Transcribed by Lynn McLeod from a
printed pamphlet amongst Government Despatches in CO48/63
at the National Archives in Kew,
Authentic
Copies of a Correspondence which took place in consequence of a Statement made
at
The General
Annual Meeting of the Society for the Relief of Distressed Settlers in Cape
Town, August 18th, 1824 reflecting on the conduct and character of
the Landdrost of Albany.
Printed at the Government Press.
A statement made by the Reverend Dr. PHILIP, at the General
Annual Meeting of the Society for the Relief of Distressed Settlers; at Cape
Town, on the 18th of August, 1824, having deeply implicated the
Character of the Landdrost of Albany, it was deemed necessary by the Government
to refer immediately to that Officer for an explanation of the alleged neglect;
and in order more satisfactorily to investigate every circumstance relative to
the charge, to solicit Dr. PHILIP to furnish more minute particulars, with the
name of the Officer, as well as that of the suffering Party.
This determination gave rise to the following Correspondence
and Documents, which, as the subject is of extreme import to the Landdrost of
Albany, and his Friends, as well as to the character of the Colonial
Government, have been printed, as the most convenient mode of bringing them
under the perusal of those Gentlemen whose humanity and liberality have induced
them to take a lively interest in the Settlers’ cause.
(Copy – A)
Colonial
Officer,
Sir,
At the Annual Meeting of the Settlers’ Fund, which took
place here on Wednesday, Dr. PHILIP made a Statement, of which the enclosed is
considered to be the substances:-
His Excellency the Governor deems it a duty he owes to you,
as well as to the character of his Government, to request that you will
immediately obtain every information upon the subject
alluded to by Dr. PHILIP, and report to him thereon. In the mean time, His
Excellency has called on Dr. PHILIP, by letter, desiring to know if the
accompanying Statement be the substance of what fell from him at the Meeting on
the 18th instant; and requiring more minute particulars from him –
The result of this communication shall be forwarded to you by the next post.
His Excellency is also informed, that Mr. RUTHERFOORD, in
opposing a proposition that the Landdrost and Heemraden,
and the resident Chaplain, (of the Established Church,) at Graham’s Town,
should be added to the Sub-Committee in Albany, stated, “that he knew that the
Landdrost had neither time to permit him to attend to the objects of the
Society, - nor had he the inclination.”
You will,
of course, ascertain the name of the Officer alluded to.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient Servant,
(Signed,) P
G BRINK
To: Harry
RIVERS, Esq., Landdrost of Albany.
(Copy :- Enclosure to A)
At a meeting of the Subscribers to the Society for the
Relief of the Distressed Settlers, held this Day, a Resolution was proposed by
Mr. Wilberforce BIRD, that the Committee for the ensuing Year, should be instructed
to augment their Sub-Committee in Albany, by requesting the Landdrost and Heemraden of that District, and the Clergyman of the
Established Church in Graham’s Town, to co-operate with them in affording
information to the Committee as to the condition of the several Settlers and
their respective claims to relief.
Dr. PHILIP took occasion in opposing Mr. BIRD’s
resolution to declare unreservedly, that, when he was in the Albany District
last January, a fact had come to his knowledge, which proved the indifference
of the local authority to the distresses of the Settlers. That an officer riding in
the neighbourhood of his post, and adjacent to one of the locations, had
discovered a scene of unexampled distress in one of the families of the
Settlers. A poor woman was
confined in child-bed, her husband was lying dangerously ill in the same room;
she had the preceding day buried her child in the garden, and the whole family were utterly destitute – they had actually been
without food for two days. On becoming
acquainted with their misery, the officer returned to his post, and sent them
immediate relief, and lost no time in writing to the Landdrost, for the purpose
of bringing this case of distress to his knowledge. He never received any answer whatever, and
went himself to Graham’s Town, where he was equally unsuccessful in obtaining
any relief for the poor family from the authorities there, and returned to his
post, bringing with him the small contributions of private individuals in
Graham’s Town.
------------------
(Copy – B)
Colonial
Office
Sir,
The substance of the speech delivered by you on Wednesday
last at the Annual Meeting of the Settlers’ Fund (contained in the enclosed
paper Vide Enclosure to A) having been brought to the knowledge of His
Excellency the Governor, I am directed by him to request, that you will inform
him relative to the correctness of the information he has received of the words
which dropped from you on that occasion, and also to solicit you to furnish His
Excellency with the names of the parties, and more minute particulars of the
transaction in question.
His
Excellency cannot avoid expressing his deep regret that you withheld from his
knowledge at the time, an instance of negligence on the part of the local
authorities, which so greatly involved the character of his Government, and the
welfare of a portion of the community, whose condition has been an object of
his anxious care.
I have the
honor to be, Sir
Your
obedient servant,
(Signed) P
G BRINK
To: Rev.
Dr. PHILIP.
-------------------------------
(Copy – C)
My Lord,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from
the Colonial Office, enclosing what is said to have been the substance of a
speech delivered by me on Wednesday last, at the Annual Meeting of the Society
for the Relief of Distressed Settlers, and requesting me to inform your
Lordship relative to the correctness of the information you had received, of
the words which dropped from me on that occasion, and also soliciting me to
furnish your Excellency with the names of the parties, and more minute
particulars of the transaction in questions.
In compliance with your Lordship’s request I have enclosed a
correct statement of the words which fell from me on that occasion, in their connexion with the motion of Mr. W. BIRD, and the
discussion which took place on that
motion previous to the words I used, respecting which your Lordship now wishes
to be informed.
On comparing the words delivered by me with the statement
given to your Lordship, as the substance of my speech, you will find several
material circumstances in that narrative corrected. That part of the proceedings of the meeting
on Wednesday, now laid before your Lordship, will prove I did not,
unreservedly, (as stated by the reported,) mention the facts alluded to; but
was compelled to do it, after the warning I had given to Mr. BIRD, against
persisting in his motion, and in defence of what I considered of vital
importance to the Society itself; and that the circumstances in question were
not brought forward by me, but with a reluctance of the most painful nature,
and visible to the great majority of the gentlemen present at the meeting.
(Notation
(a): If the warning here alluded to was
intended to deter Mr. W. BIRD from bringing forward his motion, because Dr.
PHILIP would accuse the Landdrost of Albany if he persevered in it, Mr. W. BIRD
owed it to the character of the Government of which he was himself a member, to
provoke the disclosure.)
Further, it is my duty to state that the Landdrost, as
mentioned in the reported speech to your Lordship, was not pointed out by me,
by his own name, nor by his official designation; one of the local authorities
was my expression. Mr. BUCKTON, in
commenting on my speech, said I had mentioned the Landdrost; (Notation (b):
Notwithstanding Dr. PHILIP asserts, that he did not mention the word Landdrost,
any one acquainted with the formation of the local Magistracy must know that
the Landdrost is the person implicated, there being, in fact, no Authority
without him in the Country Districts. – If the Board of the Landdrost and Heemraden be assembled, he is at the head of it; if it be
not assembled, he is the only person possessing individual authority.) I instantly repelled the assertion, and
appealed at the same time to the meeting at large, and did not proceed till it
was declared by many voices, - you did not mention the Landdrost, - you used no names.
I am made to say, by your Lordship’s reporter, that, having
received no answer, he (the officer) went to Graham’s Town himself, where he
was equally unsuccessful in obtaining any relief for the poor family from the
authorities there. (Notation (c): The Landdrost declares, and is ready to make
oath, that he never received any letter to this purport from any officer.)
Your
Lordship will perceive, by the words I have sent you as delivered by me, that I
said he received no answer to his letter; but I neither aid, that he went to
Graham’s Town, nor that he made an unsuccessful application to the local
authorities in that place. He assured me
on the contrary that he felt so indignant at the neglect of his letter,
(Notation (d): Vide Note (c) ) and of the case he had
recommended, that he disdained to renew his application to that quarter, in
which his former communication had been so neglected, and that he contented
himself by doing what he could for the suffering family, among a few friends.
Your Lordship expresses your deep regret, that I withheld
from you at the time, the information, and particulars of which you now
require. In reply to this remark, I beg
your Lordship to consider the object of my visit to
I shall not trouble your Lordship with details of former
occurrences; but when your Lordship recollects, that I opposed the motion which
is the subject of this correspondence, while it was yet in embryo in the
Committee, that I not only cautioned the projectors of this motion against
bringing it forward; but that on the day of the public meeting, I gave them the
most earnest public warning, saying what I should be compelled to do, if the
motion was persisted in, (which can be attested by every gentleman
present.) Your Lordship must be
satisfied, that it was not my wish, nor intention, (Notation (f): Vide Note (a) ) to have stated those circumstances in public, and that
those who brought forward and supported the motion in question, are responsible
for the unpleasant termination of the debate.
In addition to what has been already stated, and to show the
means that were employed to prevent the consequences that followed, I may also
mention that a great part of Mr. BLAIR’s speech at
the public meeting was seen and acknowledged by Mr. BIRD to have been
delivered, in order to anticipate and prevent the motion.
