CO48/45 National Archives, Kew, London  ~  1820 Settler Correspondence  P-S

 

Transcribed by volunteers from the ZA-IB and ZA-EC Rootsweb mailing lists from digital photographs taken by Sue Mackay and Rowena Wattrus at the National Archives. The original correspondence is filed in order of receipt. Here it has been placed in alphabetical order according to the surname of the writer, with letters by the same writer in chronological order, for ease of reading. Original spelling has been maintained.

 

Letters were either addressed to Lord BATHURST, Secretary of State for the Colonies, (starting My Lord), or to his deputy Henry GOULBURN (starting Sir). Reference numbers, where given, refer to printed page numbers stamped on the letters and will enable visitors to the National Archives to locate the letter more easily. If a page number is not given then the date of the letter will give a good idea of its whereabouts in the file.

 

Names in red actually became 1820 settlers to South Africa, as listed in ‘The Settler Handbook’ by M.D. Nash, not necessarily with the Party listed here.

 

LOWNDES, William et al re John POULTON (filed under L in CO48/44)

 

436

Chesham

Co. Buckingham

Nov 10th 1819

May it please your Lordship

                                    We the undersigned inhabitants of Chesham aforesaid beg to represent to your Lordship that John POLTON, also of Chesham, an honest industrious man with a family of 9 children, has been prevailed upon by William HOWARD late of Chesham aforesaid, representing himself, as Mr. POLTON alleges, to be the accepted Head of a party of Candidates for Colonization to Southern Africa, with his family to join Mr. HOWARD’s party. We beg further to represent that POLTON aforesaid professes, we believe truly, to have paid £27-10-0 into the hands of Mr. HOWARD; has actually sent his family to Town, made other arrangements in furtherance of  his design. The said POLTON also states that HOWARD shewed him a letter from the Colonial Office which stated Mr. HOWARD’s admission by your Lordship as a principal of a colonizing party 15 in [number]. Now some of us have reason to know that Wm. HOWARD’s proposal to take out a party was not accepted by your Lordship altho by representing himself as included in the Company of one WILKINS or some such name he obtained credit & support among us as a colonist accepted in his individual capacity.

            In consideration of the promises as well as the simplicity & low circumstances of Mr. POLTON we beg to know whether HOWARD has been accepted by your Lordship as the Head of 15 colonists; or in such a party or in any other, of which WILKINS or any other was the principal? In which case we beg further to know whether John POLTON aforesaid is registered in the said party? And if so whether the s’d sum of £27-10-0 has been pd or acknowledged to have been rec’d by Mr. HOWARD or WILKINS or any other on behalf of John POLTON aforesaid? And we cannot doubt that  the same feeling of humanity which suggests these inquiries will move your Lordship not only to excuse the trouble we give but to command the information we most earnestly & respectfully solicit. We are, may it please your Lordship

Your Lordship’s most obed’t humble serv’ts

Thos. HEWETT, Curate of Chesham

Wm. LOWNDES, Magistrate

John BAILEY, Churchwarden

Geo. SOUTHERY Overseer

 

The bearer hereof may be mistaken as to the name of WILKINS alias WILSON or WILKINSON but it is a decided fact that he has paid his money, supposing he had conformed to the provisions of the act for such colonization

W.H. BIGGS

Thos. HUMPHRIES

Inhabitants

 

MacPHERSON, L (filed under P)

 

106

New Compton St

Soho Square

9th Aug 1819

Sir,

It being my intention to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope under such regulations as his Majesty's Government has laid down with respect to other Individuals proceeding thither I have the honor to request you will be so good to acquaint me what space of land may be allotted to me in the event of my taking ten persons or families out with me with the particulars of the Regulations adopted by Government respecting such persons, as also with the particulars of any other Regulations on this head.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your most obedient very humble servt

L. MACPHERSON

Dy. Purveyor to the Forces

Half Pay.

 

MacPHERSON, W (filed under P)

 

1 Manly Place

Kennington Common

14 July 1819

Sir

Being applied to by several deserving men out of employment (some of them old soldiers) for Information to Emigrate to the Cape of Good hope, I request you will be pleased to acquaint me with the particular conditions on which land is granted by Government to persons emigrating to that colony.

I beg leave to stake, that, in the event of Gov’t requiring the assistance of an agent or Superintendent in the colony I shall be happy to be so employed, for which I can give the most unexceptionable references and security.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obed servant

W. MACPHERSON

 

52

No. 1 Manly Place

Kennington

27th July 1819

Sir,

I have to acknowledge receipt of your circular letter on the subject of Emigration to the Cape of Good Hope, and should be glad to have some further explanation before I can recommend the men that have applied to me, to leave their native country, the point I wish most particular is, whether Government will furnish all the implements of Husbandry at the Cape and in what terms? or will the government advance money on the [security] of persons taking out families with the security of the land? and will such land after being brought to a proper state of cultivation be allowed to be transferrable or sold to other settlers at the expiration of three or more years?  and what is the situation of the land proposed to be granted and what distance from the Cape?

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

W. MACPHERSON

 

PS in case of reference I beg to mention the Rt Hon’ble J.C. VILLIERS who has known me some years.

 

246

Manly Place

Kennington

30th September 1819

Sir,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd ult on the subject of emigration to the Cape which I have submitted to my correspondents in different parts of the country, and the general opinion amongst them is that agriculturists of small capitals going as settlers to a new Colony and at so great a distance from the mother country are subject to many difficulties which should be guarded against as far as freedom and judgement can suggest.  I am therefore directed to submit whether any objection will be made on the part of Government to a plan prepared to obviate such difficulties and sanctioned by several Gentlemen of the highest respectability to form an association of such persons by joining each other's means with parishes and persons of larger sums not exceeding 1000 individuals, thereby establishing a fund for mutual assistance sufficient to secure employment to industrious poor workmen and enabling persons of small capitals to take advantage of the offers of Government to Emigrate, in gradual proportions, with confidence and success!

At present it is only intended (if sanctioned by your office) to send out a few intelligent persons in the proportion of 10 to 100 with proper assistance to take possession of land which the Governm’t may be pleased to grant so as to make such arrangements for receiving others of the association, that on their arrival they shall be provided with every thing requisite to cultivate the land &c.

By this number of individuals joining for mutual assistance and advantage binding the interests of each person to support the whole, either by his money or service, will render this unity permanently usefull, and ultimately relieve the country from the expenses of any military establishment in that [part] where this society may be located.

The fund to be raised by this association may be placed in Governm’t Security in the names of Trustees or subject any other arrangement approved of by the Secretary of State for general comfit, this being the object of the individuals who are most anxious to avail themselves of the plan and of the Gentlemen who have promised their deposit.  I trust the importance of this application will not be diminished from the humble rank of the applicant who has the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

W. MACPHERSON

 

McPHAIL, F (filed under P)

 

84

Wicklow

4th August 1819

My Lord

With submission I beg to inform your Lordship, that I made an application for leave to go out as a Settler to the Cape of Good Hope about two years ago when Mr GOULBURNE informed me, by your Lordship's desire that Government gave no Encouragement at that time.

I now find that there is a Parliamentary Grant for the Encouragement of settlers at the Cape, and Hope my past services in the Navy and Army will intitle me to a preference, as I am informed the choice of persons (who obtain grants) will be left to your Lordship, and I can get recommended by several Gentlemen who formed part of the Grand Jury and the Late Assizes - whenever your Lordship requires it.

A Gentleman in the neighbourhood of Wicklow with a capital of two thousand pounds proposes to purchase a Vessel and take out his Farming implements Furniture & ten families under such regulations as your Lordship may require, and on account of my knowledge of the Cape he is desirous of my making one of the Ten if it meets your Lordship's approbation, and he is now on the point of disposing of a part of his Property, for the purpose of going to the Cape or in case of failure he will proceed to America.

He wishes to know if he takes out Ten Families at his own expence and finds them in Provisions and Water what compensation he will receive from Government and whether his Furniture and Private Property will be subject to any duty on his landing at the Cape.

We now hope your Lordship will be pleased to order such information and instructions as will enable us to proceed to the Cape before the westerly gales set in.

I am with the greatest respect

your Lordship's very humble servant

F. MCPHAIL

Wicklow Ireland

 

The gentleman I have alluded to would be willing to go out in an Indierman if they would permit him to take his Furniture and Farming implements with him.

 

139

Wicklow

17th August 1819

Sir

Permit me to return you my sincere thanks for the printed instructions dated the 9th inst. and as I am not the Principal, request you will allow me to change the correspondence to Mr John GILBERT of Sandymount near Wicklow who is now with me and dictates the following letter.  In the mean time I beg leave to subscribe myself, Sir

Your much Obliged humble servant

Francis MCPHAIL

 

To the Right Hon’ble Earl BATHURST

 

My Lord

From the Encouragement given by Government and the information I have received from MCPHAIL who was four years at the Cape I am induced to offer myself as a settler at Algoa Bay and am willing to conform to the Regulations laid down by Government respecting the people going out under my care.

I have upwards of £2000 in ready money and shall leave behind me as a reserve in case of failure about £250 pounds a year - permit me to ask your Lordship where and with whom I shall leave the deposit money and what Port we shall embark at, as I have a Thrashing Mill, Winnowing Machines, Ploughs &c to take with me, if allowed and Waterford or Cork would be convenient enough if any ships sail from thence.

Many people have made application to me, but I cannot as yet give any answer to them, but my intent is to select the most usefull and before I Encourage them to quit their present situations, I would wish to be certain of our not being disappointed, as it may be a means of ruining them, besides, I shall have to advance Money to pay the debt of some of them, over and above the Money that is to be deposited in the hands of Government.

The following persons I would give the preference to if approved of by your Lordship, viz a Carpenter, a Smith, seven Petit Farmers who are tenants under me and MCPHAIL who is a master of all Trades and a tolerable Farmer & who with my assistance and instructions will do well at the Cape.  I knew him an officer in the Somerset Fensibles in Wicklow in 1801 and believe he is a deserving Man, has seen much service and has too large a family and but a small income.

