Circular 1: Published
in The Times 17 July 1819
The following is an Official Circular
I have to
acquaint you in reply to your letter of the ______ that the following are the
conditions under which it is proposed to give encouragement to emigration to
the
The
sufferings to which many individuals have been exposed, who have emigrated to
his Majesty’s foreign possessions, unconnected and unprovided with any capital,
or even the means of support, having been very afflicting to themselves, and
equally burdensome to the colonies to which they have proceeded, the Government
have determined to confine the application of the money recently voted by
Address in the House of Commons, to those persons who, possessing the means,
will engage to carry out, at the least, ten able-bodied individuals above 18
years of age, with or without families, the Government always reserving to
itself the right of selecting from the several offers made to them those which
may prove, upon examination, to be most eligible.
In order to
give some security to the Government, that the persons undertaking to make
these establishments have the means of doing so, every person engaging to take
out the abovementioned number of persons or families shall deposit at the rate
of 10L (to be repaid as hereinafter mentioned) for every family so taken out,
provided that the family does not consist of more than one man, one woman and
two children under 14 years of age. All children above the number of two will
be to be paid for, in addition to the deposit abovementioned, in the proportion
of 5L for every two children under 14 years of age and 5L for every person
between the ages of 14 and 18.
In
consideration of this deposit, a passage shall be provided at the expense of
Government for the settlers, who shall also be victualled from the time of
their embarkation until the time of their landing in the colony.
A grant of
land, under the conditions hereafter specified, shall be made to him at the rate
of 100 acres for every such person or family whom he so takes out; one-third of
the sum advanced to Government on the outset shall be repaid on landing, when
the victualling at the expense of Government shall cease. A further proportion
of one-third shall be repaid, as soon as it shall be certified to the Governor
of the colony that the settlers under the direction of the person taking them
out are actually located upon the land assigned to them; and the remainder at
the expiration of three months from the date of their location.
If any
parishes in which there may be a redundancy of population shall unite in
selecting an intelligent individual to proceed to the Cape, with settlers under
his direction, not less in number and of the description above-mentioned, and
shall advance money in the proportion above-mentioned, the Government will
grant land to such an individual at the rate of 100 acres for every head of a
family, leaving the parish at liberty to make such conditions with the
individual, or the settlers, as may be calculated to prevent the parish
becoming again chargeable with the maintenance of such settlers, in the event
of their return to this country.
But no
offers of this kind will be accepted, unless it shall be clear that the persons
proposing to become settlers shall have distinctly given their consent, and the
head of each family is not infirm or incapable of work.
It is
further proposed, that in any case in which one hundred families proceed
together, and apply for leave to carry out with them a minister of their own
persuasion, Government will, upon their being actually located, assign a salary
to the minister whom they may have selected to accompany them, if he shall be
approved by the Secretary of State.
The lands
will be granted at a quit rent to be fixed, which rent, however, will be
remitted for the first 10 years; and at the expiration of three years, (during
which the party and a number of families, in the proportion of one for every
hundred acres, must have been resided on the estate,) the land shall be
measured at the expense of Government, and the holder shall obtain, without
fee, his title thereto, on a perpetual quit rent, not exceeding in any case 2L
sterling for every 100 acres; subject, however, to this clause beyond the usual
reservations* - that the land shall become forfeited to Government, in case the
party shall abandon the estate, or not bring it into cultivation within a given
number of years.
I am, your most obedient humble servant.
* The usual reservations are the right of the Crown to
mines of precious stones, of gold and silver, and to make such roads as may be
necessary for the convenience of the colony.
Circular 2:
Published in The Times 13 August 1819
INTENDED COLONY at the
The following official circular has been issued from
the Colonial Department, in answer to applications for information on the
subjects therein referred to:-
Downing-street
Sir,
In
reply to your letter of the _____ I am directed by Earl Bathurst to acquaint
you, that as the circular letter distinctly specifies the nature and extent of
the assistance which will be granted to individuals who may be allowed to
proceed as settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, together with the conditions
under which alone that assistance can be given to them, it is only necessary to
refer you to that document, and to add that no proposal can be accepted which
is not framed in conformity with the offer of his Majesty’s Government.
With
reference to your particular enquiries respecting the mode in which the views
of the settler may best be attained, I have to acquaint you, that
it is not in Earl Bathurst’s power to communicate to you that species of
information, which can most properly be afforded by the practical
agriculturalist or obtained upon the spot.
The
settlers will be located in the interior of the colony, not far from the coast;
and in allotting to them the lands which Government have agreed to grant to
them, their interests and their wishes will be consulted, and attended to as
far as may be consistent with the public interests of the colony.
The
settlers will be enabled to purchase a limited quantity of agricultural
implements in the colony, at prime cost; although they are not debarred from
taking with them a moderate supply of these articles, as well as necessaries;
and they will find no difficulty in purchasing seed in the colony.
The
settlers will not find habitations ready for their reception.
The
person under whose direction a party of settlers proceed is at liberty to
secure their services by any legal agreement into which they may think proper
to enter.
The
new settlement will, of course, be governed according to the laws in force in
the colony.
In
conclusion, I beg to observe, that it must be left to the person taking out
settlers to form their own opinion as to the amount of the pecuniary means with
which they should be provided, in order to support the persons placed under
their directions, and ensure the success of their undertaking.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant