P. Davis & Sons, Printers and publishers, Editorial Department

Natal Witness Office, 24 Longmarket Street, Martizburg, 3 Oct 1881, Natal

My dear Mr Chesson,

I see you have been referring to the Natal Witness as an influential journal. You are quite right; but it has become very much more influential since I returned here.

The enclosed extract from the ‘Review of the Week’ in Saturday’s paper (1st Oct) will hardly lead you to alter your opinion. The truth is before I returned here, there was a young fellow acting as editor who simply accepted all that Mr Colenso told him without enquiry or … I don’t do so, though I have no doubt that the Bishop is animated by the very best intentions and motives.

The direct contradiction as to the matters of fact alluded to in the enclosed extract is worthy of your very serious attention and I cannot see how it can be to your interest to be wrongly informed. If you take this note to Lord Kimberley and show him the extract, I have little doubt he will be able to tell you something about it.

Believe me, yours truly,
Reginald Statham

F.W. Chesson Esq