Selected Despatches transcribed from CO48/49 at the National Archives in
Kew,
53
Copy of an application made by Mr. Benjamin MOODIE to
be allowed to participate in such advantages as are now granted to persons
conducting emigrants to the
February 11th
1820
Sir,
I
have the honour to submit through your medium to His Excellency the Governor’s
consideration the following circumstances, trusting that your knowledge of them
will enable you to elucidate the subject, and satisfied that His Excellency
will give it the attention he may deem it to merit.
At
the period when Emigration under my direction left England, His Majesty’s
Ministers had not decided on giving any encouragement to settlers in this
colony; subsequent, however, to the date of a memorial to which the above was
the substance of the answer received, I was informed that although I could
expect no immediate assistance my claim would be admitted for such advantages
as Ministers might afterwards be induced to offer to others. With a
recommendation therefore from Earl BATHURST to Lord Charles SOMERSET, I engaged
in an undertaking, the result of which has been the location of two hundred
persons of the most valuable description in this colony. The success of the
individuals composing this emigration has tended in a great measure to attract to
this quarter the attention of the public, and the colony at the Cape of Good
Hope promises not only to afford an asylum to many thousands of the distressed
at present but to rival America as a receptacle for the annual emigration that
must take place from a Society so far advanced in Civilization as that of Great
Britain. Government having at length turned its attention to the subject have
held out to those engaging in similar undertakings passages for their people
free of expence, to cover which Parliament have voted £50,000. Government have
also held out certain inducements in this colony to the person leading emigrations
to it. To be admitted to a proportional share in these advantages is the object
of my now soliciting the interference of His Excellency the Governor by
application in my behalf to His Majesty’s Ministers. As the first who engaged
in an undertaking fraught with so many advantages to the colony it may perhaps
also appear to His Excellency that my claims are entitled to some farther
consideration from the Colonial Government than those of such as may follow in
my footsteps, guided by my experience, particularly as the result will show
that many of my followers have amassed fortunes and all acquired competancies,
my circumstances have not been improved by it.
With
regard to the difficulties I have had to encounter, notwithstanding the
interest the Colonial Government took in them and the support it gave me, I
shall only say that as no legislative enactment could be effectual where there
is not a sufficient party to support it in the community, I derived no further
advantage from that Securing to Master the Services of their Apprentices than
those in the expression of the approbation of Government. But it was addressed
to a Society whose immediate interests as slave owners were opposed to it.
The
expence I incurred for the passage of my people from
I have the honor to be Sir,
Your most obed’t humble servant
(Signed)
Benj’n MOODIE
64
Despatch No.10
Government
House
March 26th
1820
My Lord,
I
have the honour of acquainting Your Lordship that the Nautilus and Chapman
Transports with settlers for this Colony arrived here on the 17th
instant and sail again this day for
It
would be premature in me to enter into any details on this subject just now. I
shall therefore only take the liberty of saying to Your Lordship that whatever
difficulties the settlers will have at first to encounter (and they will have
many) I feel a conviction that the measure of colonising South Africa will
ultimately succeed, and produce great and favourable results, both in regard to
this Colony and England, and this conviction strengthens as I consider the
subject, presuming as I do from the information I have been able to collect
that the numbers at first will not be too great.
Every
preliminary arrangement within my power for the reception of the settlers at
The Nautilus and Chapman on their arrival here were put into quarantine (as all
ships at present are in consequence of the fatal Epidemy at Mauritius and the
Smallpox at Bourbon) and would have been released as all ships coming from the
Westward immediately are, had not the Hooping Cough prevailed in the above
named two Transports; but as that disease has been very fatal here and is
exceedingly dreaded the quarantine has been continued in regard to the Nautilus and Chapman. This has given rise to many complaints on the part of the
settlers, some of which may possibly reach Your Lordship. I therefore have
thought it right to state the circumstances, as it is, that Your Lordship may
be aware that the application of the quarantine to the two transports was
unavoidable and the natural consequence of a general regulation already
established. The Directors, however, and some others under precautions, have
been allowed to land here and make their arrangements.
The
I
hope to be able to proceed myself to the Frontier by the middle of next month,
to superintend the location of the settlers, the majority of whom will I hope
have arrived and gone on from this place by that time and when I shall probably
be enabled to form a tolerable judgement as to the numbers of settlers to be
expected in all.
I
must not omit mentioning to Your Lordship that Captain MORESBY of the HM Ship Menai has in the handsomest manner
offered to accompany these settlers to Algoa Bay, there to superintend their
landing and to employ his carpenters and people generally in the construction
of sheds and other cover for their immediate accommodation, and to facilitate
the landing of stores and other matters. I have expressed my thanks to Captain MORESBY
and accepted his offer.