I hope your Lordship will pardon me when I say that we are impatient to know what step to take - any information or your Lordships Order will be most thankfully received and instantly obeyed by your Lordship's most obedient and very humble servant

[signed] J. GILBERT

 

Please direct to

Mr John GILBERT

Care of F MCPHAIL

Wicklow

Ireland

 

PALMER, J

 

277

No.14 Nibbin Row

Black Friars Road

Oct 6th 1819

Sir,

            I have taken the liberty of writing a few lines to know if you can put me into a way of going out to settle at the Cape and knowing any particular party that intends settling there should you know of any vacancy in any office whatever that myself and wife can get over free of expense having but little excepting what we shall be able to get by our own industry. What little money we can scrape together we should want to purchase such articles with as would be of most service to the new settlers at the colony. If you should not know of any vacancy in any capacity whatever so that I might be able to raise a few pounds, going soon, could you inform by what means I can get a free passage. I should feel a lasting obligation; myself and wife have not yet seen our 24 year, family at present none.

I remain your most humble servant

J. PALMER

 

PALMER, Thomas

 

[Transcriber’s note: it is not certain which, if either, of the Thomas PALMERs below was the one who emigrated with WILLSON’s Party]

 

PALMER, Thomas (1)

 

305

Lower Marsh

Lambeth

Oct. 11th 1819

Sir

I humbly request that you will do me the favour of sending my address to the Earl BATHURST, and should you think it worthy of further favour, I shall feel grateful for any service you may feel disposed to bestow upon it in the way of recommendation.

The accompanying packet contains the letter of recommendation, also several certificates spoken of in my address to the Earl, as proofs of my statement being correct. The necessary deposit in fact is already paid into a banking house & the which shall be forthcoming at a few hours notice.

Your kindness in forwarding my wishes will be most thankfully and gratefully received by Sir

Your most respectful humble servant

Thos. PALMER 

 

309

Lower Marsh

Lambeth

Oct. 12 1819

Sir,

            Fearing some mistake I take the liberty of writing to inform you that on Monday afternoon last, I sent into the Colonial Office a packet of papers containing an address to the Earl BATHURST, also a letter addressed to you, with certificates. The favour of a speedy answer to the same will be most thankfully received by your most obedient respectful humble servant,

Thos. PALMER

 

PALMER, Thomas (2)

 

73

Waterford

August 2 1819

My Lord,

Finding that government is giving an encouragement to settlers at the Cape of Good Hope, by sending them out free of expense and granting to each a portion of land, I humbly take the liberty of requesting your Lordship will be pleased to allow me to proceed thither, and if necessary to take with me a few followers, some of whom have small families.

I sailed for several years with Admiral PENROSE as clerk and secretary and am but lately returned to this my native city, in consequence of his having been superceded in the command of the Mediterranean.

Having some knowledge of agriculture, and finding no prospect of pursuing it to advantage here, I am induced to make this application to your Lordship, and if requisite will forward certificates of conduct and character, and will pledge myself that none shall accompany me whose characters are not equally unexceptionable. I will also observe that I am ready to make any deposit which may be required.

I have the honour to be, My Lord

Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant

Thos. PALMER

 

300

Waterford

11 October 1819

My Lord,

I have the honour to enclose a list of persons willing to accompany me to the Cape of Good Hope, agreeably to the instructions contained in your circular of the 9th of August last. If those whom I have selected should meet your Lordships approbation, you will be pleased to give me the necessary directions respecting them, and inform me of the time and place of embarkation, and the manner in which the deposit is to be made.

Your Lordship may be assured I have been very particular in the selection, and that none shall accompany me whose character will not bear the strictest investigation. As to my own, if requisite, I can produce certificates, and refer your Lordship to one of the first naval characters with whom I have

served for several years as clerk and secretary.

I have the honour to be, My Lord

Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant

Thos. PALMER

 

A list of persons to accompany Mr. Thomas PALMER to the Cape of Good Hope

 

Names

Married

Single

No.of Children

Age

Remarks

Mr.Thos. PALMER

 

Single

 

30

Has a perfect knowledge of farming

Wm. PALMER

 

Do.

 

25

Accustomed to agriculture since his infancy

Jno. CALLEGAN

Married

 

Two

29

Acquainted with country labour

Wm. TURNER

 

Single

 

33

Do.

Jno. MACKEY

Married

 

Three

32

Do.

Jno. BYRNE

 

Single

 

25

Do.

Wm. O’BRIEN

 

Do.

 

21

Do.

Dan’l TRINDLE

 

Do.

 

24

Do.

J. KELLY

 

Do.

 

27

Do.

Wm. HALL

 

Do.

 

19

Do.

 

PALMER, William

 

39

19 Shorts Gardens

Drury Lane

Saturday July 24 1819

Sir,

            As I find trade at present very dead and nothing likely to stir which enables me to get my living here I therefore make application as I find that persons of good health and strong constitution is wanted for the fertilizing of the Cape of Good Hope as my mind is fully satisfied to go if I can agree with the terms proposed for the emigration.

Yours &c

Wm. PALMER

Locksmith, Bellhanger, Smith in general

Aged 22 years

 

67

19 Shorts Gardens

Drury Lane

July 29 1819

Sir,

            Having received an answer to the letter I wrote concerning the statement of the propositions for those inclined to emigrate to the Cape and am satisfied with the statement as it respects the passage and allso the grant that is made to those that go but for further satisfaction I wish to know whether I am to be provided with tools for my employ or whether I am to provide myself with them and allso what is to be provided for the cultivation of the land given and in what way the land is to be cultivated and allso what means of suppoart there will be for those who settle at the cape as it appears to me that no trade can be carried on till the land becomes cultivated, likewise when we shall embark or how we shall attain a knowledge of our embarkation.

And I remain yours

Wm. PALMER

 

PARK, William

 

16

No.2 Olivers Buildings

Everards Street

Church Lane

St. Georges East

July 20th 1819

Honoured Sir,

                        Having heard that it is the intention of Government to send Free Settlers out to the Cape of Good Hope for the purpose of agriculture and I having been at the Cape 5 tears as house steward and residing in the country I am not unacquainted with the farming business. In 1811 I came home to my friends in London. I have been near 4 years an extra tide waiter in His majesty’s Customs but there is only employment about six months in the year @ 6d per day who have been in a starving state, if your honour thinks me fitt for & would be thankfull for the nesesary information respecting the terms.

Honoured Sir I am your must humble st.

Wm. PARK

 

45

July 26th 1819

Honoured Sir,

                        I beg leave to say that I have received the printed form nesessary for persons emigrating to His Majesty’s Colony at the Cape of Good hope but I could wish much to have a few things explained. I would wish to know if Slaves are allow’d by HM Government to clear the ground for the purpose of cultivation as that for one person would be dificult indeed and if implements for husbandry is found and nesessary things for cultivating the land and if I could not gett together so much as 10 able bodied men wether they would be taken as my acquaintance is but very limited. I have now a few in pen and shall endeavour to gett the full compliment and where, when are [we] to make our apearance and a what time and if a dwelling house is to be provided by His Majesty’s Government.

Honoured Sir I am your must humble st.

Wm. PARK

 

PARKER, Charles

 

46

No.15 Long Lane

Borough

Southwark

July 26th 1819

Sir,

            Having seen an advertisement in a paper wishing for British Subjects to go the Cape of Good Hope (as settlers) I much wish to become one should you approve of me, being out of employ and having nothing to doo in this country for a long tome past, a sawyer by trade having a wife and no children, age 28 years.

I remain Sir your humble servat

Charles PARKER

 

PARKER, William

 

27

[To the Rt.Hon. N VANSITTERT, Chancellor of the Exchequer]

Passage West, Ireland

22nd July 1819

Sir,

            Having always considered the Cape of Good Hope, from its geographical situation, the salubrity of its climate and the fertility of its soil, as the most valuable acquisition to Great Britain, it has afforded me much satisfaction that you now so laudably, humanely and patriotically turn your attention to the extension of the population and internal improvement of this important colony.

            The debates in Parliament on the 12th inst embolden me to address to you a few lines on this subject, which under your protecting hand is so eminently calculated to afford considerable relief to numerous unemployed people, who at present lead a life almost of hopeless misery.

            I had for a long time strong expectations that the waste Bog and Mere Lands in Ireland which were surveyed under the authority of Parliament would before this have been appropriated for the employment of the Irish Poor. But having read with much attention the Reports of the Commissioners and as none of these unproductive surfaces are the property of the Crown I fear that insuperable difficulties impede their immediate conversion to this humane purpose. Much time must elapse before the general disposition of their proprietors could be converted to agricultural purposes.

            Destitute of capital as Ireland is, impoverished as the resident inhabitants are and the insidious drain of the produce of the soil by absentees, it is almost impossible that industry can flourish in a country situated as this is;  therefore so may will gladly seize the opportunity offered by Government of emigrating to the Cape.

            I have seen in the London papers of the 17th inst the outlines of the Plan for Emigration. These appear to be wise and necessary but I must fear that those with whom emigration is almost the only pass cannot avail themselves of the proposed favour under the proposed limitations, especially from Ireland. Idleness and consequent poverty have reduced so many to absolute starvation that their substance is exhausted and their persons emaciated. Hundreds spend the most anxious moments of suspense as to their future destinies. They are patient and loyal under their sufferings, while they are taught by their more fortunate neighbours to place confidence in the paternal solicitude of Government.

            Engaged as I have largely been in commercial and agricultural pursuits I was in the habit of affording employment to hundreds of people in the City of Cork and in this place, the residence of my ancestors for over a century. I have expended considerable sums of money in valuable buildings which the operation of the Orders in Council in 1810 or 1811 has nearly rendered of little or no value to me at present, although the Commissioners of the Customs in Ireland have been desirous to obtain as part of my concerns for the establishment of a Revenue Department in this place.

            Having as an elector of the City and County of Cork always supported, and with some effect, the candidates for their representation in the interest of the present administration I have candidly written and told my mind to my friends, Rt.Hon. Sir N. COLTHURST and my near relative Sir J.B. MARTIN, and as my severe and extensive losses, exceeding thirty thousand pounds, were mainly caused by the Orders in Council before referred to, I have urged the two former to intervene with Government in my behalf and in case of the Island of Cuba being ceded to Great Britain to solicit my being appointed to the Master of the Havannah.