As it respects the gentleman from whom I received the
information, respecting this distressed family, your Lordship will be able to appreciate
my motives for not being hasty in giving up his name. Mr. RUTHERFOORD and
myself, who were both present when the particulars of the case were related,
are ready to make affidavit, (Notation (g): This affidavit, which Dr. PHILIP
and Mr. RUTHERFOORD are here stated to be ready to make, only goes to assert
that they heard this tale from an officer.
The Doctor, at the meeting, in bringing forward the subject, stated the
circumstances as a fact. Every man is
surely bound in candour and in honour to ascertain
that what he is about to relate as a public meeting is fact, before he wounds
the feelings or injures the character of any individual, more particularly of
one placed in authority.) that the statement I made at
the meeting was received, as has been stated; but without the permission of our
informer, we cannot, unless compelled to do it, disclose his name.
I have the
honor to be, My Lord,
Your
Lordship’s most obedient humble servant
(Signed)
John PHILIP.
To His Excellency the Right Hon. General Lord Charles Henry
---------------------------------
(Copy –
Enclosure to C.)
Mr BIRD’s motion being stated and seconded, I proceeded to
argue against its adoption, from want of time to attend to the business on the
part of the local authorities, from a misunderstanding existing between the
local authorities and the settlers, from the respect due to the feelings of the
settlers, and further I objected on all occasions, and in all Countries, to
Government having any thing to do with the distribution of charitable funds,
collected by voluntary contribution.
Then, in the most earnest manner, I warned Mr. BIRD, not to insist upon
his motion, and told him, that if he continued to press it, I should be obliged
to enter into particulars, which would be extremely painful to my own feelings,
and the feelings of others.
After some
general discussion, and Mr. BIRD stating his determination to take the sense of
the Meeting upon his motion, I rose and spoke as follows:-
“Sir John
TRUTER,
I never, on any former occasion in public Meeting, rose with
more reluctance than I feel at this moment.
Out of regard to the feelings of all parties, I have this day purposely
avoided all detail of individual suffering, that might have wounded the
feelings of the sufferers themselves, or thrown any thing like a reflection
upon those who might have relieved them, and I cannot help regretting, that my
friend, Mr. W. BIRD, after the warning I had given him, should compel me to do
what is so much against my inclination.
Mr. BIRD treated my former arguments against his motion as
frivolous. What will he say to this
objection, that a sum of money, amounting to Rds. 2,400, which had been collected
by another Society, under the immediate patronage of Government, had been allowed
to lay in the Bank, unappropriated, ever since December 1822, a period of
nearly two years, during which the sufferings of the settlers were at the
greatest height. This fact speaks for itself; it requires no comment.
On visiting one of the locations, in company with my friend,
Mr. RUTHERFOORD, we had the following fact related to us, by an officer in the
army, commanding a military post on the frontier. In one of the families of the settlers, he
described a poor woman confined in child-bed; her husband was in a dying
condition on the same bed; she had buried a child in her own garden, a few days before,
and the whole family were actually destitute:- they had actually been without
food for some time. On becoming
acquainted with their circumstances, he returned to his post, and sent them
immediate relief, and lost no time in writing to one of the local authorities
of the District, for the purpose of obtaining, for this suffering family, the
assistance he could not supply. After
waiting in vain for some time, for an answer to his letter, or of some notice
being taken of the case through that letter, finding that the individual, to
whom he had written, attended neither to the one nor the other, he then made
application to a few individuals in Graham’s Town, who raised a small sum for
this distressed family, by private subscription.”
-----------------------------
(Copy – D)
Colonial
Office,
Sir,
With reference to my letter to you, dated the 20th
instant, I am now directed by His Excellency the Governor to transmit to you
herewith a Copy of a Letter and its Enclosure (Vide (C. and Enclosure) which
His Excellency called for from Dr. PHILIP, relative to the statement said to
have been made by him at the last Annual Meeting of the Settlers’ Fund, for
your information.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient servant
(Signed) P.
G. BRINK
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. Landdrost of
----------------------------------------
(Copy – E.)
Colonial
Office,
Sir,
I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to acknowledge
his receipt of your Letter of the 24th instant, and in reply to the
last paragraph of it, to say, that, in requesting to know the names of the
parties alluded to, His Excellency was only desirous of being informed of the
name of the office whose humanity has been so conspicuous, and of the suffering
parties for whose relief that officer appears to have so laudably exerted
himself, His Excellency would be particularly obliged to you for this
information immediately, as he wishes to make a communication to the frontier
on this subject by this day’s post.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient servant,
(Signed) P.G. BRINK.
To: Rev.
Dr. PHILIP.
----------------------
(Copy – F.)
My Lord
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your
Lordship’s letter, transmitted to me from the Colonial Office, 27th
August, and have to express my regret, that I could not reply to it
immediately, from the circumstance of my being from home when it was delivered.
In reply to
Your Lordship’s request, I beg leave to remark, that, though I am convinced the
names of the parties cannot be long concealed, and have no apprehension that
the office, who communicated to me the circumstances, which are the occasion of
this correspondence, can suffer by the disclosure of his name, yet, I am sorry,
at the same time, to be obliged to add, that much as it would gratify me, to
meet Your Lordship’s wishes in the present instance, I do not see how I can do
it, without violating my honor, and the dictates of my consciences.
When I
received the communication in question, accompanied with the positive
injunction, that I should conceal the names of the parties, I cannot see how I
can consistently declare those names, till I am released from the obligation I
lie under, by the parties themselves, I
am satisfied, Your Lordship will see this point in the same light in which I
view it, and wait till you receive the names in the way in which I have no
doubt they will be communicated, by the local authority, who has it in his
power to give up the names, with the letter, said to have been sent to him, on
behalf of the distressed family, for whom it was written.
I have the
honor to be, My Lord,
Your
Lordship’s most obedient humble servant,
(Signed)
John PHILIP.
To: His
Excellency the Right Hon. General Lord Charles Henry SOMERSET, &c. &c.
&c.
--------------------
(Copy – G.)
Graham’s
Town,
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 20th instant, conveying the desire of His Excellency the
Governor, that I will immediately obtain every information relative to a
statement, the substance of which is contained in a paper, enclosed by you,
made by D. PHILIP, at the Annual Meeting of the Settlers’ Fund, on the 18th
instant, with a view to prove the indifference of the local authority in
Albany, to the distresses of the settlers, and stating, that Mr. RUTHERFOORD
had on the same occasion, stated, “that he knew, that the Landdrost had neither
time to attend to the objects of the Society, not had he the inclination;” and
I have the honor to inform His Excellency, that, as the case alluded to by Dr.
PHILIP, is not stated, and the name of the distressed family is not given, I
cannot answer the statement specifically, but from circumstances and inquiries
I have made, I have reason to believe, it alludes to the family of W. HARDEN,
of Mr. BAILIE’s party, and should it be so, I have
the satisfaction of being able to shew, that Dr. PHILIP’s
statement is utterly false. The enclosed
documents, (Notation (a): Letters from G. DYASON, with Extract from Mr. BAILIE,
and R. GODLONTON.) prove, that on my being acquainted with HARDEN’s
situation, I paid immediate attention to it, and afforded the required relief
in necessaries, bedding, and money, without delay.
The officer, who commanded at the Caffre-drift
post, from November 1823, to February 1824, states, he never had such
correspondence with me, as that represented by Dr. PHILIP, (Notation (b): Vide
Enclosure, No. 2, from Captain the Hon. C. MONEKTON.) and I can declare upon
oath, that I never received any letter or communication from any officer, upon HARDEN’s, or any other person’s case. Relief was, however, afforded through me, and
I am therefore justified in stating, that Dr. PHILIP’s
statement, if alluding to HARDEN, is equally malicious and unfounded, and that
he has had no authority whatever for traducing my character as a magistrate and
a man.
It is difficult to reconcile his suppression from the
Government which I serve, of any circumstances of the nature he has
represented, with the motives which he affects to influence him, in now making
them public, for he could not have doubted, that, in the character he has
assumed as a missionary, and a leading member of the Fund for relieving
distressed Settlers, such a representation from him, would have been received
with attention, when the purity of his motives would not have become
questionable, and his proceeding would have been more fair and honest as he can
only have withheld it for the purpose of calumniating the character of a public
officer.
When I may be furnished with the circumstances and
information, upon which he has made his assertions, I shall reply to them
fully.
With regard to the statement made by Mr. RUTHERFOORD, I have
the honor to submit to His Excellency, the impossibility of Mr. RUTHERFOORD
having any grounds for making, or means of proving such vague and general
assertions. I have, however, availed myself
of the short interval of time, before the return of the post, to procure
documents, of which I enclose copies, (Notation (c): Enclosure, No. 3, Rev. W. BOARDMAN, Lieuts. C. CRAUSE and A. BISSETT, R.N., Mr. P. CAMPBELL,
Surgeon, Graham’s Town, Mr. W. CURRIE, Mr. G DYASON, Captain T. BUTLER, W.