I have the honor to be, My Lord
Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant
R.S. DONKIN
PS
While closing this despatch the
68
Despatch No.11
Government
House
March 28th
1820
My Lord,
Since
closing the accompanying despatch I have received such a report from the Health
Officer, relative to the Northampton,
as has enabled me to relax the quarantine and to permit the Heads of Parties,
the Captain and a few other persons to land here under certain precautions, and
I am in expectation that the Northampton
will be able to proceed immediately to Algoa Bay with her stores and land them
and the settlers there without danger of infection to this Colony
I have the honor to be, My Lord
Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant
R.S. DONKIN
72
Despatch No.13
Government
House
April 24
1820
My Lord,
In my
despatch of the 26th March last (No.10) I had the honor of
acquainting Your Lordship that the first party of settlers in the Nautilus and Chapman Transports had arrived here.
These
vessels, as well as the Ocean, have
since reached
This
operation having now made a certain progress, I deem it my duty to put in
execution my former intention of going to the place of location and I shall
leave
The other
ships with settlers will be forwarded successively to
I have the
honor to enclose for Your Lordship’s information a plan of the ground already
located on the right bank and vicinity of the
I now beg
leave to state to Your Lordship my apprehension that if a very great number of
settlers is poured at once into the Zuurveld, the adjacent country will not be
able to furnish them with subsistence between this and the season when they may
be expected to reap their first crops, and a sudden aggregation of people on
one spot will cause other inconveniences, which as well as the fear of scarcity
may be removed by an occasional and timely drawing off of parties of settlers
to other districts of this Country, where they may be located with advantage to
the Colony and themselves.
Such a
diversion of the stream of colonization I have taken it on myself to make in
the instance of the Messrs. GRIFFITHS with a Party from
The spot I
have selected is about 40 miles east of this Town, on the banks of the
In obedience
to Your Lordship’s commands the 400 Scotch families coming out with Capt. GRANT
will be located separately. They will most probably be placed on the
I have it
further in contemplation to establish a Party on the Olifants River to the
northward of St.Helena Bay and another in Saetendal’s Valley, east of this town
and near the southern coast.
In making
these selections of place as well as in conducting the general arrangements I
have been most materially assisted by Colonel BIRD, the Colonial Secretary,
whose local information and active research after the resources applicable to
the occasion are entitled to my very particular acknowledgements.
I have
before mentioned to give Your Lordship my opinion as to the ultimate success of
this important measure of colonization and the more I contemplate and become
familiarized with it the more I am confirmed in
my persuasion that it will ultimately succeed. The agricultural and
commercial advantages which will accrue hereafter are subjects which Your
Lordship has so well weighed and anticipated that it would be presumptuous in
me to dilate upon them; but there is a consideration of a military nature which
from the habits of my life I may perhaps be permitted to touch on, which is the
security that will be given to this Colony by our having a Body of British
Militia in the Interior which, in case of invasion, would operate in such a
manner upon the rear of the invading force as to ensure, either by cutting off supplies
or by actual attack, the relief of Cape Town, and thus the whole military
system of defence and tenure of this Colony will be entirely and most
advantageously changed, for the Sovereignty of the Colony would not only not be
lost by the capture of Cape Town and its defences, but that capture itself
would be rendered if not impossible at least infinitely more difficult than it
has been. Moreover such a Militia as I am contemplating for some future period
would be a saving to the Mother Country by rendering a much smaller garrison
necessary than heretofore in time of war.
I anticipate
also by the introduction of British industry and enterprize the creation of a
Coasting Trade, which at present can scarcely be said to exist, and to the
encouragement of which I shall give my best endeavours.
I hope to be
able to make Your Lordship a favorable report of the location in the Zuurveld
on my arrival there, but I am prepared to hear many complaints and to find many
difficulties to encounter. Such as are removable shall be removed and I must
say that most of the Heads of Parties I have yet seen seem well disposed to
endure and make the best of such hardships as are unavoidable in such an
operation as is now going on.
I have the honor to be, My Lord
Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant
R.S. DONKIN
95
Copy
Spanish Reed
5 June 1820
To His Excellency Major General Sir Rufane Shaw DONKIN
KCB, Acting Governor of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, Commander in Chief
The Memorial of George MARTINSON
Humbly sheweth
That
Memorialist came to this Colony as a settler under the direction of Mr. CROSSE
[sic – should be CRAUSE], that in November last Memorialist went on board the Nautilus Transport to provide for and
make arrangements for the comfort of his family previous to their embarkation.
The vessel dropt down the river and, proceeding to sea, got on the Goodwin
Sands, that on the ship’s righting she finally proceeded to sea without
stopping either at the Downs or at
Memorialist
therefore humbly hopes Your Excellency will be pleased to forward this or what
other statement Your Excellency may judge requisite on an occasion of such a
nature to His Lordship the Earl BATHURST, Colonial Secretary, recommending
Memorialist’s case, and Memorialist thereby hopes again soon to feel the
enjoyments of life so much to be desired (that of again having his family with
him) and trusts that his wife and family who were so unfortunately left in
England will be sent to this Country.