            I was induced to make this application during my commercial pursuits, I had occasion to reside for about four years in several of the West India Islands where I obtained a very general knowledge of the colonial system. The parliamentary friends alluded to have informed me that they have made the application, as I pointed out, through the medium of Mr. RICE, whose influence with Government must be as considerable as his talents are eminent and valuable.

            Although the cession of Cuba appears as yet as a speculation of the Newspapers, still those acquainted with the West Indies must consider it being annexed to Great Britain as the last bulwark of our sugar colonies, particularly of the Island of Jamaica. In part from the spirit of ambition lately shown by the United States it may be fairly anticipated that if Cuba does not belong to England many years will not elapse before it is possessed by America. Whether any negotiation be afoot or not on this subject it is impossible for me to know. But if there be no prospect of a cession of Cuba I shall have no hesitation in offering my services to His Majesty’s Government, which I now beg leave to do, through you, to take charge of a colony of settlers from Ireland for the Southern Coast of Africa. In this place I can readily get 500 persons who would gladly embark under the auspices of Government and my personal care. Many of these are able bodied men such as house and ship carpenters, ropemakers, blockmakers, smiths, nailers, sawyers, masons &c but the largest proportion would be agricultural labourers or watermen, who have served in the Yeomanry under my brother’s and my command. These men, from a previous use of arms, would assist in forming an efficient Colonial Militia, for the protection of any new settlement is an object which His Majesty’s Government must deem of infinite importance in such a colony as the Cape, and which may strongly influence the personages to whom you may be pleased to refer this letter to pay every attention to my communication.

            Inured as I am to a tropical climate, brought up to the most active industry, almost of an encyclopaedical nature, such as may be valuable in a new colony, I may not be deemed unfit to be selected by His Majesty’s Government to take charge of settlers from Ireland for the proposed Establishment at the Cape, where it must be the earnest desire of Ministers to introduce a system of morality as the best protection to industry and the future guarantee of the prospering of the colony.

            Grievously as I have suffered from the operation of the Orders in Council, without troubling either Government or Parliament with Petitions which many recommended me to submit, I humbly presume to state that I have a strong claim, not only to be favoured with your commiseration but your generous and liberal confidence, as the humane and enlightened manager of the proposed Plan.

            From time immemorial my family have fought and bled for their king and country. My uncle Colonel PARKER fell in action in India in the command of a detachment of the British Army at Bombay, and my brother Captain PARKER of the Navy lost his life, with his crew, in the command of Le Viper Sloop of War open in the act of reconnoitring the French Fleet off Bantry Bay in the awful winter of 1796.

            You have already honoured me with your correspondence and thanks for my own personal exertions in devilifing the abuses practised in Irish Grand Jury Presentiments. My Lords LIVERPOOL, CHICHESTER, and LANSDOWNE have done the same, as well as Mr. PEEL and Mr. FITZGERALD in the most gratifying terms.

            I have lately devoted much of my time to enquiries into the alarming state of the Irish Poor, towards whom you have been personally kind.

            When you were in Ireland Mr HAWTHORNE did me the favour of consulting me respecting the Window Tax, and I have strong reasons to think from that gentleman’s communications that my answers to his letters were pleasing both to you and to him, as my advice was followed. Mr. HOW informed me at this period that he expected you at his seat at Connemara and requested that I would meet you there, that I would have an opportunity of conversing with you on those local topics to which I paid so much attention. It was not my good fortune that you should visit the South of Ireland, a circumstance which I deeply regretted, as I was deprived of the honour of an interview with you, which I had hopes may have produced good.

            As I was proceeding to submit this detail to your kind, serious and prompt consideration I received a letter from my near relative the Constable of the Navy who states that he made the minutest inquiries in the best channels as to the cession of Cuba and that the report of its transfer had no foundation in truth. He therefore recommended my losing no time to provide some other situation besides that which was the object of my researches. His answer has fully confirmed me in this respectful appeal to your consideration.

My immediate family consists of a wife of one of the first connections in this county, three daughters and three sons, Mrs. PARKER and my two eldest daughters the only part of my family grown up, and perfectly content to share my fortunes in any climate I may determine to go to. If under my present circumstances it pleased God to remove me from this varied scene, their means of support would be extremely limited – a painful consideration which grieves me to the heart and embitters all my moments. But why should I, a perfect stranger to you Sir, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, trouble you with such a private detail. My answer should be candid and simple because your acknowledged humanity and the high respect you pay to the interests of Religion and the social virtues embolden me to apply directly to the fountainhead, the mover of the Plan in the House of Commons.

You have now before you a brief account of a man in the 42nd year of his age who has mixed in the first society and is most respectably, if not highly connected, who has experienced many vicissitudes of life but who still thank God possesses sufficient energies of mind and body, if aided by your patronage, of rendering important services, not only to himself but to his king, country and that Government which may take him under its countenance – one who has not despaired amidst the greatest misfortunes, but who trusting in an Omniscient Providence and in the kind consideration of Government hopes to be relieved by its instrumentality of what he fondly trusts are unmerited distresses.

The present Lord Mayor Mr ATKINS has been an old correspondent of mine. I beg leave to refer you to his Lordship and Sir J.B. MARTIN as to their knowledge of me and my connections.

Should your answer be propitious I shall have the honour of waiting on you at Downing Street to make the necessary arrangements and I flatter myself that I can take such letters from Mr. HOW and Sir N. COLTHURST and were it necessary from many of the nobility, as will entitle me to be favoured with your distinguished support in the proposal which I now take leave to submit to your consideration.

This application to your, Sir, is not only deeply interesting to me but to many respectable individuals inclined to be the companions of my voyage and partakers of my future fortunes. As such let me earnestly entreat that it will elicit your personal attention.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient and very humble st.

 Wm. PARKER

 

I take leave to inclose a letter for the Lord Mayor apprizing his Lordship of this application to you. I also take the liberty to request your perusal of my Plea for the Poor and Industrious

 

[note from GOULBURN across bottom of final page]

Acknowledge receipt of his letter transmitted by Mr. VANSITTART and acquaint him that there is no intention of approaching persons to superintend the embarkation or to take charge of settlers proceeding to the Cape, but in the event of his being disposed to proceed thither inclose him a copy of the printed letter which specifies the only conditions under which Govt. give encouragement to emigration to that settlement.

             

[Transcriber’s Note: Captain Henry Harding PARKER and his ship HMS Viper were lost on 2 Jan 1797 after engaging the French fleet, which was attempting to land insurrectionists in Ireland.]

 

92

Passage West

Friday 5th August 1819

My Lord,

            I have had the honour to receive a letter this day from Mr. VANSITTART of the 29th ult on the subject of the proposed emigration to the Cape of Good Hope, wherein he states that he should not fail to transmit to your Lordship the documents which I have sent him, as the arrangements for the proposed colonization were considered your case.

            Having paid great, almost unremitting, attention to the state of the Poor in Ireland I have tendered my services to take charge of one of the proposed colonies. On this subject I have received the most valuable information from my friend Sir Josias ROWLEY and through him from Mr. Wm. WALKER, Master of HM Brig Dispatch, who surveyed the Knysna last year and brought from its shores a cargo of timber to Deptford Dock Yard.

            The interesting and I will add the important details which have thus reached me make me desirous to use every exertion to aid the benevolent views of His Majesty’s Government in which your Lordship is to take such an active and prominent part.

            Deeply interested, as a husband and father of six children, in the success of this arduous enterprize I feel called on to unite firmness with forethought and to call into action all the exigencies of body and mind to insure success to my humble exertions.

            Having for many years laboured and with some success in bettering the condition of the Poor in Ireland I have had frequent occasions to communicate with the Irish Government, and I am happy to state that the distinguished Personages who swayed the viceregal powers in Ireland paid the most marked attention to my suggestions and with a promptness highly honourable to their humanity. Thus emboldened, I have taken a wider range of the importance of the proposed emigration than perhaps most other individuals in this country.

            My friend Sir J.B. MARTIN most probably has had an interview with your Lordship before this. I have also solicited him to have an interview with Mr. BARROW, whose trades in South Africa are likely to render such important services to the proposed adventurers. Indeed so valuable do I consider Mr. BARROW’s research that I have without any introduction taken the liberty to address to him two letters developing my views and soliciting the kindness of his advice.

            As I propose having an interview next with His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant on my way to London, you will particularly oblige me by having the goodness to inclose any communication with which your Lordship may please to favour me under cover to Wm. GREGORY Esq, Castle Dublin.

            In this town, my family residence for over a century, there are a number of helpless widows and orphans of seamen and mechanics whose life is a burthen to them in their present deplorable condition, as they are not only destitute of clothing but almost of food, without resorting to begging or crime.

            As food is to be had in abundance on the salubrious and fertile shores of Southern Africa, and as the raw materials for clothing almost spontaneously grow there, it has appeared to me that by a little timely precaution and the aid of the humane that some of these distressed individuals may be prevented continuing a prey to despondency and to despair,

            I have mentioned my ideas to several of my friends, some of whom are active Governors of the Charitable Institutions in Cork. I have therefore addressed two letters, one to the Governors of the Foundling Hospital, of which if time permits I shall inclose your Lordship copies.

            These will show you how zealous I am in humble but I trust not ineffectual exertions to do good. I propose on Monday next going to Waterford, Kilkenny and Dublin. From thence I propose visiting my friend CLAYTON at Worthington Hall, where I hope to obtain valuable information from that distinguished agriculturalist and philanthropist.

            Should Sir Nicholas COLTHURST be in London on his way to the Continent your Lordship will do me a particular favour if you will have an interview with our truly benevolent City member. He will more largely enter into this subject than I can do by correspondence, should not the charge he contemplates compel him to fly from all other concerns. His absence from the United Kingdom at a crisis so interesting to me I consider a serious loss, as I place great confidence in the sincerity of his personal friendship for me and his ardent desire to do good.