AUSTIN, Esq. Mr. J COLLIS, the District Surgeon, and W. HAYWARD, Esq. ) from
several respectable individuals, which fully refute Mr. RUTHERFOORD’s
assertions. I consider the testimony of
these persons as conclusive and satisfactory as that of the whole community,
(to whom I would not hesitate, if necessary, to appeal,) could be, but I shall
add further documents by the next post, when I trust, His Excellency will
perceive full and sufficient grounds, for the institution of legal proceedings against Mr.
RUTHERFOORD, for the libelous aspersions of my character.
My relative situation in life with Mr. RUTHERFOORD, as well
as with Dr. PHILIP, admits of no other mode of redress, and I must claim His
Excellency’s protection against the malicious and cowardly insults of these
persons.
I beg to take this occasion of stating, that I have never in
any instance neglected or refused to afford relief to the distressed, when in
my power. The Subscription made in 1822,
to which His Excellency contributed largely, originated in representations made
by myself of the distressed state of some of the Settlers; the articles
provided for the sick, and lying-in women, were made up and arranged in my own
house, under my own superintendance, and I am at this time considerably in
advance from my private purse, for the relief of persons in distress; having
been moreover one of the earliest contributors to the Settler’s Fund, in the Year 1820.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your Obedient servant
(Signed)
Harry RIVERS.
To. P. G.
BRINK. Esq. &c, &c. &c.
-------------------------
(Copy –
Enclosures to G.)
[No. 1]
Graham’s
Town
Sir,
I have the honor to inform you, with respect to the case of
HARDEN and family, that they were supplied with necessaries and bedding by your
order, and that you also in November and December last authorized Mr. BAILIE,
the head of the party, to advance them money, which he did to the amount of 25
Rds.
The following is an extract of a letter from Mr. BAILIE on
the subject, which I received yesterday:-
“The
Landdrost gave me instructions to grant Mr. HARDEN 25 Rds. and Henry LLOYD, of Cuylerville, 20 Rds.”
I can also state that you expressed and manifested, at the
time, great solicitude about HARDEN’s family, and
directed Mr. BAILIE to use his discretion in relieving them to any extent. I am convinced that HARDEN’s
must be the case alluded to by Dr. PHILIP, upon which, however, his information
is totally unfounded and erroneous.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient servant,
(Signed)
Geo. DYASON, Field Cornet.
To H. RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
------------------
Graham’s
Town,
Sir,
I have the honor to state, in reply to your inquiries as to
nay relief or assistance having been afforded to a family named HARDEN, that on
the 31st May, 1823, I received a letter from Wm. HARDEN,
representing his helpless and destitute situation, occasioned by a severe
illness with which himself and child were afflicted, and requesting me to
submit his case to your consideration, in order that assistance might be
afforded from the Fund, which he understood had been established at Graham’s
Town, for the purpose of affording aid to Distressed Settlers, and that I
accordingly, in compliance with this request, immediately made you acquainted
with their case, and was, in consequence of such representation, directed by
you to wait upon the Rev. W. GEARY, and request his advice and opinion as to
the best means of affording them the required relief. Mr. GEARY stated, that, as the residence of
HARDEN was so distant, (40 miles,) he was of opinion that Mr. G DYASON, the
Secretary to the Fund, should, for the present, from his general knowledge of
the characters and situation of the British Settlers, exercise a discretionary
power in the supply of any necessaries to meet the exigence
of their case; and that he should make those inquiries, as to the correctness
of their statement, as should warrant such further exertions in their behalf,
as their situation might appear to demand.
Upon stating Mr. GEARY’s opinion,
you directed me to inform Mr. DYASON thereof, and to inquire from him if he had
any knowledge of their then present situation, or of their characters. Mr. DYASON replied he had not been made
acquainted with their destitute condition, and that he was sorry to state he
could not recommend HARDEN to that consideration, to which a person of good
character and conduct would be entitled.
Upon my reporting this, you were pleased, nevertheless, to direct me to
issue to the person who had brought the information of their necessitous
situation, and which was accordingly done, quantities of rice, sago, oatmeal,
and sugar; and you authorized me to state that their case would be taken into
immediate consideration, and that, in the mean time, whatever necessaries they
might be deficient of, should, upon application to yourself, be supplied.
Your intentions in their regard I immediately communicated
to HARDEN by letter, and subsequently repeated the same assurance verbally,
when I made it my business to visit them at their place of residence.
Being personally acquainted with this family, by their
having been my fellow-passengers from England, I was disposed to render them
all the service in my power, and being aware of the inadequacy of the Fund to
meet the numerous cases which were submitted for relief, I was induced to draw
out and circulate among my acquaintance, a petition, praying their
contributions towards furnishing those necessaries and comforts which are, in
times of sickness, indispensable, and the donations arising from hence amounted
to about 150 Rds. This sum was by the
suggestion of several persons who were acquainted with the improvidence and
thoughtless character of HARDEN, laid out in necessary articles at the store of
Mr. STONE, who was directed to furnish them from time to time, in such
proportions as should prevent them being lavishly expended.
As you were made acquainted with the successful result of
this measure in their behalf, and you had been previously informed of HARDEN’s improvidence, you stated to me that you conceived
it would be unnecessary and imprudent voluntarily to supply further assistance,
until the sum which had been thus subscribed for their relief should be
exhausted. Of the propriety of such precautionary
measure, I beg leave to state that HARDEN had only returned to his Location
about he latter end of January, previous to his illness, from Graham’s Town,
where he had been, for a considerable time, following the employment of a
cabinet-maker, at which business, being a good workman, when inclined to
exercise common industry, he was in the receipt of very large profits; and
that, from the interest I was induced to take in his affairs, from
consideration of the helpless condition of his family, I was applied to
repeatedly during his illness for payment of the rent of a house which he had
occupied while living in Graham’s Town, and other sums of money in which he
stood indebted, and which had been left by him unpaid.
On the 28th June, 1823, John DUFFY brought a
letter from HARDEN, stating his family were deficient
in bedding, and you immediately ordered me to issue to the bearer, for their
use, a pair of blankets, which was accordingly done.
I am not aware of any further assistance having been
afforded from the fund under your control and direction; but I conceive, from
the strong feeling of commiseration shewn by you, on
every occasion I had the honor to allude to, or represent their case, that had
you been aware of their wanting any necessary comfort, it would have been
supplied; and that your intentions in their behalf were only frustrated by the
unfortunate and premature death of HARDEN, which calamity was accelerated, if
not occasioned, by dissipation, and an excessive addiction to ardent spirits.
I have only
further to add that Mrs. HARDEN, shortly after the death of her husband, went
to reside with a family of notoriously bad character, named KNOTT, from which
period I have no knowledge of her circumstances, or whether she had applied
for, or received, with the exception of a donation of 50 Rds., from the
Settlers’ Fund Society in Cape Town, and which passed through my hands at that
period, any further relief or assistance.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient servant,
(Signed) R.
GODLONTON
(*The
attention of the Reader is particularly called to the contents of this letter,
with reference to letter S.)
To H. RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
___________________
(Copy –
Enclosures to G.)
[No. 11.]
Graham’s
Town,
Sir,
It having been publicly stated by Dr. PHILIP, at a Meeting
of the Settlers’ Fund, last week, in Cape Town, that when he was in the Albany
District in January last, it had come to his knowledge, that an Officer, riding
in the neighbourhood of his post, (Caffre Drift,) has
discovered a scene of unexampled distress in one of the families of the
Settlers; that the Officer lost no time in writing to the Landdrost, for the
purpose of bringing this case to his knowledge, but never receiving any answer
whatever, he went himself to Graham’s Town, where he was equally unsuccessful,
in obtaining any relief for the poor family, from the Authorities there, and
returned to his post, bringing with him the small contributions of private
individuals.
As I am informed that you were the Officer commanding at the
Caffre Drift post in the months of November and
December, 1823, and of January, 1824, I take the liberty of requesting you will
inform me if you have any knowledge of the circumstances stated by Dr. PHILIP,
or any recollection of the communications which he asserts were made to me, as
I do not remember to have received them.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient Servant
(Signed) H.
RIVERS
To Captain the Hon. C. MONCKTON.
-----------------------
Graham’s
Town,
Sir,
In reply to your Letter of this date, I beg to inform you,
that I commanded at the post of Caffre Drift, from
the 25th of November, 1823, to the 8th February, 1824;
and I can affirm that I never had communication with you, by Letter, or
otherwise, upon the subject you mention.
I have the honor
to be, Sir
Your
obedient Servant,
(Signed)
Carleton MONCKTON,
Captain 24th
Regt.
Late
To H. RIVERS, Esq. Landdrost of
--------------
(Copy –
Enclosures to G.)
[No. 111.]