Any
information or direction to his wife how to act will be gratefully received by
being addressed for Sarah MARTINSON to the care of T. PEMBERTON, Foreign Post
Office or to R. CALLOW,
(Signed)
George MARTINSON
121
Copy
Harewood
12 July 1820
To His Excellency Major General Sir Rufane Shaw DONKIN
KCB, Acting Governor of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, &c &c
The Petition of John BRAITHWAIT
Most humbly sheweth
That Petitioner came to this Colony as a settler, that
under peculiar circumstances was obliged to leave his wife & family behind,
she being then quite far gone in a state of pregnancy and enjoying at the same
time a very ill state of health, and no doctor being on board the vessel in
which Petitioner was ordered to embark, together with her timidity rendered
such a separation absolutely necessary, or Petitioner must ultimately have lost
the chance then offered by Government to emigrate to this Colony. Under these
cases Petitioner humbly hopes that Your Excellency will be pleased to intercede
with the Colonial Secretary in
(Signed)
John BRAITHWAIT
123
Copy
Blue Krantz
14 July 1820
To His Excellency Major General Sir Rufane Shaw DONKIN
KCB, Acting Governor of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, Commander in Chief
The Petition of Christopher ADCOCK
Most humbly sheweth
That Petitioner intends carrying on the trade of
Tallow Chandler to some extent to supply the settlers of the Colony with that
necessary article of consumption, candles, but that not having implements for
this purpose Petitioner humbly hopes that Your Excellency will be pleased to
forward his intentions to the Colonial Secretary in England requesting that the
necessary articles, which will be provided by Petitioner’s friends, may be sent
free of freight to this Colony. Petitioner’s brother, who will send out the
articles required, can be consulted on application to Mr. R.H. ADCOCK,
(Signed)
C. ADCOCK
142
Despatch No.23
Government
House
October 30
1820
My Lord,
Amongst
the settlers who have come out to this Country is a Mr. William PARKER from
Ireland, whose proceedings towards his followers and this Government have been
so marked by neglect and dishonesty towards the former, & by extravagant
and inadmissible demands on the latter, that I have been obliged to break up
his Party & to permit the individuals of it to choose their own Head, in
order to ensure their settlement and future maintenance.
I
should not have resorted to a measure of this nature had it not become my duty
to rescue the unfortunate persons who have trusted themselves to Mr. PARKER
from the misery into which they were rapidly sinking from his total neglect of
them and from his having finally abandoned them to come and reside at a place
called Bonteberg, near Cape Town, at a distance of full 100 miles from his
place of location.
He
forced me to know and to notice his entire desertion of his party by a letter,
from which I have the honor to enclose an extract, and I have in consequence
taken these poor people under the immediate protection of this Government, and
I have sent instructions to the Deputy Landdrost of their district how to
proceed, of which instructions as well as of the letter written to Mr. PARKER
on the occasion, copies are also enclosed.
I
should not have troubled Your Lordship so much at length concerning an
individual were it not that Mr. PARKER very early began to menace this
Government with the consequences that would ensue if his demands were not
complied with, and amongst these consequences was the bringing of his case
before Parliament, which from certain correspondents he appears to have he
might perhaps find means to do; it becomes therefore my duty to enable His
Majesty’s Government to answer any questions or statement which may be made in
Parliament, which I now beg leave to do, by assuring your Lordship that any
member of His Majesty’s Government may distinctly and clearly assert that every
possible attention has been shewn to Mr. PARKER ever since his arrival in this
Colony; that a strong disposition existed on my part, and on that of the Public
Officers of this Government, to assist Mr. PARKER; and that this disposition,
as well as every thing which has actually been done, or has resulted from it, has
been rendered wholly nugatory by Mr. PARKER’s want of faith towards his people,
his visionary and monstrous schemes, his unreasonable expectations and finally
by his utter abandonment of those unfortunate persons who trusted to him. I
advance all this on my own responsibility and I pledge myself that any
assertions to the above effect that may be made by His Majesty’s Government
shall be amply and fully made good by abundant documents from the Colonial
Office here.
I
have said nothing of the arrogance and disrespectfulness of Mr. PARKER’s style
of correspondence with this Government, and I can assure your Lordship that it
has not been permitted to operate in the least to his prejudice, although his
letters have been highly offensive, as your Lordship will perceive should it
hereafter be necessary to send documents from this to repel any statements made
by Mr. PARKER.
A
strong opinion prevails here that this individual is suffering under a degree
of mental derangement and I have sometimes been disposed to adopt this opinion;
which, however, it is difficult to reconcile with the persevering consistency
with which he has all along kept his own interests in view, to the total
disregard of those of his followers.
I have the honor to be, My Lord
Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant
R.S. DONKIN
[Transcriber’s Note: The extremely lengthy 1819
correspondence of William PARKER (see transcriptions of CO48/45) means that
this letter can have come as no surprise to Lord BATHURST. Two complete files
of correspondence on the case are held separately at