            As clothing and implements of husbandry, manufactures and defence are the main articles to be procured in the United Kingdom, it is my intention to provide a large supply of clothing &c for the settlers, that they should not become dependant on Cape Town. In this necessary object I have some idea of visiting Carlisle, Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham and if on my way through these places I can be instrumental in promoting the laudable object now so interesting to Government and to the Public I shall be most happy to do so, and request that your Lordship may command my best services.

I have the honour to be my Lord with much respect

Your most obedient humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

The widows who are likely to emigrate will be under 45 years of age and would assist in the cultivation of the vines of flax and hemp besides manufacturing the two latter into clothing for the colonists and the army. Present exertion when aided by the protecting hands of Government directed by such efficient and humane individuals as the Secretary for the Colonies and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

 

[Transcriber’s Note: The properties of Adlington and Worthington were passed by descent to members of the CLAYTON family, most notable among whom were Richard Clayton who became Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland from 1765 until his death in 1770, and another Richard Clayton who studied law and served as Recorder of Wigan 1815 - 1828, Constable of Lancaster Castle and British Consul at Nantes. He was also a noted translator with many published works to his credit. See www.my-worthington-heritage.co.uk]

 

96

[Enclosed with the above letter. A copy written in a different hand, possibly his wife or daughter’s]

 

To the Governors of the House of Industry of the City of Cork

Passage West

August 1819

My Lord and Gentlemen,

                                    The alarming situation of the poor in Ireland having for a series of years attracted my most serious attention, I have exerted all the means within my reach in endeavours to better their condition. In the progress of this undertaking I have been honoured with the constant correspondence and communications of some of the most eminent philanthropists, both in and out of Parliament. These bid me to devise a plan of rural asylums for each Barony or Union of Parishes, to be placed under the immediate primary control of the Grand Juries at Assizes and under the management of Local Committees. Such establishments would prevent as has been humanely expressed by Dr. PERCEVAL of Dublin the miseries of the country being visited on the towns as the poor of their several districts could be employed and fed “where provisions grow and are consequently cheapest”. Although my suggestions met the approbation of many competent individuals of the first characters who exerted themselves in the cause of suffering humanity, the extent of the funds required for carrying them into execution and the dread of increasing the evils of idleness, when anything like a National Support was provided for the helplessness of infancy and old age, have retarded, I will not say totally prevented, my plan being acted on.

            His Majesty’s Ministers having proposed to encourage emigration to the Cape of Good Hope, and a Parliamentary grant having been made for that purpose, as no employment is for a while likely to be provided at home for our able bodied poor, it is fortunate that such an extensive field offers for it under the immediate auspices of Government on the salubrious and fertile shores of Southern Africa.

            The general peace which so happily prevails throughout the wide expanse of the British dominions is most favourable to the happy establishment of new colonies under wise and humane regulation. Therefore after the most serious deliberation and receiving the most satisfactory accounts I have tendered my services to the British Government to conduct a colony from Ireland to the South East Coast of Africa to a climate not inferior to Italy and to a soil highly luxuriant and fertile.

            Anxious that the able bodied and moral poor of the south of Ireland should benefit from my exertions I take leave to inform you of this circumstance and to suggest that as Government propose that the able parochial poor in England should be aided by the respective parishes to emigrate, measures may be adopted to relieve your establishment, the vast utility of which has been so amply proved, from a part of its numerous inmates; provided such individuals could be selected, willing to emigrate and not labouring under physical or moral disabilities.

            I have submitted this proposition in a general way to the Irish Government, and as I propose having an immediate interview with them on the subject of my enterprize I take leave to submit to your prompt consideration the propriety of your ascertaining the number of able bodied persons and healthy children over 14 years of age, who have had the smallpox, hooping cough and meazles, as may be inclined to embark in the month of October or November for the Cape of Good Hope under the regulations approved of by Government. It is extremely desirable that the number of this description in the different Public Charities through Ireland should be accurately ascertained that the necessary ways and means should be timely provided and particularly as local subscriptions must be entered into to give a similar assistance to the Irish Poor to emigrate as the English Parishes are authorized to do from their funds.

 

98/100

Passage West, Ireland

6th August 1819

 

Mr. W. PARKER presents his most respectful compliments to Lord BATHURST & tales leave to inclose his Lordship a copy of a letter to the Governors of the Foundling Hospital in Cork on the subject of the proposed emigration to the Cape of Good Hope.

 

To the Governors of the Foundling Hospital in the City of Cork

 

My Lords and Gentlemen,

                                    Having as a Ship Owner taken from your establishment several boys as apprentices to the sea, and as it is extremely difficult during the present circumscribed state of commerce to procure situations for the children in Public Establishments, many of whom are unavoidably continued in them beyond the age prescribed for apprenticing them, I beg leave to call your attention to the Plan of Emigration to the Cape of Good Hope proposed by Government and now in progress of being carried into effect. I have tendered my services to His Majesty’s Ministers on the occasion of which the inclosed copy of my letter to the Governors of the House of Industry will more fully inform you.

            I have proposed that a number of boys and girls from the Public Charities in Ireland should be provided with means to emigrate under the special care of the Director, Clergyman and Physician of the colony where on their being located they should be apprenticed to such industrious farmers, artisans and mechanics of good moral character as the Director &c approved.

            This system was successfully acted on by the Dutch Government on the first settlement of the Cape, the most respectable inhabitants of which are the children sent from the Orphan Schools in Holland.

            I wish to call your early attention to this suggestion that you may ascertain the number of children over 14 years of age, who have had the smallpox meazles and hooping cough, who may be disposed to volunteer under my immediate care. The Physician or Surgeon who may accompany me will be instructed to examine minutely each boy and girl and to reject any that could not be embarked under every fair prospect of future success.

            I shall arrange either in Dublin or London the selection of proper Masters and Mistresses from the most approved Societies to take care of the childrens health and more to preserve the benefits of their early education and to instruct the rising generation of the colonists and if possible of the Natives.

            Every precaution which human forethought can [demand] under the direction of the most enlightened philanthropists in Great Britain and Ireland shall be adopted and as means will permit to insure the happiness of the inhabitants of the New Colony. In a climate where the vine, the olive and the mulberry flourish, where hemp, flax and cotton grow in a natural state, where food is in abundance, human industry aided by morality is alone sufficient to render its people happy. I take leave to submit this letter to your most humane and serious consideration that you may take the necessary steps in time to promote the interests of so many children under your fostering care, and that if necessary the approbation of Government may be procured for sanctioning an advance of your funds on this occasion.

Be so good as to inclose your answer under cover to Wm. GREGORY Esq, Castle Dublin

I have the honour to be my Lords and Gentlemen

Your very obedient humble servant

Copy

 

120

Passage West, Ireland

11th August 1819

Sir,

            I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 3rd inst with the inclosed circular on the subject of emigration to the Cape of Good Hope.

            In this parish and the neighbourhood of Cork there is a vast redundant population whose lives are a burthen to themselves and a dead weight on society.

            The sixth paragraph in the circular letter appears to me to apply to this particular description of persons, from which it is generally supposed to be the humane wish of Government to relieve the country. A strong feeling has been already shown in Cork by many respectable individuals to assist their emigration which may ultimately save the country from the enormous expense of their transportation as criminals – the records of our criminal courts fully proving that hundreds are forced to commit crimes to support a wretched existence.

            But these are not the class of persons likely to reward an enterprizing individual by their useful labours and certainly not such as I should select. Nevertheless they are such persons for whom, were it possible, Government should provide means for emigrating and where it is more the duty of the state than of an individual to relieve.

            However considerably over 100 families, the heads of which are all men possessing bodily and mental energies, freely volunteering to be the companions of my enterprize and to place themselves under my particular care. I shall therefore be perfectly satisfied to make such arrangements with them as Government may approve, provided they can empower me when located in the colony to enforce their several contracts.

The undertaking is arduous but I trust that I possess sufficient fortitude and patience to be prepared to meet with difficulties and with the blessing of God to insure success.

Thus circumstanced I shall proceed to Waterford, Dublin and Belfast, then cross over to visit my friend Mr. CLAYTON at Worthington Hall, where you will most oblige me by addressing your answer to this letter.

My Parliamentary friends have come forward with tenders of their services and although policy may influence the Colonial Department to state, as you have done in your letter to me, that there exists no intention to appoint persons to take charge of bodies of settlers to the Cape of Good Hope and to superintend their proceedings, I am perfectly satisfied that His Majesty’s Ministers will not leave these persons to create their own ruin, which would be the case unless “some intelligent individual” as the circular letter specifies should direct their industry and provide for their multiform wants.

What the [obscured] PAYNE? and Mr.BARROW have written are conclusive on these points. The present state of Society in the South East of Africa does not sanction a number of destitute individuals to be cast dependent and almost destitute on its shores remote from Cape Town without some director or head.

When Sir J.B. MARTIN and Mr. BARROW have an interview with my Lord BATHURST his Lordship will probably be inclined to allude to my suggestions.      

My views lead me to form a settlement on the sea coast for the purpose of commerce and I have stated such facts as may incline the Colonial Department to secure me a grant of land on the Knysna. I have the honour to be, Sir, with much respect

Your very obedient servant

Wm. PARKER

 

147

Greshams Hotel

Sackville Street

Dublin

Friday 20th August 1819

 

            Mr. W. PARKER presents his compliments to Mr. GOULBURN, takes leave to inform him for the information of Earl BATHURST that he has arrived from Cork in this City on his way to London, in order to enter into arrangements with the Colonial Department for the removal of a number of settlers from Cork Harbour to the Territories of the Cape of Good Hope.

            On the special recommendation of Mr. GRANT, Mr. PARKER waits for the honour of an interview with His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant in Tuesday next, as Mr. GRANT has assured him that Earl TALBOT is interested in the success of his arduous enterprize.

            Mr. GRANT has been so kind as to offer Mr. PARKER particular letters of introduction to Mr. GOULBURN, he therefore trusts that his delay in Dublin until Tuesday next will not operate to his prejudice in the very important arrangements so necessary to enter into at Downing Street.

