual conscience. 

He was a man who had never stopped learning for it was the passion of his life, and had he lived to enjoy the leisure for doing so, it is possible that the rigidity of belief he clung to might in time have been changed to a cautious acceptance of the results of modern biblical criticism.  As it was, church-going had to be something more for him than rather dismal audience with the Creator.  He looked for a social event whereby the soul might be thrilled and inspired in addition to being redeemed.  He found this in the Presbyterian Conventicles in South Africa with their elegant and eloquent ministers and their congregations made up for the most part from the military, the professions, and the prosperous trades people.  And there were always the natives upon whose humble and necessarily prostrate heads the brimming cup of Christian charity could conveniently be emptied.

5/8/1877:  "Went to Dunottar Parish Church where we had a good sermon, but the whole church, its surroundings and the service were awfully and painfully slow.  The singing was extremely poor.  Glasgow:  Took Gospel Address in the Mission Room.  A rough noisy lot.  I have little hope of anything being done with them."

The short holiday in Scotland was marred by annoying bouts of indisposition –

14/8/1877:  "After being about half an hour in the train to London, felt quite squeamish and was unwell all the way.  Fortunately had a whole seat to myself which enabled me to lie down, which I did mostly the whole day.  It took some time to recover from the exhaustion caused by the journey."   18^th August:  "Quite bad with severe cold.  Hardly any sleep last night…  stayed at home."

There were the usual troubles with the baby.   Sutherland, Malcolm and Norman were still small boys and contributed their quota of anxiety.  The eldest daughter by Emmy, called after her mother, was making a name for herself in pianoforte playing and was shortly to marry Mr McColl and relieve the drain on the family purse.

10/10/1877:  "Distribution of prizes to Pope's Service classes in Alexandra Hall, General Gordon in the chair…   Moved a vote of thanks."  It is interesting to know that he met this famous Victorian with whom he had so much in common.  Luxury steamships are now in the picture.  29^th October:  "To docks to see the Thompsons away to Cape.  They go by the splendid steamer 'Dunrobin Castle'."

8^th November:  "To London to hear Spurgeon in the Tabernacle preach the sermon to Sabbath School Teachers."   Another famous Victorian, whose admonitory voice has become faint at last.  

An uncle dies: "Heard that poor old uncle Goddard died on Monday evening.  Funeral in Highgate Cemetery."

19/2/1878:  "Today took Flora, Norman and Duncan to Madame Tussauds, and of course they were highly delighted with all they saw."

9^th March:  "To London to Officer's Prayer Meeting…  A meeting I always very much enjoy."   Is religion still strong enough in the British Army to support an Officer's Prayer Meeting?

On the 1^st April 1878, McDonald was gazetted a Captain in Her Majesty's Paymaster Forces.  Since his return to England he had been engaged in easy and nondescript duties at the Arsenal.  The promotion, with its increased pay, was the occasion of great family rejoicing.  "New commission comes into force now, for which I cannot feel too grateful.  Long have I yearned and prayed for means of keeping body and soul together, but never expected it was to come as it has done."

Unfortunately petty ailments kept recurring.   20^th April:  "Had a bad night with earache and restlessness.  In bed all day."  But still the promptings of unflagging zeal urged the tired body to labours for Christ.  There were Synods to be attended and meetings of the executive of the young Y.M.C.A. of which body he was a vice-president. 

He was not far off from his 60^th year and could surely hope for more leisure to devote to the causes he loved so well.   1^st July:  "Have commenced shaving again, there being a probability of my being transferred to the District in a few months when I would have to do away with the beard."   The day of the bearded warrior, so characteristically Victorian, was over.

4/9/1878:  "A fearful accident on the Thames last night, some 700 people drowned.  Town in great commotion, but bodies have all been taken to the Dockyard and this brings the crowds to that district.  Passed through a shed today where there were about 60 or 70 bodies….  a fearfully ghastly sight."

The newly encouraged family was not to enjoy calm for long.   27^th September:  "Quite un-settled lately by a warning that I am first for Foreign Service.  It appears that Mauritius and Barbados are vacant, and if I must go I have chosen the former."  He evidently did not care about returning to the West Indies where he was as a young soldier.  Fate, however, intended him for another destiny.  The conflict with the Zulus under the turbulent Getawayo  was giving more trouble than had been anticipated and it was to be expected that the military authorities would seize upon all officers with colonial experience for active service in the threatened territory.

8^th October:  "The Accountant General wants me to leave for Natal almost at once.  Of course this throws us into a sad state of mind.  On reaching home I met Emmy at the door going to the Meeting at Mr Balgarnie's, and we went on together, but had both to leave and get home again before the service was half through, being so unwell…. "

9^th October:  "Have had hardly any sleep all night, the anxiety and perplexity of this sudden move prayed so much on my mind."  He must have been told that the move to South Africa would be permanent, and it was, therefore impossible to think of leaving his wife and little children in England.

