ABSTRACT
I left Firle last Monday, January 8, and meeting Lord Wolseley at the Station, heard from him of the Boer attack on Ladysmith and Sir George White's 1 telegram ending ‘very hard pressed.’ Mercifully he succeeded at last in driving them back, but at great loss, and poor little May Hall's brother, Lewis, 2 is killed. I remarked to Lord W. that this was the first time the Boers had attacked us ‘Yes’ he said, ‘hitherto we have played their game, foolishly’, which I didn't think a remark for him to make.