            Mr. PARKER has had a long interview with Sir George BE....? whom he particularly consulted respecting the establishment of a Colonial Militia at the Cape, which would be so necessary for the defence of the new settlers. “Your residence in the West Indies and your experience as a Yeomanry Officer, says Sir George, must induce Government to pay particular attention to your spirited proposition. When your arrangements are made in London, says Sir George, you will find no difficulty in procuring the necessary Military Stores in Ireland should Government think proper to order them for the defence of the settlers.

                       

155

Greshams Hotel

Dublin

Monday 23rd August 1819

 

Mr. PARKER presents his compliments to Mr. GOULBURN, takes leave to acknowledge receipt of his letter of the 13th inst transmitted from Passage West and that he hopes to have the honour of paying his personal respects in Downing Street by the latter end of the week, with letters of introduction to Mr. GOULBURN from Mr. GRANT and Mr. SNEYD.

Mr. PARKER is pleased to find from Mr. GOULBURN’s letters that a part of Mr. P’s plan of emigration from Ireland is considered desirable. When Mr. PARKER has the honour of an interview with Lord BATHURST and Mr. GOULBURN he flatters himself that his experience and qualifications will give him some claim on their distinguished support.

Mr. PARKER has written to Mr. PEEL to Drayton Park and from Mr. P[obscured] communications to him when [Secretary] for Ireland he calculates on [obscured] his countenance on the arduous enterprize in which he is engaged.

 

[note from GOULBURN on back of envelope:

What can we say to this pompous gentleman who has already so completely worn out Mr. VANSITTERT by letter that Mr. V has determined on refusing to see him.]

 

175

Crown Hotel

1st September 1819

 

Mr. PARKER presents his compliments to Mr. GOULBURN and will do himself the honour of waiting on him on Tuesday next at 12 o’clock agreeably to Mr. GOULBURN’s appointment.

 

177

Crown Hotel, Strand

3rd September 1819

Sir,

            In submitting through you to Lord BATHURST’s consideration certain conditions relative to the proposed emigration of myself, family and large body of settlers from Cork Harbour to the Cape of Good Hope, I feel called on to introduce these conditions which I have no doubt will meet his Lordships approbation.

            The letters of introduction which I have had the honour to procure to Mr. VANSITTART, Lords HANDLY and CASTLEREAGH and to yourself from Mr. GRANT as the Organ of the Irish Government, accompanied with the high testimonials of my public and private character contained in these letters, embolden me to address the Colonial Department with some degree of confidence and with a humble hope that my past services in the cause of my King, Country and of suffering humanity will meet all due attention from his Lordship and yourself.

            I removed with my family to a tropical climate and respectably if not highly connected I do not appear before you in the light of an ordinary emigrant but as an individual of considerable experience and knowledge of [men?] and things, and more particularly as a patient an loyal sufferer from the operation of public occurrences and especially from the Orders in Council in 1810 or 1811, which deprived me and my friends of a very considerable property, a fact well known to my Lord LIVERPOOL and painfully distressing to me, as a husband and a father.

            I have a very general knowledge of the Colonial System having had when in the West Indies frequent confidential interviews with the Governors of most of the islands, in whose society I spent much of my time.

            The anomalous state of the Colonial Government of the Cape will no doubt shortly become an object of the serious consideration of His Majesty’s Ministers, and a system of jurisprudence will most probably be introduced, more in unison with the benign principles of the British Constitution and more consonant with the dignity of Freemen. When this happy event tales place the administration of Justice will be attended with less difficulty and will be placed in the hands of enlightened Lawyers and competent Juries. But until this happens great precautions are required in the selection of Landrosts and Council, whose powers appear to me so undefined.

            Should my Lord BATHURST be disposed to make any arrangements with me there will be no necessity for any departure of much moment from the official letters issued by the Colonial Department and which are so creditable to the humanity of His Majesty’s Government.

            But as my views are of an embracing and comprehensive nature, uniting commercial and agricultural pursuits, experience and misfortune have given me a considerable knowledge, I do trust that his Lordship will deem me deserving of a special grant of a part of those occupied lands on the banks of the Knysna, and that he will be pleased to facilitate my negotiations with Mr. George REX of Milkwood Kraal [Melkhoutkraal]* for the purchase of the farm of Eastford which appears on the map and is represented to me as being the [ideal?] situation for a Town. This Town I shall most respectfully solicit His Royal Highness the Prince Regent to name New Cork, as the harbour of the Knysna bears so strong a resemblance to that of my native city, and as the Town will I hope become populous under the auspices of the British Government and the industry of the natives of Ireland.

            The number of highly respectable individuals willing to embark with me and under my direction give me some additional claim to Lord BATHURST’s consideration. Several Naval and Military Officers, a Clergyman of the Established Church highly recommended will cooperate with me and form a loyal and efficient Council to aid me in cases of emergency and to enforce order and good conduct among the Colonists. With such assistance and with the superior help of Religion, Morality and Industry I place humble confidence under God and the protection of the British Government and I hope to see in a few years a flourishing colony on the South East Coast of Africa affording an extensive asylum to our redundant population at home and adding to the strength and revenues if the British Empire.

            These are my views and I hope that they will not be considered erroneous but that they will merit the distinguished notice of Lord BATHURST.

             Having when in Dublin fully explained myself to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on this subject it was most gratifying to me to find that His Excellency cordially approved of my enterprize and expressed himself through the Chief Secretary disposed to afford me every assistance which His Majesty’s Ministers approved of and which the great poverty of the Irish settlers mainly arising from the effects of the late contagious disease so particularly required.

            It may not be irrelevant to state that Mr. Serjeant BARTON told me in Dublin that he never saw any place better calculated to prevent the growth of pauperism and crime than the emigration now agitated. As employment cannot be found at home for our redundant population “it is a happy circumstance” says the learned serjeant “that it can be found abroad. Were there a chain of gaols and penitentiaries extending throughout Ireland it would be impossible to prevent crime as long as the people had no honest means of existence.”  

            This opinion, which I will venture to confirm, is that of all the Irish Judges [and?] will no doubt have due weight  - ask my Lord BATHURST and it will operate with the Irish Government to aid the settlers with a grant of the necessary arms, ammunitions, tents &c and for which the voluntary and loyal services of so many individuals in the Irish Yeomanry give them a strong claim.

            As an officer of the Yeomanry I pledge myself to organise all the male adults in the new colony into a respectable Regiment of Militia to aid in the guard protection of the settlement and give local confidence amongst the inhabitants of the district. In submitting this proposition I trust that I do an act of service to my country, as such a corps, unpaid, embodied for self defence and always on the alert, would strike the neighbouring savages with awe, and prevent such scenes occurring as happened at the Knysna in 1799 and which have acted on the borders of the Witte River this present year.

            The vast importance of the subject, and the interest of so many individuals for whom I am the agent, require on my part the fullest and most satisfactory explanations – that no false hopes, no enthusiastic idea of success should henceforth cause discontent, dissatisfaction and distress amongst the colonists.

            Mr. GRANT and Mr. SNEYD said “let your business be well arranged in London, let Government fully know your views and expectations, let them honour you with their confidence and success must crown your laudable exertions.”

            Having now done so, I take leave most respectfully to submit the accompanying proposals for My Lord BATHURSTs favourable consideration. I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient and very humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

*[Transcriber’s Note: George REX, rumoured to be the illegitimate son of George III, purchased the estate of Melkhoutskraal (Milkwood) in 1804. "As time went on the 'grand seigneur' (George Rex) at Melkhout Kraal expanded his agricultural activities and eventually became the largest landowner along the coast between Table Bay and Algoa Bay.  Into his possession, by purchase from their Dutch owners, came Welbedacht, Sandkraal, Uitzigt (now known as Eastford, Westford and Brenton-Belvidere respectively).  All these, with Melkhout Kraal, the present day Hunters Home and Woodbourne, circled the Knysna lagoon.” From ‘Timber and Tides’ by Winifred Tapson]

 

{Attached to above letter]

Conditions which Mr. PARKER has the honour to submit to Earl BATHURST’s consideration for taking charge of a body of settlers from Cork Harbour for the South East Coast of Africa, pursuant to the late Parliamentary grant and in conformity to the Regulations of the Colonial Department.

1st That a grant of land shall be made to each head of families and all adults eighteen years of age and upwards at the rate of 100 acres, agreeably to the circular letter of August 1819, and that Mr. PARKER shall have power to article to him for three years such a number of tradesmen, mechanics and agricultural labourers not exceeding 100, for each of which he is to obtain a grant of land, such as may be unlocated or in the hands of Government on the banks of the River Knysna, and such as Mr. PARKER may solicit on his arrival and that in consequence of the lately alleged scarcity of provisions at Cape Town and its territories he shall be allowed two years for completing his compliment of 100 families of male adults so that he may render his selection of lands as convenient as circumstances will admit.

            2. That the Colonial Government at the Cape of Good Hope do take special care that Mr. PARKER [fully?] performs ant contract he may enter into with his party of settlers and that their services shall be secured to him in [writing?] of such legal agreements as he may enter into with them, previous to embarking, and that in order to give mutual security to the contracting parties duplicates of each individual agreement shall be furnished to every person embarking being first countersigned and duly witnessed by the clergyman, physician or surgeon, or other respectable settler going out.

            3. That as several of the Public Charities in Ireland are heavily encumbered with a number of grown up boys and girls of fourteen years and upwards, that should Mr. PARKER be disposed to take any of them as apprentices for agricultural or other purposes he shall obtain grants of land for each individual at the rate of fifty acres, the said land to be at a short distance from the banks of the Knysna and as contiguous to the Town as circumstances will admit.

            4. That the unarticled settlers who may choose to go under Mr. PARKER’s direction shall be totally free from his interference in their private pursuits. But that all who go to the district of the Knysna shall consider him as the confidential superintendent thereof.

            5. That Mr. PARKER be appointed Colonial Commandant of the Colonial Militia of the Knysna with full powers for the first seven years of appointing the Officers of the Regiment.

            6. That it is understood the Officers and Privates of said Militia  shall serve without pay and be subject to such rules and regulations as the Colonial Government acting on behalf of His Majesty may think proper to order. But that all due consideration be made by the Government for the voluntary services of such a corps so that they shall not be harassed with unnecessary duty.