Sir,
In answer to your letter, which I have this moment received,
I beg to state, that I never, in any single instance, have found you
inattentive to any representations of distress among the settlers; on the
contrary, whenever I have applied to you for others, my applications have been
always attended to, or satisfactory reasons assigned for their rejection, and
you have generally concluded with asking, whether I had any more requests to
make to the same purport. The request
from you, soon after the devastation by the floods, and the conversation that
passed when I waited upon you last, respecting the best mode of distribution of
the charity, and which I purpose to answer in the course of the week, contain a
sufficient refutation of the unfounded assertions alluded to in your letter. His Excellency also, in whose hands the
continuation of my narrative is at present, would probably condescend to put it
into the hands of Dr. PHILIP, Mr. RUTHERFOORD, or some other managers of the
Fund, which would settle the business at once.
I have the honor
to be, Sir,
Your
obedient servant,
(Signed) W.
BOARDMAN.
To H. RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
______________
Graham’s
Town,
Sir,
In reply to your letter, I can only say,
that I feel a difficulty in finding language sufficiently expressive of my
indignation at the vile and unparalleled attempt to asperse your character, and
I trust you will be able to find out and punish those who have been the cause
of it.
I feel most happy in stating, that some few instances have
come within my own knowledge, of your having afforded relief to settlers, who
stood in need of it; and I have no hesitation in affirming, that it is my
opinion, that no real object of commiseration would have supplicated in vain.
I cannot let this opportunity pass, without observing, that
I know of no such distress in this Colony, as has been publicly stated. I should like to be informed, who the people
are, requiring eleemosynary aid, - not the labourer I imagine, who can procure
two Rds. per day, or the mechanic, who can procure three or four. The truth is, that the only people distressed
are some few of the more respectable class, who have spent their money in
agricultural pursuits, which have not answered their expectations, and who from
pride or inability, are rendered incapable of living by labour. There are but few men, however decrepid they may be, who might not get their living by
herding cattle, or other easy employment.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient Servant,
(Signed)
Chas. CRAUSE,
To H. RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
_____________
Sir,
It having come to my knowledge that it has been stated at a
Meeting of the Settlers’ Fund at Cape Town, that you had neither time or
inclination to attend to, or relieve distress amongst the Settlers:-
I beg to state that from my own knowledge and experience, I
know that you have been anxious to ascertain and relieve distress, and that,
when I had occasion to consult with you on the subject of a loan, you heard me
with the greatest patience, and, thinking it necessary, recommended it most
cheerfully.
I also know, that the Field-Cornet here has had instructions
to report to you, cases of real distress, in order to your
relieving them; - I therefore feel satisfied, that the assertion made at the
meeting in
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your most
obedient servant,
(Signed)
Alex. BISSET.
To H. RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
-----------------
Graham’s
Town,
Sir,
In answer to the question which you have proposed to me, viz:- whether during the period in which I acted as District
Surgeon in
I feel in justice bound to make these assertions, having
heard that the contrary has been affirmed in some other quarter; and I am
convinced that every person who knows me, will acquit me of being actuated by
any partial motives.
I am, Sir,
Your
obedient humble servant,
(Signed,) Peter CAMPBELL, Surgeon
To H. RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
------------------------
Sir,
I have just seen a statement from you, that you had been
publicly accused, of a want of inclination to assist the distressed settlers,
and a very broad accusation it appears to be, an accusation, which I believe
not to be true, for I know well, that you have made inquiries for those in
distress, for the purpose of relieving them.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your most
obedient servant,
(Signed) J. PAWLE
To H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c, &c, &c
------------------------
Sir,
In reply to your letter of yesterday, I am to state, that
the assertion made at a Meeting of the Settlers’ Fund at
On the
other side is an extract from one of your letters to me on the subject.
I have the
honor to be, Sir
Your
obedient servant,
(Signed) W. CURRIE
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c, &c.
(Extract)
Graham’s
Town,
“I am happy
to say I have had few or no applications for relief, in consequence of
sufferings or loss, from the late bad weather; but should you know of any case
of real distress, where you think assistance would be well, and ought to be
afforded, I shall be obliged by your informing me, that I may, if in my power,
procure relief; - I do not mean in money alone, but in meal, seeds for gardens,
clothing, &c. &c. as circumstances may be.”
---------------------------
Graham’s
Town,
Sir,
I had the honor of receiving your letter of yesterday’s
date, acquainting me of its having been publicly stated, at a meeting in Cape
Town, that you had not time to attend to the distress of the Settlers, and that
if you had time, you had not the inclination; at the same time requesting me to
state, whether I consider the assertion as correct; - I have, in reply thereto,
much satisfaction in being able to contradict, and to declare in the most
positive and solemn manner, that such assertion is totally incorrect, and has
been made without the slightest foundation in truth. So far from there being any want of attention
on your part, in affording relief to distressed Settlers, I feel much pleasure
in bearing testimony to a knowledge of many acts of beneficence, and anxious
solicitude in all cases where relief or assistance was required, both as
regards sickness or want, or which I am the better able to testify, from a connexion with, and knowledge of, the Settlers generally,
arising out of my being a Settler myself, a Field-Cornet in the District of
Albany, and from having acted as Secretary to the Committee for the relief and
assistance of poor lying-in Women.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient servant,
(Signed)
Geo. DYASON.
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
----------------------------
Location,
Sir,
I had yesterday the honor of receiving your’s of that date, and am sorry to find, that an
attack has been made on your character.
I am happy to have to say, that I always found you most willing to
attend to me, even on the most trivial occasions, and have experienced your
humanity on many.
I have the
honor to be, Sir
Most
obediently your’s,
(Signed)
Thos.
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c, &c, &c,
--------------------------
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of this day’s date, relative to a statement that has been made at a meeting of
the Settlers’ Fund in
In reply, I beg to state, that the claim daily made on your
time by the Settlers, has rendered your situation a most unpleasant and arduous
one, and that in no instance do I know of your having neglected any well
founded application of the kind, made by the parties, and consider the charge
malicious and unfounded.
From being situated in the midst of the Settlers, I have had
almost a daily opportunity of witnessing the late conduct and exertions of the
greatest portion of the Settlers, and it is my most decided opinion, that they
have received more attention and assistance, and particularly within the last
twelve months, than their situation required, and that the public were never
more imposed on that they have been generally on the subject. In the ten parties near me, I do not know of
a family, or even an individual, that can be considered in distress, - much of
the distress that has been felt, has arose from imprudence and want of proper
exertions.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient humble servant,
(Signed)
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
-------------------------------
Sir,
On perusal of your letter to Mr. CURRIE, of yesterday, I
have in justice to state, that, having occasion to wait upon you in October
last, you requested me to inform you of any instances of distress. In compliance with which, I mentioned the
names of two individuals, who I know were promptly assisted upon their applying
to you, and others afterwards.
I am, Sir,
Your’s,
respectfully,
(Signed)
James COLLIS.
To: H. RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
-------------------------
Graham’s
Town,
Sir,
In reply to the letter, which you did me the honor to
address to me this morning, I have to observe, that, as far as I know, the
assertion, which has been made at a public meeting in Cape Town, that you had
not time or inclination to attend to the distresses of the Settlers, is
incorrect.
All those
standing in need of attendance and medicines, have been uniformly referred to
me, by you, with the utmost promptitude, and those requiring other comforts,
have been regularly supplied with the same, from the stores sent here for that
purpose.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient Servant,
(Signed)
Alexander COWIE, District Surgeon
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
--------------------
Graham’s
Town,
Sir,
In answer to your letter of this day’s date, I beg leave to
inform you, that I do not recollect any instance, of individuals having stated
to me, that you had not attended to cases of distress, among the British
Settlers.
I have the
honor to be, Sir
Your most
obedient servant
(Signed)
To : H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
----------------
(Copy –11)
Graham’s
Town,
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter
of the 27th ultimo, transmitting, by direction of His Excellency the
Governor, for my information, a copy of a Letter, and its Enclosure, which His
Excellency had called for from Dr. PHILIP, relative to the statement made by
him at the last Annual Meeting of the Settlers’ Fund; and I have the honor to
state to His Excellency, that, as the name of the family, which is reported to
have been suffering from want, and not to have been relieved by the local
Authorities, has been withheld by Dr. PHILIP, I am still unable to give more
specific information than that afforded in my Letter of the 31st
ultimo; but, as I have not any doubt that I have identified the case to which
Dr. PHILIP alluded in his speech at the Anniversary Meeting, I consider I have
fully and satisfactorily repelled the calumnious assertion of that gentleman.
I must, however, in justice to myself, request, that His
Excellency will require Dr. PHILIP and Mr. RUTHERFOORD to state the name of the
Officer who gave them the information which Dr. PHILIP has promulgated, and the
names of the persons represented to have been so distressed and neglected.
