Mr Woodford Leonard, of Johan nesburg, banister ab-law, who was promiuent ani^ng the Uitlandars at the iim6 of Dr Jameson's raid in 1896, is now in Melbourne, and has some interesting information to give with regard to the position there. Mr Leonard, who only left Johannesburg on the 17th ult., considers that the present juncture is extremely cubical Within the last few months an tifen. ' sive and defensive alliance was con cluded between the Orange Free State and the Transvaal, which naturally strengthens the Boers. Pre vious to the signing of that treaty the Boer effective force nuinbend not more than 16,000 men, while Presi dent Kruger can now command the service oi 14,000 addition*! troops i from the Orange Freu Sbate. la view of the possibility of mili tary operations being undertaken by England, it is to be noted that where^ <s in the former war British troopa could not march through the Free State, which was then neutral terri tory, that territory ia now avowedly hostile, and therefore open to invasion. Moreover, at the present time three separate lines of railway run to the Free State border, while 20 years »?o there was no railway within GOO miles of it. On the south-east border of the Free State is Basuboland, and the Baautoa have for a long time been a i horn in the Bide of the Free State Boers. The Basutop, who may b e ! calculated upon to rite agaimt the Free Staters at the first opportunity, ! Qumbtr about 15,000 tighcing men. I They are armed with modern wea pons, and aie a warlike race, being a branch of the Zulu tribo that has proved such a formidtble eneroy to England in times gone by. Mr L onard states bhe case for the Transvaal as against the English and Uitlander population aa follows: 'By he convections of 1881 and 18S1 England gave the Transvaal abaola be independence, sul jecb only to the re servation that treaties made with dtatea outside of Sooth Africa were liable to bo vetoed by England. The Boers are therefore free to do inside the limits of their state whatever acts are not forbidden by those convene dons. In terms of these convene tions the Boerß allow the British to come to their country and trade, and reside. THE BOOT QUESTION. 