            7. That in case of vacancy the Privates of said Regiment of Militia after the lapse of seven years shall have the power of electing their own officers (as was the case in the Irish Yeomanry) with the excepting of the Colonial Commandant, who shall be appointed in case of Mr. PARKER’s death, resignation or removal by the Government of the Cape.

8. That in case of the death, resignation or removal of George VANKERVAL Esq, the present Landrost or Sheriff of the District of George Town, Mr. PARKER be appointed his successor if it be not deemed expedient to separate the District of George Town from that of the Knysna, the harbour of which is near 50 miles distant from the former. In case of such separation Mr. PARKER shall be appointed Landrost with the usual salary and allowances made by the colony to the other Landrosts.

9. That as the Irish Government had given an assurance to Mr. PARKER of its cordially assisting him with a proportion of military stores, arms and ammunition, from the Irish Establishment, that such quantities as the Commander of Forces in Ireland may approve shall be shipped on board one of the transports, either at Dublin or Cork, for the Knysna, for the protection and accommodation of the colonists.

10. That as the timber of the forests of the Knysna after trial in Deptford Dock Yard has been declared absolutely unfit for His Majesty’s Naval Services, that Mr. PARKER shall have free permission to cut down any quantity he may require [in] the Government Forests, without any charge, fees or impost and to remain the same through any ways already formed or to [obscured] such new ways or aqueducts without any hindrance or molestation from any individuals connected with the Government. Provided nevertheless that Mr. PARKER makes good any damage he may do to the lands or premises of any person. And it is understood that all the settlers shall have free permission to cut down any timber they may require for their own use.

 

Draft of Henry GOULBURN’s reply to above:

 

            I have laid before Lord B your letter of the 3rd inst enclosing for his Lordship’s consideration certain conditions under which you propose to take charge of a body of settlers and proceed to the Cape of Good Hope, and am directed to reply to assure you that his Lordship does not feel himself at liberty to admit in your case of any deviation from the conditions laid down in the printed letter under which other settlers proceed to that colony; it is not from any doubt as to your individual qualifications but from the necessity which his Lordship considers to exert for placing all the settlers in the colony on a precisely similar footing. On this ground therefore his Lordship is unable to hold out to you any expectation of your being permitted on your arrival to solicit the particular spot which you may consider most eligible for a settlement. You will of course be at liberty to make known your wishes to the Governor but it must rest with him to decide how far a compliance is consistent with the general interest of the colony.

            With respect to the appointments which you have in view either as Superintendent of the Knysna, as Colonel of the Militia or as Landrost of the District of George Town, Lord B cannot enter into any engagement not does he consider it necessary to discuss your proposition with respect to the military service of the settlers, it not being in his power to [obscured] any that differ from those which are actually in force in the colony & Lord B is particularly desirous that you should have an [obscured] that as all the persons who proceed to the Cape as settlers will of course receive in common with his Majesty’s other subjects in that colony all due protection and support, so they cannot be permitted to enjoy either with respect to their lands or in any other respect any immunities from which other inhabitants are debarred. For this reason the right of collecting timber on land allotted to you there is not one which Lord B has in his power to concede.

            With respect to that part of your proposal which relates to the carrying out of a certain number of boys and girls from the charities in Ireland, Lord B considers that although the plan may well be deserving of future consideration it is one which he should not in the first instance be desirous of encouraging. To the other conditions specified as they in most respects conform to the regulations laid down in the printed letter Lord B has no objection, but he has desired me to add that in the event of any proposal you may make being accepted you will be at perfect liberty to make any legal agreements with the settlers under your direction which may be essential for your mutual interest & comfort.

           

200

Crown Hotel, Strand

Saturday 4th September 1819, 11 o’clock

 

Mr. PARKER presents his compliments to Mr. GOULBURN, takes leave to forward him a letter which he received this Post from the Bishop of Gloucester. The number of distinguished personages in Great Britain and Ireland who take an interest in Mr. PARKER’s exertions stimulate him to persevere in his arduous enterprize. He very much regrets that Mr. GOULBURN was not able from his commitments yesterday to favour him with a longer interview, which Mr. PARKER deems so essentially necessary to put Mr. GOULBURN in full possession of his views, which he will find grounded on the basis of genuine philanthropy and which induces his numerous friends to use their interest for him on one of the most important [events?] of his life. Mr. PARKER shall hold himself disengaged for any arrangements for tomorrow until he hears from Mr. GOULBURN in hopes that he may be disposed to [provide/] him with that confidential interview which the importance of his undertaking and the pressing circumstances of the proposed emigration from Ireland so evidently requires.

 

Note from GOULBURN across bottom:

Acquaint Mr. PARKER that although I am not aware that any confidential communication can be necessary on the subject of a proposal to emigrate to the Cape that nevertheless as he appears to entertain an different opinion I shall be happy to receive him on Tuesday next at 2 o’clock.

 

216

Crown Hotel

Tuesday 14 Sept 1819

 

Mr PARKER presents his compliments to Mr GOULBURN takes leave to send him the copy of a letter which he received from a very eminent Irish Clergyman on the subject of the Cape Colonization, and Doctor COLQUHOUN’s Pamphlet which that venerable gentleman sent him.

As Mr PARKER does not wish to be troublesome to Mr GOULBURN, he has determined to wait his and Lord BATHURST’s pleasure and in order to facilitate the necessary arrangements in Ireland, Mr SHEARES, on Mr PARKER’s receiving an answer to the official communication proceeds forthwith to Cork.  Mr PARKER will therefore remain in London to inspect the shipment of the necessary stores.

As several of Mr PARKER’s connexions are at present in the country and as some of them have promised to meet him in Town early in October, Mr PARKER has written to Mrs PARKER to join him in London.

Mr PARKER has seen a letter from the Cape stating that the Caffer Country was to be entered on the 4th July.  Surely, if these savages are so persevering in their Hostility to the British as to require this step the sooner a regular Militia could be organised throughout the Colony on the same official plan as this [kind] of force in the West Indies, the greater security and consequent confidence would be among the Settlers.  On this point Mr PARKER would much wish to have an interview with Earl BATHURST, when it suits his Lordships pleasure.

 

[Note from GOULBURN across letter]

Return W.P. his book and letter with my thanks for the communication & acquaint him that I should be very [unhappy?] to be the cause of delaying him [unnecessarily?] in London and as I am not conscious of any point which cannot be settled by correspondence as well as by personal communication, beg that he will not sacrifice his convenience for what he may consider to be either Lord B’s or mine

 

218

Copy of a letter from the Revd H. TOWNSEND to Mr PARKER

 

Derry, Rosscarbery

 4 Augt 1819

My Dear Friend

Your undertaking appears to me most judicious, and from the first time I heard of the encouragement held out for colonization at the Cape, I thought it a most wise and commendable act of Government.  The question of population increasing beyond means of competent subsistence is no longer one of theory.  In the last thirty years it has been practically offering itself to consideration, tho’ it is but very lately that Government seems to have sincerely taken it into contemplation.

Our loyal newspapers were generally full of discouragement to migration, when if they had known the real state of the Country, they should have promoted it by every means within their power, for it is not mere numbers that constitute the strengths or prosperity of an Empire, but united, industrious and happy inhabitants.  An empire crowded with people of whom many languish for want of employment and when employment cannot be given to them, must like an overgrown body contain the seeds of disorder.Male suit sua . But although spots may be overstocked the world is yet sufficiently wide, and a great nation like England cannot be at a loss how to dispose of the overflow.  New South Wales offers a noble asylum, but it is objectionable from remoteness.  If there was no other, necessity would oblige government to make exertions for more extensive colonisation there.  Happily a country nearer home and unexceptionable as to soil and climate offers itself in their late acquisition of the Cape of Good Hope - a name which I trust will henceforth become still more appropriate.  I have a good general account of it in the Edinburgh Encyclopaedia taken chiefly from BARROW.  The soil is represented as generally most fertile but the mode of cultivation untested.  It should therefore seem, that an improvement in this respect might turn out a source of great prospect.  The nearer the coast the better, especially if the Harbour you speak of be so good.  Timber is said to be scarce there, though no doubt there are many places where it would succeed if planted.  Your last account states that it abounds about the Harbour of Knysna which is in the Encyclopaedia called a navigable river, and one of the few whose waters are permanent.

Some good ploughmen and carpenters would be among the prime requisites.  Common labourers may be made or found anywhere that civilisation even in a rude state subsists. If you can accomplish the object proposed of getting out at the head of a strong establishment, provided with all such things and materials, as such a scheme requires, and under the protection of Government, very little capital will be required to insure ultimate success.  The command of labour in such enterprises is capital sufficient, and that your numbers will enable you to have.

I would principally guard against extravagant hopes, which generally end in mortification and disappointment.  Such an undertaking rather lays the foundation of future prosperity for those who come after than encourages hopes of immediate acquisition.  You must therefore be prepared for some difficulties and some disappointments, and among other articles of preparation lay in a stock of patience and fortitude.  I shall be extremely glad to hear how you get on in the encouragement you expect, and the provisions you are enabled to make.

Yours most truly

Hor. TOWNSEND

 

A few years residence at the Cape may enable you to give the public a very interesting account of its present state and capabilities of improvement with credit to yourself.

 

[Transcriber’s note: The Rev. Horace TOWNSEND of Derry in the parish of Rosscarbery was the author of the Statistical Survey of the County of Cork]

 

220

Crown Hotel

14th Sept 1819

Sir

I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 13th inst to which I hasten to reply as the period is fast approaching for the Cape of Good Hope embarkation.

In one of the circular letters, the last I believe, it is stated "that the interests and wishes of the settlers will be consulted and attended to, as far as may be consistent with the public interests of the Colony."  This assurance, which does such high honor to the Colonial Department, emboldens me to solicit your reference to my [previous/former] communication with the conditions accompanying it.  In these documents you will find that it is my wish to comply as far as possible with the conditions laid down in the printed circular, and that I do not solicit any special exemption in my favor, incompatible with Earl BATHURST to grant, or such as may prove the grounds of jealousy to other settlers.