With regard to the unappropriated surplus of the
Subscription made in 1822, I have the honor to state, that I have been in total
ignorance of any such surplus existing, as I applied in December of that year,
for any sum which might be disposable, after paying for the articles that had
been ordered, by His Excellency, to be provided for the relief and comfort of
lying-in and sick women, to which object the Subscription had been specially
devoted, and then received 500 Rds. which have been appropriated; and that no
communication of a further sum having accumulated in the Bank has been made to
me.
I do not feel it necessary, at present, to enter into any
comment upon the evasive and uncandid nature of the
Letter, and its Enclosure, from Dr. PHILIP, of which you have transmitted a
Copy to me; but as he states, that he did not point out the Landdrost by his
own name, nor by his official designation, but, that “one of the local
Authorities,” was his expression, I request Dr. PHILIP may be called upon to state,
unequivocally, to whom he meant to allude by ‘one of the Authorities.”
I request also, that Dr. PHILIP may be called on to state
what those “political causes” “connected with the sufferings of the Settlers”
were, with which he was careful not to interfere; and, that if his intention be
to insinuate that the conduct of the Landdrost, or the “local Authorities”
towards the Settlers has in any way tended to create or aggravate any case of
distress, he may state the instances; and further, that as he declares he
argued against the adoption of a motion proposed by Mr. W. W. BIRD, “from want
of time” to attend to the business, “on the part of the local Authorities, and
the Settlers,” Dr. PHILIP may be required to state to what facts and
circumstances he alludes, as evidence of the misunderstanding, with the
existence of which he has been acquainted, but of which I declare my total
ignorance.
I am not aware either of the knowledge which Dr. PHILIP may
possess of the quantum of time at my disposal; nor do I conceive he has shewn that “respect,” which he considers “due to the
feelings of the Settlers,” by endeavouring to interfere with, and shake their
confidence in, the local Authorities, from whom, they have unqualifiedly
declared, they have always received attention and consideration; but, on the
contrary, it would appear, that he is now artfully and assiduously endeavouring
to engender those feelings and dispositions, which he is desirous, for some
reasons, should be supposed, and believed to have before existed; and that the
“feelings of the Settlers” at large, have not been known, or consulted, in the
line of conduct adopted by Dr. PHILIP towards the local Authorities.
With regard to the responsibility to which Dr. PHILIP
alludes, for the result of the motion which was proposed, I consider it
fortunate that an event should have occurred which has forced him to be open
and explicit, and has afforded the opportunity of refuting calumnious reports:
and I consider the “indignant” feeling, stated by Dr. PHILIP to have been felt
by the Officer commanding the post, to be matter for private and personal
explanation between himself and the Authority to whom he wrote, and not for Dr.
PHILIP’s comment.
I have the honor also, after referring His Excellency to my
Letter of the 21st Ultimo, respecting the statement publicly made at
the Annual Meeting by Mr. RUTHERFOORD, to submit, in addition to those then
transmitted, further Documents, one of them being a paper, signed by upwards of
two hundred Settlers, declaring such statement to be incorrect and unfounded,
which have been forwarded to me by several individuals, in refutation and
contradiction of Mr. RUTHERFOORD’s assertions; by
which I consider myself justified in stating, that Mr. RUTHERFOORD has wantonly
defamed my character; - and in repeating my earnest request, that His
Excellency will afford me redress and protection,
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient servant,
(Signed)
Harry RIVERS
To: P. G.
BRINK. Esq. &c. &c. &c.
--------------------------
(Copy –
Enclosures to H)
[No. 1)
Graham’s
Town,
Sir
Having heard that, at a meeting in Cape Town, it was stated,
that you had not time, and if you had, you had not the inclination to listen to
applications made to you by the Settlers, I have much pleasure in stating,
that, in all the applications I have had occasion to make to you, you have shewn both inclination and wish to hear and serve me. There is one circumstance which I shall
always remember with the greatest gratitude, - that three months since, when
one of my family, my eldest son, was visited by the Almighty, not only with
sickness, but ultimately with death, you, in the kindest manner, supplied me
with comforts for him which I could not procure for money.
I feel
myself bound in justice to make the above statement, and beg you will make what
use you think fit of it.
I have the
honor to be, Sir
Your
obedient servant,
(Signed) Robt.
Wood BAGOT, Captain, H.P., 47th Regiment
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
----------------
Caffraria
Sir
In reply to the queries proposed in your letter of the 29th
ult., I have to say, that as far as has come within my knowledge, I consider
the assertion referred to, and said to have been made at a public meeting in
Cape Town, to be very incorrect.
During the time that I resided at
This was
shortly afterwards carried into effect; and I happen to have by me a letter of
yours bearing date 1st July, 1822, in which you communicate to me, in strong terms
of satisfaction, the successful result of your representation to His Excellency
on this head.
I am at all times strongly averse to taking any share in the
unhappiness of party disputes, but being formally called upon neither honor nor
conscience allow me to hesitate in thus explicitly replying to your inquiries.
I am, Sir,
Your
obedient servant
(Signed) W.
SHAW *
(* The
Reverend Mr. SHAW is a gentleman of great respectability, and a Wesleyan
Minister attached to one of the Parties of Settlers in Albany.)
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
--------------------------------
(Enclosure)
Copy of a
Paragraph of a Letter from H. RIVERS, Esq. to the Rev. W. SHAW, bearing date,
Graham’s Town, July 1st, 1822:-
“You will
see, by the last Newspaper, that the Governor and Lady Charles SOMERSET have
acted with great promptness and generosity on Mrs. RIVERS’ and my
representation of the state of some of the Settlers, and that a liberal
subscription has been commenced in Cape Town.
I have also opened a subscription in Graham’s Town, which, in the few
hours that it has been known, has received an equally kind support. The civilians, inhabitants, and military,
have contributed. Clothing for the
lying-in women, - comforts for the sick and old, - and medicines will be sent
from
(A true copy, from the original in my possession.)
(Signed) W.
SHAW.
----------------------
Graham’s
Town,
Sir,
In reply to yours of the 29th ultimo, I beg leave
to state, that I never witnessed any such conduct, or disposition, on your
part, as therein mentioned, and have the honor to be, Sir
Your humble
and obedient servant,
(Signed) S.
KAY
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. Landdrost.
------------------
Palmiet
Fontein,
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 30th ult., I beg
leave to express my indignation at the attack made on your Character, (at a
Meeting in
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient servant,
(Signed)
John CRAUSE.
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
---------------------
Palmiet
Fontein,
Setptember
4th, 1824
Sir
In reply to your letter of the 30th
ult. I beg to
state, that I am not away of any instance of your having refused relief to
Settlers in distress, and that consequently the assertion made use of (at a
Public Meeting in Cape Town) is incorrect.
I have further to add, that in any business you have had to transact for
me, you have always shewn an inclination to meet my
wishes, for which I feel much obliged,
And am, Sir
Your obedient servant.
(Signed)
H.A. CRAUSE.
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
Belton,
Sir
In reply to your question, it affords me great satisfaction to
state, that I have ever received immediate attention from you, when need has
required my waiting upon you, and that I have always felt greatly obliged by
the kindness of your manner upon such occasions.
I have the
honor to be, Sir
Your
obliged and most obedient servant,
(Signed)
William WAIT.
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c &c. &c.
-------------------------------------------
Graham’s
Town,
Sir
Having learnt with astonishment and indignation, that at a
late Meeting of the Settlers’ Fund Society in Cape Town, it had been stated,
that you had not time nor inclination to attend to, or relieve the distresses
of the Settlers; and that in particular, a case of extreme distress had been
alluded to, wherein you had refused assistance, although strongly urged thereto
by the Officer commanding at the Caffre Drift Post, I
feel myself, in justice and in duty, bound to declare, that from my own
personal knowledge to the contrary, such assertions are unwarranted, and have
no foundation in truth whatever; and that, having been for upwards of two years
last past in constant daily attendance at your Office, I am ready to make oath,
that during that period, in no single instance, within my recollection, have
you, among the numerous applications for relief, declined attending to, or
refused to afford assistance to the necessitous, but that to every case of
which I have had any knowledge, you have given the earliest attention, and
afforded the most prompt and efficient aid.
As an individual among the British Settlers, and as an
Englishman, I cannot but feel abhorrence an disgust at the means which have
been resorted to, in order to excite the sympathy of the Public in their
behalf; and if the characters of the Settlers, as a body, are to be shamefully
traduced, and their Magistrates libeled and calumniated, to gratify the
personal hostility or party spirit, of a self-elected Committee, it then
becomes an imperious duty on every honest mind to deprecate such proceedings,
and to use every endeavour to prevent a generous Public from being further
imposed on by exaggerated mis-statements and
scandalous mis-representations.
I have the
honor to be, Sir
Your
obedient servant,
(Signed) R.
GODLONTON.
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
---------------------------
(Copy –
Enclosure to H)
[No. 11.]
Having heard it has been stated, that Mr. RIVERS, the
Landdrost of Albany, had not time to attend to the cases of distress among the
English Settlers, and that if he had the time, he had not the inclination; we
feel it due to that gentleman, to declare that we consider the assertion to be
incorrect and unfounded.