11^th October:  "To London to see Donald Currie about the passage.  To cost ₤216.   They are willing to take a Bill on Alick for ₤100 if I pay another ₤100 here.  Things looking very gloomy indeed…."  To us the action of the Military authorities in ordering a man of his age and circumstances to break up home and proceed to a distant land at less than a month's notice seems heartless in the extreme.  I cannot help thinking that the bureaucrats of the War Office shamelessly imposed upon his loyal and honourable nature, and that had he protested his situation, he would have succeeded in obtaining more humane consideration. 

The man who left England for Zululand was a partially ailing man, unfitted to withstand the rigours of a campaign.  In the whole length of the Diary, mention is never made of a holiday relieved of care and responsibility and nature was revolting at length at this constant driving.

25^th October:  "Large Tea Meeting to enable me to take farewell of the congregation. Many presents and many flattering and kind addresses made.  I could hardly say anything.   Presented with a very nice Bible and purse with 27 sovereigns.  Painful ordeal in taking fare-well of the children and teachers.  Many of them wept freely."   Even in the short time he had spent in England, he had become deeply and widely loved.  After tearful and affecting partings, the steamer bearing the McDonalds pursued a mercifully tranquil course to the Cape.  Nevertheless, McDonald and his wife were frequently ill, but the children escaped the ravages of seasickness.  "There was fun on the Line with 'Neptune' and his followers, and the amount of ducking and shaving was quite refreshing."

Arriving at Cape Town, he reported at the Castle, then 28^th November:  "Today came the time which poor Emmy has been so much dreading.  By unavoidable arrangement I have to go on with the 'Melrose' which sails for Natal this afternoon, and leave the family to go on to Port Elizabeth on Saturday next.  About 3 p.m. Emmy and I took a cab to the Docks.  After seeing that the start of the ship would be postponed, Emmy thought it would be best not to wait, so we very sorrowfully and painfully parted.  She felt it very much and so did I, but thought it best not to give way, for her sake.  She returned with a very depressed heart, but I trust that her care for the children and the bustle that must entail, will engage her mind so that she shall not brood over the separation too much."   Emmy was never to see her husband again….

With stops at Port Elizabeth and East London, McDonald eventually reached Durban.  At Port Elizabeth he writes:  "Reached P.E. about 7 p.m. and William, Alick, Birnie, Hannah and Lexy came on board and found me actually knocking about the deck.  They stayed about an hour and we had a very welcome and hearty chat together."

In Durban, where he at once hunted out the good Church folks, he put up at the Belgrave House Hotel and expressed a hope that he should be permitted to make the place his head-quarters, but alarm about the menace of the Zulus, already proved in several severe and not always successful encounters, hastened his departure for the Front.  On the eve of setting out, he complains: "Very seedy all last night and today…   stomach quite out of order and I am altogether as weak as possible.  Called at the Apothecary's and got a draught of some-thing to settle my stomach.'

Newcastle was the objective, by train as far as Pinetown and the rest of the way by cart.  "Had a fearful drive up the long winding steep out of Pietermaritzburg.  The mud about knee deep and the horses barely able to drag the cart…   Drove as far as the Mooi River where we put up for the night.  Awfully tired and knocked up with the rough drive, for we not only had the disagreeable jolting in an overloaded cart, but had to walk up two or three steep hills as well."

It took nearly a fortnight of "tough going" in the most inclement weather, with bad food and roughly improvised accommodation at nights, before McDonald settled for a while at Utrecht.  "At the last drift the driver was careless and let one wheel get on the bank so that the cart capsized.  I noticed it tilting over and made a jump out, so got from under it as it fell, but hurt my hand and leg."

Work connected with the pay of the troops commenced at once and entailed many trips to Newcastle and back.  He mentions taking out of the Bank in Newcastle on one occasion ₤10,000 in gold and silver.

18/1/1879:  "News that a large band of Zulus were in the neighbourhood." 

23^rd Jan.: "Very sad news, that the 24^th Regiment and some others of the Helpmekaar Column have been murdered by the Zulus.  Very grave and ominous intelligence.  Think I had better go into the Lager tomorrow for security."  This is a reference to the now historic disaster of Isandlwana where a Column, under the command of Col. Durnford, was surprised and annihilated by 20,000 Zulus led by Getewayo.

12^th February:  "Letter from my dear Emmy, for which I am truly thankful."

Captain McDonald continued to live in an environment of scares and rumours and hard-ships more than his weakening condition could stand, but he stuck to his severe task working day and night, uncomplainingly.  Torrential rains fell.  "I have been over the ankles in clay and mud all week.  Blankets quite damp at night too."