But as I bring considerable commercial, nautical and agricultural experience to my aid, and as Mr Richard Benjamin SHEARES a gentleman of high respectability, property, talents and possessing some local knowledge of the Cape has associated with me, along with several other respectable individuals, it is due to them and myself that I should for the general interest avail myself of these circumstances to press, if not a special exception at home, at least a particularly strong recommendation, (which in every point of view, I should consider as valid, as a command) from Earl BATHURST to his Excellency the Governor of the Cape, requesting that the wishes of myself and settlers will be complied with, as stated in my letter and conditions of the 3rd inst, copies of which, I submit should accompany the dispatch committed to my case provided that these conditions be consistent with the public interests of the Colony.

I have that confidence in Earl BATHURST’s consideration and my own devotion as a loyal subject to my King, country and the interests of Humanity, that although circumstances may prevent his Lordship entering into any engagement with me, that I should be appointed either as superintendent of the Knysna, as Colonel of the Militia, or as Landrost of the district of George Town, that I shall be perfectly satisfied at his Lordships recommending me for these appointments, should any such be deemed necessary, or should any vacancy occur.

I apprehend that you are under some misconception as to the privilege I solicited of cutting Timber in the forests of the Knysna. These are represented to me as useless possessions in the hands of the Crown.  Indeed the specimens of the Timber, which I have seen at Deptford Dockyard, indicate that it was in a state of decay and unfit for any public service.  In this case no possible injury could arise to the public from granting me this boon, which would enable me to employ a vast number of people in the supply of the garrison and inhabitants of Cape Town, with the article of fuel of which they so much stand in need.

Having now replied to your letter in a manner which I hope will be satisfactory to Earl BATHURST, permit me to conclude by stating, that in coinciding with the opinion of that highly respectable individual Doctor COLQUHOUN, who has honored me with his correspondence, I am fully satisfied "it will only require prudent, correct and intelligent superintendence, in order to secure success in what may be truly denominated a God like work, that of making millions of our fellow creatures happy, who are now miserable".  When his Majesty's Ministers proposed the Parliamentary grant, such sentiments unquestionably operated with them.  I therefore, honoured as I am with the friendship of so many distinguished Individuals, and accustomed to enquire into the misfortunes and vices of society, in all their appalling shapes, and to remove them as far as my humble means permit, I am animated with a hope that these circumstances will hereafter lead to have me considered as a person of some importance in such an extensive Colony.

Mr SHEARES only waits your answer to proceed to Ireland to enter into the necessary engagements with the settlers, and to transmit to me for the information of Lord BATHURST, correct lists of at least 200 families including in all 7 or 800 persons willing to proceed under our direction.

As my general knowledge on the subject of Emigration and Embarkation may be useful on this occasion, permit me to suggest, that the Admiral and Agent for Transport in Cork Harbour be requested to muster and examine all the Heads of families who may embark, that Government may be fully satisfied that no improper mode has been resorted to, in securing their services.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient and very humble servant

William PARKER

 

[Transcriber’s note: Richard SHEARES was the son of Henry SHEARES. Henry and his brother John, both barristers, were hanged for treason during the Irish Rebellion of 1798, having been betrayed by a double-agent named ARMSTRONG. Today they are revered as two of the foremost Irish patriots. There is no information on Richard or any of his political affiliations.]

 

[Draft of Henry GOULBURN’s reply to above]

 

I have laid before Lord B the letter which you addressed to me on the 14th inst in which you state that you do not desire any special exemption in your favor from the conditions laid down in the printed circular with respect to emigration to the Cape, but that you are anxious to receive so strong a recommendation to the Governor as should ensure on his part a compliance with the wishes which you expressed in your former letter provided they are consistent with the general interests of the Colony. 

I am directed in reply to acquaint you that in the event of any proposal for proceeding as a settler to the Cape being made by you & accepted, Lord B. will readily recommend you to the Governor in terms perfectly consistent with the testimonials which you have adduced from so many respectable quarters of your respectability & qualifications and has no doubt that you will receive every favorable consideration compatible with the general interests of the Colony & the claims of other settlers.  But in order to remove any erroneous impression to which such a recommendation might give rise, Lord B. is desirous that I should again explain to you before any definite proposal has been made by you that he can not hold out to you an expectation that the Govt. can confer on you any privileges not conceded to other settlers in a similar class with yourself: or that it will be possible to abandon in your favor the right of cutting timber which has been always heretofore reserved to the Crown.

I have only further to add that if it should be formally your wish to proceed to the Cape it would be desirable that I should receive from you as early as is convenient number & list of the persons whom you propose to accompany you in order that Lord B. may have your proposal under his consideration together with those many of the other persons who are equally desirous of availing themselves of the offer held out in the circular letter of the ___August

 

226

Crown Hotel

Friday 17 September 1819

 

Mr. PARKER presents his compliments to Mr. GOULBURN, takes leave to send to him two letters received from individuals desirous to proceed under Mr. P’s direction to the Cape of Good Hope. Mr. PARKER has also received a letter from Mr. Frederick CLARKE of Passage West, Ireland, the brother of the late Major General Sir Wm. CLARKE Bart., volunteering to be one of his party. This gentleman is of the first respectability. He commanded a Company of the Royal Cork Volunteers for over 20 years and he possesses great activity of mind and body and would be a useful and respectable colonist. He has two sons on the 4th Regt. of Foot, the eldest was wounded on the Peninsula, was in the Battle of Waterloo and met the distinguished notice and patronage of the Duke of WELLINGTON. Mr. CLARKE purposes taking out his wife, two daughters and his youngest son.

            Mr. J. VANCOUVER, the elder brother of the celebrated Circumnavigator, although advanced in years, wishes to join Mr. PARKER. The Lords Mayor has recommended this scientific gentleman for his sound understanding and a comprehensive and enlightened mind. His years above 60 are the only obstacle to his embarking in such an arduous undertaking. But he has gone through great exercises with Mr. PARKER.

            Mr. PARKER’s house in Ireland is daily surrounded with a number of individuals anxious to embark and the numerous applications made to him and to which he can give no positive assurance until he hears further from Mr. GOULBURN embarrass Mr. P’s arrangements in London.

Mr. P takes the liberty to send Mr. GOULBURN a small pamphlet which he procured yesterday respecting the proposed emigration. A Cork paper of Thursday last has fallen into Mr. PARKER’s hands. This he takes leave to send to Mr. GOULBURN. It will [obscured] to him one of the pictures of distress in that unfortunate city, a part of which Mr.P is so truly anxious to relieve.

             

230

Downing Street

past 3 o’clock

Tuesday 21st September 1819

 

Mr. PARKER presents his compliments to Mr. GOULBURN, takes leave to inclose him a copy of the Printed Articles of Agreement which he proposes between him and the settlers who are to be articled to him. This document which Mr. PARKER deems of great importance to the successful establishment of one of the new settlements he hopes will meet the approbation of Earl BATHURST and of Mr. GOULBURN.

Before any copies be [printed?] off of these articles, which Mr. PARKER wishes to have done tomorrow in order to transmit to Ireland, that no delay may ensue, he hopes that Mr. GOULBURN at his leisure will have the goodness to peruse and as soon as possible to signify whether the same be consonant with the views of the Colonial Department.

 

Articles of Agreement made this _________ Day of __________ in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and __________. Between _______________ of ________ on the Part, and _________ of the other Part.

 

Witness, That the said ____________ has entered into the service of the said ___________ in the term of ______ years from this day, on the terms and conditions hereinafter mentioned; that is to say :

 

                     I.      That the said ___________ shall and will serve the said ______________ as a __________ At such place or places in the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, as the said ______________ may be located at for the said term, to commence and be computed from the day of his arrival at such place or places, when the pay of the said _____________ shall commence at the rate of _________ per day, and that for every day which the said ____________ shall employ the said ____________ he shall be paid by the said ___________ and the said wages, shall also be supplied with provisions from the stores, according to the standard as fixed and allowed to the soldiers in the said Colony by Government.

                   II.      That the said ___________ will permit the said _____________ to work for himself as often as the affairs of him the said ______________ may allow, on the said _____________ accounting to the said ____________ for his provisions from the stores at ________ per day.

                  III.      That the working hours in each day shall be regulated by the custom of the Colony, but shall not exceed the legal working time of ten hours and an half in Great Britain.

                IV.      That such provisions as the family of the said _________ may require shall be furnished from the stores of the settlement by the said ___________ and shall be charged to the account of the said ___________ at the current price of the district in which the settlement may be established.

                  V.      That in case of accident or serious ill health preventing the accustomed labor of the said ___________ he shall nevertheless receive his full allowance of provisions from the stores, and also one half of the average daily wages which he had been in the habit of earning during the six preceding weeks before the accident or illness befell him.

                VI.      That the said __________ shall have a plot of ground on the site of the town intended to be built, containing not less than one quarter of an acre for building himself a house, for which said land, and house so to be built by the said _________ a grant in perpetuity shall be made, after the expiration of seven years from the time it was located, to the said _________ his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, by the said _____________ on payment of a yearly rent at and after the rate of two pounds sterling per acre, provided the said house be built according to a plan to be made and approved of by the Colonial Government, or the said ___________.  Or the said ____________ his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, shall have permission to take, cultivate and occupy in lieu of his town allotment, one acre of land, at a distance not exceeding -------- miles from the town, which said allotment shall from time to time be augmented, according to the ability and exertions of the said ________ until it shall ultimately contain five acres, but no more.

               VII.      That such allotment of one or more acres, not exceeding five acres, shall be granted to him in perpetuity by the said _____________ at the yearly reserved rent of two shillings sterling, British money, per acre, but such rent is not to commence until after the expiration of the first seven years, not until the first day of January or the first day of July, subsequent to the anniversary of the settlers landing or arriving at the settlement.

             VIII.      That the said _____________ shall not be entitled to receive more than one third of his wages in the money of the country, the other two thirds being supplied to him from the stores in such tools, articles of clothing or other necessaries as he may require, and for whatever balance which may be in his favor at the end of each year or quarter, a bill shall be granted to him by the said _________ to remit to his distant friends at the current exchange of the country.