Miles
BOWKER, Head of Party William
POTTER
Nathaniel
MORGAN, ditto James
WEEKS
Richard M.
SATCHWELL, ditto William
PENNY
William LEE Benjamin
BOOTH
William
COCK, Head of Party James
KIDD
Henry LLOYD George
DUFFEL *
John MANDY,
Head of Party Thomas
WEBSTER
William
THACKWRAY Thomas
PALMER
R. WHITE,
Act. Head of Party ` T. H. HALSE
Jeremiah
HONEY James
HANCOCK
G. SOUTHEY,
Head of Party Joseph
STEPHENS
Carry
HOBSON Richard
BOWLES
S.
LIVERSAGE, Head of Party George
Hezekiah
SEPHTON, ditto Benjamin
LEECH
Charles
MOUNCEY, ditto Robert
BRADY
Edward
TURVEY, ditto Frederick
HAWKES
Richard
HAYHURST, ditto William
A MORGAN
William
PIKE, ditto Charles
LUCAS
Samuel
JAMES, ditto Joseph
RICHARDS
Charles
HYMAN, ditto John
CAWOOD
William
BEAR Rev.
W. BOARDMAN, Head of Party
Richard
PEACOCK
James
WRIGHT William TROTTER
Charles
PENNY William PRYNN
Thomas
HOLMES James
HISCOCK
John KEEVY Richard
HARVEY
Henry
ULYATE Charles
WEBB
Robert
GODFRY John
BIGGS
Samuel
ALLEN George
OGILVIE
A. M’KENZIE John
Ellis BIGGS
Joseph
RHODES George
TAYLOR
George
HOWSE William HOGG
Thomas
STRINGFELLOW William
BIGGS
George
BLAKEMORE William
MUIRE
Thomas
ROBINSON William
LACEY
Philip
C. ADCOCK Thomas
BINGLE
Richard
PRIOR James
RICHARDSON, Head of Party
Robert PITT Robert
WILDE
William
VERITY James
COWIE
Joseph RAY George
TUTTER***
John
ARMSTRONG Peter
ELLAR
Benjamin
WRIGHT Christopher
WEBB
William
BOND John
EDKINS
Dennis
Thomas
KENE**** Thomas
CLARKE
James LEANY George
GATEHOUSE
Robert A.
POLE, Acting Head of Party***** Henry
SHARP
George
JENKINSON Henry
MARSHALL
Charles
WOOD Patrick
KEOUGH
Robert
RAWLINS Isaac
WIGGILL
James
RATHBONE George
FAIRCLOTH
Benjamin
NORDEN Richard
FREEMANTLE
George CLARKE Robert
HENMAN
Henry
VOKENS William
CHADWICK
James
FITZGERALD Timothy
DIVINE
Charles
GRUBB John WILSON
George
PEACH William
ATWELL
Donald
M”DONALD William
DUDGE
Francis
FYNN James
DONOVAN
George
PHILIPS Morris
SLOWMAN
G. DYASON,
Head of Party William
STANTON
William
THOMAS Thomas
BROWN
James
THOMAS James
WHEELER
Charles
KESTTELL John
PURDON
Sarah CADLE Sarah
POWEL
S. MEHRTEM F.
W. HILES
William TARR Thomas
BRENT
James SMITH Joseph
KING
Samuel
HAYES John
GIDDONS+
Giles
WILLAN Joseph
KING, Sen.
Thomas PAGE Robert
FOXCROFT
Henry
HARPER George
HODGKINSON
William DOUGLAS George
ANDERSON, Act.
Head of Party
John
POULTON
Thomas
BAINBRIDGE George
PALMER
Edward
HELY++ Francis
ALLISON
Richard
FORRESTER William
ELLIOT
Thomas
MANLEY William
CLAYTON
William
FORD Benjamin
KERTON+++
William
MOUNTFORD Henry
FOULDS
Abraham
ROBINSON William
HARTLEY
Samuel
JENKIN George BROWN
Robert
SAMPSON Thomas
TORR
J.H.
David
CAWOOD William
TROLLIP
Joseph
COOPER James
USHER
James
CAWOOD James
RANDALL
Henry BRAN William
BARTLETT
Joshua
CAWOOD Philip
HOBS
Tobias
THARRAT Thomas
LANHAM
William
CAWOOD John FORD
Jesse
PAXTON William
ELLIOT
Jeremiah
LONG Thomas WILLIAMS
William
Luck WELCH Thomas
JARMAN
John
SANDERS John OBERA
C.
WEDDERBURN, Act. Head of Party Thomas
OBERA
John
WHITEHEAD
John M.
BOWKER Thomas
FODEN
William M.
BOWKER Brabin BOWKER
Thomas Holdin BOWKER Walter
CURRIE
George
WILLIAMSON Alexander
BISSETT
John JAMES Isaac
DYASON, Sen.
John BUCKLEY Isaac
DYASON. Jun.
Joseph
THOMAS Benjamin
HEWSON
Stephen
BROWN James
VICE
Abraham
COLYER Donald
GUNN
William
BRALE Samuel
WHITTLE
James
LAPPAN Edward
FORD, Head of Party
(A true copy, from the original in my possession.)
(Signed)
Geo. DYASON
[Transcriber’s
Notation: these I think should read –
* George
DUFFIELD
** George
BELFIELD
*** George
FUTTER
**** Thomas
KEEN
*****
Robert POTE
+ John
GIBBONS
++ Edward
HEALEY
+++
Benjamin KIRTON]
-----------------
(Copy – I)
Colonial
Office,
Sir,
In further reference to my letter to you of the 20th
ultimo, relative to the statement said to have been made by Dr. PHILIP, at the
last Annual Meeting of the Settlers’ Fund, I have received His Excellency the
Governor’s Commands to transmit to you herewith a copy of a letter which I
addressed, by his direction, to Dr. PHILIP, requesting to know the names of the
parties alluded to, together with a copy of that Gentleman’s reply for your
information.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient Servant,
(Signed) P.
G. BRINK
To: Harry
RIVERS, Esq., Landdrost of Albany.
--------------
(Copy – K)
Beaufort
Vale,
Sir
When I had the honor of seeing you last, you may remember
that I proposed to lay before you and the Committee for the distribution of the
money received by the Settlers’ Fund, a plan by which it might be laid out to
the best advantage, as it may be productive either of the most beneficial or
mischievous consequences. This plan, on
the receipt of your letter, I committed to the flames, being determined to have
nothing to do with those who have the management of the business, as, should it
give general satisfaction they will arrogate to themselves the merit thereof;
and if it meet with disapprobation, I know on whom they will lay the blame.
Although I detest party or political squabbles, yet I shall
always feel happy in counteracting the effects of malevolence, and doing
justice to calumniated merit. Having suffered much from secret malignity, I
feel for my enemies in a similar situation; I leave you to judge, therefore,
what must be my feelings in behalf of those whom I have reason to consider as
my friends.
From Capt. CRAUSE, who slept at our house last night, I have
the satisfaction to learn, that he has hitherto succeeded in his mission beyond
his expectations; every one, to whom he applied, expressing a just abhorrence
of the calumny. Mr. RUTHERFOORD, I
trust, as a Gentleman, will give up his informant; if not, he ought to be
compelled to do so, that the innocent may not be liable to unjust suspicion. He will, no doubt, be detected, and we shall
have the pleasure of seeing the dirt that he has thrown at those above him,
fall upon his own head. If the infamous assassin who has had the audacity to calumniate His
Excellency, can be detected, I would willingly ride as far as
If Mr. RUTHERFOORD’s assertions be
intended to exclude you from any participation in distributing the
benefactions, you are, in my opinion, under great obligations to him. It will be an arduous, invidious, and (from
the persons with whom you would necessarily be connected) a most unpleasant
business. For my part, although I most
sincerely desire the prosperity of the Settlers, I will not throw away a word
of advice upon the junto; if they be puzzled, as I
believe they will, how to dispose of the money, they may throw it, for ought
that I care, into the Great Fish River.
Solomon says, that “out of the abundance (or over-flowing)
of the heart the mouth speaketh;” you will therefore
be plased to excuse this incoherent rhapsody, and
believe that I am, Sir,
Your
obliged and grateful servant,
(Signed)
Wm. BOARDMAN
To: H.
RIVERS. Esq, Landdrost of
-------------
(Copy – L)
Graham’s
Town
Sir,
With reference to my letters of the 31st ultimo
and 7th instant, I have the honor to submit to His Excellency the
Governor, in further refutation of the statements made by Dr. PHILIP and Mr.
RUTHERFOORD, at the Annual Meeting of the Settlers’ Fund, a copy of a letter
addressed to me by Mr. J. BAILIE, head of party.
I have the
honor to be, Sir
Your
obedient servant
(Signed)
Harry RIVERS
To: P.G.
BRINK, Esq.