14/3/1879:  "A severe attack of windy spasm or colic this evening."  There follows, in quickly succeeding entries, accounts of the slow and reluctant retreat of his vital powers.  The will to fight against death was tremendously strong, with the thought always of the anxious and loving waiting hearts in Port Elizabeth nerving him for the struggle.  "Spent a night of great agony, could hardly reach the Lager from dinner and then could not take off my clothes, but lay on the bed as I was all night.  Got no sleep and could have no rest whichever way I lay.  Rose between 5 and 6 and soon after walked up to the doctor who gave me a prescription for a dose of castor oil.  I then lay down in an easy chair all day.  In the afternoon he gave me another dose which purged me freely.  The pain in my side abated, but still very bad.  Last night the whole Camp aroused and alarmed by the firing of a gun, which is the signal for the approach of the Zulus."  After a great deal of bustle and excitement it was ascertained the gun was fired by a drunken sentry. "Express this evening to announce attack on a convoy of wagons and the murder of about 40 men of the 80^th Regiment."

30^th March:  "Good news from the Front.  The Zulus, flushed with their successes, attacked Col. Wood's Camp yesterday and were repulsed with great loss  –  a thorough defeat.  Several killed and  wounded on our side."

6^th May:  "Lord Chelmsford and Staff, including the Prince Imperial, came in this after-noon, so we had a merry time of it at dinner this evening.  His Lordship, a handsome and most affable man and the Prince, all smiles and courtesy."    (The poor smiling Prince Imperial of France was murdered a little later on, as we all know, in an ambush by the Zulus).

9^th May:  "Working all day and night.  Feel dreadfully seedy.  Almost forgot to note that I had a private letter from Lord Chelmsford telling me that my services here shall not fail of reward."   Church and praying were far away in the regions of peace.  How he yearned to be back there again….

26^th May:  "This evening commenced with a Bible reading class amongst the men.  Major Elliot and his men were present.  I have been greatly longing for some work of this kind and trust that it may be successful."  

7^th June:  "Another bad time all last night.  Today unable to work."  And, with all the suffering, the Central Widows Society in Woolwich was not overlooked.  "Sent cheque for ₤2.8.0. to London, my promised contribution to date to the Widow's Fund."  No tribulation that the President of the Immortals put upon His faithful servant could break that brave and proud heart.  Even his natural gaiety never altogether forsook him.

"At Miss Hutchinson's Wedding Breakfast.  About 16 there and a good supply of eatables furnished and plenty of champagne.  Bradshaw came in last night and made me drink off a pint bottle of champagne which has not done me great benefit.  Feel a little better, but very unwell and weak as possible.  How I long for the tender nursing of home…."

12^th July:  "Improvement sensible today, but very weak.  Doing some work again, though it is a great nuisance."   

21^st July:  "The decisive fight in the 'King's Kraal' on the 4^th has broken the neck of the War."   So he looked forward soon to rejoining his beloved Emily and catching up the threads of his broken health.

24/7/1879:  "My Birthday.  I believe I must be 59 now, though there is some doubt about the year of birth, whether 1821 or 1822.  Had a telegram from Port Elizabeth of congratulations. 

31^st July:  "At Zuitamans till late last night or rather early this morning.  An evening rather insipid, for these Dutch people think nothing of but dancing when they have a small gathering.  Suffered a good deal from indigestion during the latter half of the month.

I am now unable to take dinner, as it only involves a wakeful uneasy night.

13^th August:  "Started for Newcastle for specie….  and intend to remain here a few days.

15^th August:  "So weak that I can barely ramble about for half an hour…  Thought that my change here would prove beneficial, but not so.  Made up my mind that as soon as my Accounts, now a little in arrears, can be licked into shape, I shall apply to be relieved and endeavour to get some sick leave.  I am really nothing more or less than a mere invalid, for my strength is all gone for work.

"A letter from General Wood thanking me for all my work while under his command.  He tells me that, in a recent report to Lord Chelmsford, he has given me a meet of praise.  This is all gratifying, but what about my broken-down health…. ?"  An attack of African Fever came on top of everything and life gradually ebbed to a close.  He resolutely kept up his Diary until within a few hours of his end.  Very moving and touching it is to look at those final pathetic entries.  The firm and strong handwriting begins to scrawl and then there are mis-spellings and incoherencies.

Sadly and proudly, he died alone there, far from the loved ones who were praying for his welfare, sacrificing himself without an unmanly murmur for the glory of his Queen and Country.

When I had completed the loving labour of sorting out his papers for the purpose of com-piling this memoir, I found, written on a page of the little notebook he never lived to fill, and folded over as if in preparation for tearing out and dispatch, a heart-rending note addressed to Emmy.  She saw it only a long time after he had gone, with his papers which were sent on to her.

To me, it is one of the most sorrowful missives ever written.  Here it is:

         "Oh, my dear Emmy, I could not tell you what I have suffered since I wrote you last. 
God grant it may be the worst, and amendment is in store for me.  I have been better
since I reached Newcastle, and trust to a few days to enable me to go on.  I suppose
I can't leave here much under a fortnight, and then it takes about 6 or 7 days to reach Pietermaritzburg, and once there, surely there need be no great delay!"

This must have been one of the last notes he ever wrote.

FINIS

Written by his grandson, Eric Alexander McDonald
Johannesburg  –  1937.