--------------------
Copy –
Enclosure to L)
Graham’s
Town,
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of yesterday’s date, on the subject of the distresses of the late W. HARDEN and
his family; and as to your inattention to the sufferings of the Settlers
generally, as stated at a public meeting at
The circumstances of HARDEN’s
death-bed being the very bed in which wife was confined, may have arisen from
their having but one sleeping room, but their bed was a very large one, and
there was another bed place in the same room, which I am not at this moment
prepared to say was, or was not, occupied by Mrs. HARDEN at that time. HARDEN was constantly attended by the medical
officers at Caffre-Drift Post, Messrs. MORGAN and
MAIR, and was frequently visited by Captain CLARKE, and from the whole of these
gentlemen he received many presents of necessaries and comforts. The family were
never, during any period of these afflictions in want, as their account with
me, for meat, flour, rice, tea, and sugar, can testify, besides which, a
subscription to a considerable amount was raised during his illness amongst his
fellow-tradesmen, and a supply of comforts was also furnished by your
direction.
The child
was buried in the garden at HARDEN’s own request, and
he was subsequently interred beside the child, at Mrs. HARDEN’s
desire, although a grave had been prepared for him, with considerable labour,
in the public burial ground. Subsequent
to his death, you may remember having directed me to purchase for the widow a
good milch cow, or what other immediate necessaries
she might be in want of, on your personal guarantee, until he next meeting of
the Fund Committee should sanction an issue to her.
To the conclusion of your letter, on the subject of your
general inattention to the distresses of the Settlers, and your not having time
or inclination to relieve the objects who might present themselves to you for
that purpose, living remote, as I do, from the Drostdy,
I can only speak to what has come to my immediate knowledge. I applied to you on behalf of Mrs. HARDEN,
and Henry LLOYD, and was immediately attended to, and obtained the required
assistance.
T.P. ADAMS, to my knowledge has also
obtained repeated and considerable assistance from you, which, with the other
two cases, are the only three cases in my former party that have ever yet
applied to you. I can further assure you
that, in the littler intercourse I have with my fellow-settlers, I have not
heard any complaints in support of the broad assertion so highly prejudicial to
the general character I have always heard of you, both in your private and
official capacities.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your most
obedient servant,
(Signed)
John BAILIE*
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
* The
Reader will not fail to compare the contents of this letter, and of Mr. GODLONTON’s with
Dr. PHILIP’s statement relative to Mr. HARDEN’s family.
-----------------
(Copy – M)
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 30th ult. which only reached me this day, owing to the great
rains in this quarter.
In reply to that part of your letter which states, that at a
Public Meeting of the Members of the Fund for the Distressed Settlers, “It was
stated that you had not time to attend to the distresses of the Settlers, and that
if you had time, you had not the inclination.”
I must observe, that from my own
knowledge, I have always found you ready and willing to afford your time to
attend to the representations I have made to you on various occasions, and the
many instances in which you have granted relief to the Settlers upon a proper
representation.
These are
convincing proofs to my mind, of your willingness to afford your time, and
further proof of your inclination to attend to the distress of the
Settlers.
I have also heard from various and good authority, of the
great attention of your Lady to the applications of the lying-in women, and
granting them necessary comforts required for such a situation.
These are
to my mind satisfactory evidence against the above statement.
I have the
honor to remain, Sir
Your most obedient servant.
(Signed)
C.T. THORNHILL
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
-----------------------
(Copy – N)
Colonial
Office,
Sir,
I am directed by His Excellency the Governor, in reference to
your letter of the 28th ultimo, in which you observe, “that you do
not feel competent to disclose the name of the Military Officer, to whom you
alluded at the General Meeting of the Settler’s Fund Society on the 18th
ultimo,” to request that you will have the goodness to inform His Excellency of
the name of the suffering party, for whose relief, it is stated, application
had been made in vain to one of the Authorities at Graham’s Town.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient servant,
(Signed)
P.G. BRINK
To: Rev.
Dr. PHILIP
----------------------
(Copy – O)
My Lord,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter, 15th
September, from the Colonial Office, requesting me to furnish your Excellency
with the name of the suffering Family, for whose relief application had been
made in vain, to one of the Local Authorities in Albany.
In reply to
your Excellency’s request, in this communication, I am sorry to be under the
necessity of saying, that I cannot at present (for particular reasons which I
cannot now specify) comply with your Excellency’s request; but I have the
satisfaction of informing your Excellency, that I have written to Albany upon
the subject by the last Post, and that on receiving a reply to this letter, I
shall then be at liberty to say, whether I can disclose the names of the
parties.
I have the
honor to be, My Lord,
Your
Lordship’s most obedient humble servant,
(Signed)
John PHILIP.
To: His
Excellency the Right Hon. General Lord Charles Henry SOMERSET,
Governor
and Commander in Chief, &c, &c, &c.,
-------------------
(Copy – P)
Colonial
Office,
Sir,
Adverting to my last communication to you, dated the 9th
instant, relative to the statement said to have been made by Dr. PHILIP at the
last Annual Meeting of the Settler’s Fund, I am commanded by His Excellency the
Governor, to transmit to you herewith a copy of a letter (Copy-N above) which I
addressed, by his direction, to Dr. PHILIP, on the 15th instant,
requesting to know the name of the suffering party alluded to, together with a
copy of that Gentleman’s reply (Copy – O above) for your information.
I have the
honor to be, Sir,
Your
obedient servant,
(Signed) P.G. BRINK.
To: Harry
Rivers, Esq. Landdrost of
--------------
(Copy – Q)
Graham’s
Town,
Sir
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 9th instant, transmitting, by desire of His Excellency the
Governor, a copy of a letter addressed by you to Dr. PHILIP, requesting to know
the names of the parties alluded to in the statement made by him, at the last
annual meeting of the Settlers’ Fund, together with a copy of that gentleman’s
reply; and I have the honor
To repeat my request to His Excellency, that Dr. PHILIP may
be required to state the names of the officer and the persons represented to
have been in distress.
I shall not animadvert at this time on the conduct or
motives of the officer, in enjoining Dr. PHILIP to conceal the circumstances he
had related to him, or of Dr. PHILIP, in receiving the information under such
injunction; but with reference to my letters of the 31st ultimo, 7th
and 14th instant, I have the honor to submit to His Excellency, in
refutation of the statement publicly made by Dr. PHILIP and Mr. RUTHERFOORD, copies
of a letter addressed to me by Mr. W. OWEN, Head of Party, and of further
declaration, signed by twenty-eight Settlers.
I have the
honor to be, Sir
Your
obedient servant,
(Signed)
Harry RIVERS
To: P. G. BRINK, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
----------------
(Copy –
Enclosures to Q)
Sir
Having been recently informed of a most unmanly and
malicious report, which has been industriously circulated in Cape Town, stating
your conduct in your official capacity towards the Settlers in your District,
(with a view no doubt of effectually prejudicing your character,) to be such as
to warrant an assertion, that you have not their interest at heart; permit me,
Sir, to say, that I feel bound, both in honor and in gratitude, from the prompt
attention to business, and the polite treatment which I have at all times
received from you, to contradict a statement, so evidently founded in error,
and further, that I am well acquainted with, and will particularize, should it
be made a question, several instances of private kindness, which could along
emanate from feelings of benevolence..
I have no hesitation, Sir, in hazarding an opinion, that
from the large and respectable list of names, which will appear to falsify this
statement, that, in the midst of all good and disinterested men, your character
for philanthropy will be more firmly established, than before you were thus
undeservedly stabbed in the dark. Allow
me, Sir, with my most sincere wishes, for the health and happiness of yourself
and family, to subscribe myself, with great respect, Sir,
Your
obliged and obedient Servant
(Signed) W.
S. OWEN
To: H.
RIVERS, Esq. &c. &c. &c
--------------------
Having
heard it has been stated, that Mr. RIVERS, the Landdrost of Albany, had not
time to attend to the cases of distress among the English Settlers, and that if
he had the time, he had not the inclination; we feel it due to that gentleman,
to declare, that we consider the assertion to be incorrect and unfounded.
J. WAINWRIGHT,
Head of Party W.
HOLDER, Head of Party
James
MOORCROFT George
SMITH, ditto
Francis
NIBBS John
ROWLES
Thomas
WHITE Wm.
Francis P.
BENTLEY Francis
WITTAL
William
STIRK William
BLAIR
Peter
TEAGON Robert
STOCK
T. ROWLES,
Head of Party William
RICKARDS
John DUFFY Thomas
BAKER
John Henry
HEATH Robert
WICKS
Richard
ATWELL John
SMITH
Henry KING Thomas
JENKINS
John
MAYTHAM W.S.
OWEN, Head of Party
Philip KING P.R.
MARILLIER
-------------------------------
(Copy – R)
Colonial
Office,
Sir,
I am directed by His Excellency the Governor, in
acknowledging his receipt of your letter of the 22d instant, in which you
inform him that you cannot, for particular reasons, comply with His
Excellency’s request, of furnishing him with the name of the suffering Family
in Albany, which has been the subject of a late correspondence, to request you
to say if the name of the Family be HARDEN; - inquiries which have been made by
His Excellency leading him to conclude, that that was the Family alluded to in
your speech on the 18th of August.
His
Excellency will feel greatly obliged by an early reply.
I have the
honor to be, Sir
Your
obedient servant
(Signed) P.
G. BRINK
To: The
Rev. Dr. PHILIP
---------------------------------
(Copy – S)
My Lord
In reply to your Excellency’s letter of the 27th
instant, I beg leave to inform your Excellency, that to the best of my
recollection I believe your Excellency has been correctly informed as to the
name of the Family alluded to in this correspondence.
I have the
honor to be, My Lord,
Your
Excellency’s humble
(Signed)
John PHILIP
To: His Excellency
the Right Hon. General
Lord
Charles Henry
----------------------
APPENDIX
Dr. PHILIP
having asserted at the General Meeting of the Society for the relief of
Distressed Settlers, on the 18th of August, 1824 “that a Sum of
Money amounting to Rds.24,000. which had been collected by another Society,
under the immediate patronage of Government, had been allowed to lay in the
Bank un-appropriated ever since December, 1822, a period of nearly two years,
during which the sufferings of the Settlers were at the greatest height: - this
fact,” Dr. PHILIP added, “speaks for itself, - it requires no comment:” – it
has been deemed necessary to draw out a precise statement of the Receipts and
Expenditure of that Fund may judge for themselves.
RECEIPTS Rds.
Amount of
Voluntary Subscriptions 4,262 0 0
--------------------------------
EXPENDITURE.
Articles
for distribution to Women and Children, sent to the Frontier,
August,
1822, in the Locust, as per annexed List (No.1), amounting to: 1,352 0 0
Sums,
&c. distributed by the Landdrost, to meet cases of urgent
Distress,
as per annexed Account (No.2) 829 2 0
Medicines
sent to the Frontier, in the Locust,
Distribution
to the Settlers 783 5 0
Ditto,
purchased at Graham’s Town 120 2 0
Articles
prepared for distribution to Women and Children, the
Same as
those sent in August, 1822 1,352 0 0
--------------------------
Expenditure 4,392 1 0
Receipts 4,262 0 0
-------------------------
Receipts
exceeded 130 1 0
(Signed) P.G. BRINK.
----------------------------------------------------------
No. 1
For the use
of the Lying-in Hospital of Settlers’ Women in
1822, 20th August, Bought
of Hendrik HEEGERS Rds.
6 Mattresses,
with two Pillows each 60 0
12 Blankets, at 6 Rds. 72 0
48 Sheets and Pillow cases, 180 ells, at 4
24 Shifts, 96 ells, at 5 sk. 60 0
12 Petticoats 48 ells
24 Bed Gowns 64 –
--------
112
– at 5 Sks.
70 0
12 Flannel Petticoats, 48 ells, at 1 Rdr. 48 0
12 Ditto Caps, 6 ells, 6 0
24 Pair grey
Worsted Stockings, 2 Rds. 48 0
12 Cotton Shawls, 3 rds. 36 0
12 Rollers of Calico, 20 ells, at 4 Sks. 10 0
24 Handkerchiefs 12 0
6 Pair
Shoes, at 3 Rds. 18 0
24 Towels, 6 Rds. 18 0
12 Check Aprons, 18 ells, at 4 Sks. 9 0
FOR INFANTS
6 Flannel
Receivers, 6 ells, at 2 Rds. 12 0
12 Ditto Rollers, 16 ells, at 5 Sks. 10 0
24 Ditto Shirts, 16 ells, at 6 Sks. 12 0
6 Ditto
Caps, 1½ ell, at 1½ Rds. 2 2
18 Under ditto, 5 ells, at 6 Sks. 3 6
18 Scotch Cambric Caps, 3 ells, at 1½ Rds. 4 4
12 Flannel Petticoats, 12 ells, at 1 Rdr. 12 0
12 Cotton ditto, 12 ells, at 6 Sks. 9 0
24 Long Frocks, 72 ells 54 0
48 Napkins, 48 ells, at 4 Sks. 24 0
24 Towels (finer), 24 ells, at 6 Sks. 18 0
Pins, assorted 6 0
1000 Needles 7 4
24 Pieces Tae and Bobbin, 4 Sks. 12 0
6 Pair
Scissors, 6 Rds.;1 dozen Thimbles, 2 Rds.; 1 doz
Bobkins,
1½ Rdr. 9 4
Thread, assorted, 8 0
A piece of soft Linen, 24 ells, 20 0
2 Bed
Pans, at 12 Rds. 24 0
1 Large
Glyster Pipe, 9 Rds.; 1 small ditto, 6 Rds. 15 0
12 Sponges 6 0
A Copper Boiler (4 gallons), 30 0
6lbs Arrow
Root, at 4 Rds. 24 0
50lbs Sago, at 5 Sks. 31 2
6lbs. Oatmeal, at 1 Rdr. 6 0
6lbs. Grits 6 0
50lbs Pearl Barley, at 3 Sks. 18 6
50lbs. Ric,
at 2 Sks. 12 4
10lbs. Tea, at 2½ Rds. 25 0
20lbs. Coffee, at 1 Rdr. 20 0
100lbs Yellow Sugar, at 2 Sks. 25 0
12 Pint bottles Oil, at 2½ Rds. 30 0
1 Gridiron,
Fryingpan, 8 pots assorted, 2 spoons,1 Flesh Fork 60 0
2 Doz.
Tin soup places, at 10 Rds. 20 0
3 Ditto
flat ditto, at 9 Rds. 27 0
3 Tin
dishes 10 0
1 Soup
Tureen and Spoon 8 0
12 Jugs 9 0
1 Iron Kettle and Chafing Dish 10 0
1 Doz. Table Spoons 4 0
1 Ditto Knives and Forks 8 0
1 Ditto
Tea Spoons 3 0
72 Ells Check, at 5 Sks. 45 0
A Brass Coffee Pot, Britannia Metal
Tea Pot, Sugar Pot,
And Milk Pot 20 0
1 Doz.
Cups and Sauces 9 0
8 Slop
Basons 4 0
Child’s Stew Pot 5 0
A cask of Vinegar
(19 gallons, at 1 Rdr.), Cask 8 Rds. 27 0
3 Packing
Cases, 12 Rds.; 12 Gunny Bags, 6 Rds. 18 0
Custom House Charges, Boats and
Coolies, 10 0
-------------
TOTAL Rds. 1352 0
-------------
Received Payment, H.H.
-------------------------------------
No. 2
Account of
distributions, made on behalf of the Benevolent Fund for the relief of poor
lying-in Women and distressed Settlers.
1823
Rds.
14 April, To cash
paid for waggonhire, for articles, from
Algoa-Bay
154 0
To cash paid Messrs. P
HEUGH & Co. on account
Of the Widow FREEMANTLE, 57 2
To cash Mrs. FREEMANTLE, 20 0
To cash Mrs. HARTLEY,
SAMSON, BRADFIELD,
And PIKE, for making up
clothes and baby linen, for
Lying-in
Women. 50 0
To cash Mrs. BEGLEY, for
ditto 33 0
To Cash Mrs. BREETON,
for relief 55 0
To cash Mrs. KNOWLES 4 0
To cash Mrs. ARMSTRONG 5 0
3 May To cash
Mrs. FELMER 5 0
To cash David HALL 5 0
To cash Samuel MOLLET 10 4
To cash George CLAYTON 5 4
5 July To cash paid the Rev. Mr. SHAW,
for Mrs. FILMER 5 0
To ditto, ditto, for
ditto, to enable her to proceed to
To cash paid Mr. BOWKER,
for Mrs. HARDEN 50 0
To ditto, ditto, for
distressed Settlers in his
Neighbourhood
100 0
2 Dec. To cash, Bishop BURNETT
150 0
To cash T. P. ADAMS 50 0
To cash J. WALKER 50 0
-------------
829
2
------------
ARTICLES
24 Baby’s Caps 24 Pillow Cases
24 Night Gowns 18 Rollers
24 Shifts 24 Shifts
12 Under Petticoats 12 Petticoats
12 Under Caps 48 Napkins
12 Flannel Wrappers 1 Piece
of Chintz
12 Women’s Caps 23 Lbs. of Sugar
12 Flannel Petticoats 6¼ Lbs. of Tea
24 Bed Gowns 5 Lbs. of Grits
12 Pairs of Sheets 5 Lbs. of Sago.
The above
have been distributed amongst the following persons, between the 4th
of September 1823 and 14th of August, 1824, viz:-
To Mrs. LLOYD To Mrs. PIKE
BOULDS WRIGHT
FARLEY FENELETT
RALPH McKENZIE
WIGGALL WHITEHEAD
EDKINS
ADCOCK KEEVY
KING SWEETMAN
WILLIAMS STYLES
(Signed) H RIVERS
FINIS