                 IX.      That in case the said _____________ shall neglect to build a house according to the sixth article of this agreement within the period of three years, on the plot of ground assigned to him in the town, the said plot shall be forfeited and become the absolute property of the said ___________ his heirs, administrators, or assigns.

                   X.      That the said ______________ solemnly engages and binds himself to the said ___________ that he will faithfully conform to and strictly obey all rules and regulations for the maintenance of order, morality, good fellowship and good conduct, which shall be made, approved of, and recommended by the Gentlemen of the establishment consistently with the laws of God, of man, and the laws and customs of the Colony.

                 XI.      That in case any dispute or altercation shall arise between the said parties, the same shall be referred to two respectable and disinterested persons, who shall have power to choose a third person as an umpire, who decision shall on all occasions be binding on the parties, and have the full force and decision of law.

                XII.      That the said ____________ shall subscribe weekly towards establishing a friendly society, with the other mechanics and labourers, for creating a fund, not only for the payment of medical assistance in case of accident or serious ill health, but for the purpose of assisting to make up the other half of the wages of which the sufferer would stand in need under any bodily hurt or temporary sickness.

              XIII.      That in case of the death of the said _____________ the said ____________ hereby binds himself to work for the heirs, executors and administrators of the said _____________ and in all things to conform himself to their orders, rules and regulations in the same manner as if the said _____________ had not departed this life.

             XIV.      That in case of the death of the said _______________ during the passage or during this contract, his family shall be entitled to a grant of five acres of land, subject to the conditions of the said seventh article.

 

WITNESS the hands of the parties.

 

232

Crown Hotel

22 Sept 1819

Sir,

            I take leave to submit to you for the consideration of Lord BATHURST a listing of 124 individuals with their families wishing to emigrate under my direction to the Cape of Good Hope. Many of these persons, from their absolute poverty are destitute of clothing and every necessary for the voyage, are willing to become articled settlers and to look to me for employment and support, of both of which they are nearly destitute in Ireland.

            Mr. R.B. SHEARES, who has most cordially associated himself with me in this enterprize, proceeded to Cork on Monday night and, as he fully understands the subject, he will on his arrival there be able to furnish me with such particulars as Lord BATHURST may further require.

            As a settler accompanied by 100 artificers, mechanics and labourers, I am prepared to conform to the conditions of the printed circulars. But as an individual with some pretensions from much experience, I am also ready to devote my time in promoting the general interest of the Colonial Government at the Cape of Good Hope conformably to any specific directions I may be favoured with by Lord BATHURST towards the establishment of morality, industry good order and regular conduct in the District of the Knysna, or in any other in which we may be located under the distinct understanding

that at present exists in respect to my future views and ulterior objects.

            As a settler I took leave yesterday to submit to your consideration a copy of the Articles to be entered into with the individuals who may contract to serve me, and which if it meets Lord BATHURST’s approbation I propose to recommend to other parties taking out settlers like myself.

            It is not only my one natural desire and most earnest wish but that of my able and intelligent associate Mr SHEARES (who has been so strongly recommended by Mr. ARBUTHNOT to Lord BATHURST) to establish our operations as firmly as possible on such principles of philanthropy and fair dealing as are likely to promote good fellowship and order, without which it would be vain to expect a successful issue to the enterprize. This we trust will meet the approbation of his Lordship and yourself as it has already done that of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent in a manner so highly gratifying to me.

            Be pleased to provide me with six official envelopes for the purpose of transmitting to R.N. PARKER Esq, Passage West, Ireland, 200 copies of the Articles of Agreement that they may be there executed without delay and correct lists returned to me of the individuals engaged to emigrate. I shall then furnish specific lists of the articled settlers and of those other individuals who may be disposed to proceed with me. [Transcriber’s note: R.N.PARKER was his brother Richard Neville PARKER]

            As the period prescribed for sailing is fast approaching, I take the liberty to submit that the shipping for 800 men, women and children be immediately engaged to take in stores in the River and proceed by the 15th or 20th of October to Cork.

            There cannot be the smallest doubt of that number of unexceptionable characters being ready to embark in all November at Cork under my direction and conformably to the humane intentions of Government.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient and very humble st.

Wm PARKER

 

Individuals wishing to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope from Cork Harbour under the direction of William PARKER Esq.

 

No.

Names

Residence

Trades

Age

Wives

Boys

Girls

Total No.Family

1

John FOLEY

Passage West

House Carpenter

44

Barbara

1

2

5

2

John HERBERT

Macroom

Do.

29

Catherine

1

1

4

3

James SWEENEY

Passage West

Do.

32

Ann

2

2

6

4

Michael CORKERY

Do.

Do.

30

Batchelor

 

 

1

5

James O’CALLAHAN

House of Industry

Do.

44

Deborah

 

 

2

6

James FINN (1)

Passage West

Do.

39

Catharine

2

3

7

7

James FINN (2)

Do.

Do.

36

Marg’t

3

1

6

8

Michael FITZPATRICK

Do.

Do.

21

Batchelor

 

 

1

9

Michael CONNOLLY

Cork

Do.

21

Do.

 

 

1

10

William PLUMLEY

Do.

Cabinet Maker

38

Julia

3

1

6

11

William COSTEN

Young Hall

Do.

43

Widower

 

 

1

12

John CALLUANE

Passage West

Sawyer

48

 

 

 

 

13

Edw’d CALLUANE

Do.

Do.

38

 

3

 

 

14

Nicholas DUGGAN

Douglas

Smith

23

Mary

 

 

2

15

Michael DONNEVAN

Do.

Do.

22

Batchelor

 

 

1

16

Michael SULLIVAN

Do.

Do.

22

Do.

 

 

1

17

Henry HUXLEY

Cork

Locksmith

28

Johanna

1

 

3

18

John DUGGAN

Cloyne

Labourer

21

Batchelor

 

 

1

19

Daniel DELANEY

Passage West

Do.

26

Mary

2

1

5

20

William TAYLOR

Do.

Do.

35

Eleanor

3

1

6

21

John COLLER

Do.

Do.

30

Batchelor

 

 

1

22

John KIRK

Do.

Do.

36

Johanna

3

 

5

23

Michael GEARY

Monkstown

Do.

22

Batchelor

 

 

1

24

William ADAMS

Cork

Tobacco Spinner

19

Do.

 

 

1

25

Robert QUINLAN

Do.

Do.

20

Do.

 

 

1

26

John RYAN

Do.

Labourer

21

Eleanor

 

 

2

27

William COGAN

HillsTown

Do.

21

Batchelor

 

 

1

28

Michael CURRY

Do.

Do.

24

Do.

 

 

1

29

Coleman HARRINGTON

Cloyne

Do.

17

Do.

 

 

1

30

James REARDON

Cork

Do.

56

 

1

 

 

31

Thos. MURPHY

Do.

Do.

28

Johanna

2

 

5

32

Richard COLTON

Passage West

Do.

33

Batchelor

 

 

1

33

William CONNELL

Do.

Do.

40

Mary

1

2

5

34

John TAYLOR

Little Island

Do.

18

Batchelor

 

 

 

35

John POOR

Do.

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

36

John YOUNG

Do.

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

37

Tim’y LEARY

Do.

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

38

William BUCKLEY

Do.

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

39

David HARVEY

Do.

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

40

Wm. F? MOORE

Passage West

Militia Man

21

 

 

1

2

41

John MOORE

Do.

Do.

19

 

 

 

1

42

Stephen McKENDRICK

Cork

Labourer

16

 

 

 

 

43

William CONN

Do.

Victualler

30

 

 

 

 

44

John MORIARTY

Do.

Do,

20

 

 

 

 

45

William GALWAY

House of Industry

Sail Maker

40

Batchelor

 

 

 

46

Henry MILLER

Do.

Taylor

25

Elizabeth

 

 

2

47

Jer’h REGAN

Passage West

Shoe Maker

36

Mary

1

1

4

48

John BULLEN

Do.

Do.

25

Mary

1

2

5

49

Richard EVANS

Cork

Do.

29

Batchelor

 

 

1

50

Patrick JURRENS?

Seamount

Seaman

35

Ellen

3

1

6

51

Dan’l

Passage West

Baker

32

Mary

 

 

2

52

Michael HINCH

Do.

Do.

41

Mary

2

2

6

53

Wm. SANDIFORD

Cork

House Carpenter

20

Batchelor

 

 

1

54

Thos. LAWRENCE

Do.

Cooper

20

Do.

 

 

1

55

Florence CARNE

Do.

Do.

20

Do.

 

 

1

56

John HAYES

Do.

Do.

20

Do.

 

 

1

57

Denis SHEEHAN

Do.

Do,

20

Do.

 

 

1

58

James HARRIGAN

Do.

Do.

17

Do.

 

 

1

59

Thos. HAYLE

Do.

Do

18

Do.

 

 

1

60

William DRISCOLL

Passage West

Weaver

20

Do.

 

 

1

61

William DRISCOLL

Cork

Mason

32

Do.

 

 

1

62

James SULLIVAN

Passage Wesr

Do.

24

Do.

 

 

1

63

Jer’h DRISCOLL

Do.

Do.

32

Do.

 

 

1

64

John DALY

Cork

Mason

36

Batchelor

 

 

1

65

Tim’y DALY

Do.

Do.

31

Do.

 

 

1

66

Silvester HOGAN

Do.

Do.

34

Mary

2

2

6

67

John CROSSLEY

Do.

Do.

27

Mary

1

1

4

68

William KEATING

Douglas

Sawyer

35

Bridget

 

2

4

69

John KEATING

Do.

Do.

40

Julia

 

 

2

70

John DUGGAN

Passage West

 

46

Widower

2

 

3

71

William SANDIFORD

Cork

House Carpenter

20

Batchelor

 

 

1

72

Michael REGAN

Passage West

Quarryman

45

Eliz.

 

4

6

73

Daniel SULLIVAN

Do.

Labourer

40

Mary

5

3

10

74

Patrick [illegible]

Do.

Do.

22

Batchelor

 

 

1

75

James BOWEN

Cork

Do.

20

Do.

 

 

1

76

Michael HALLIDAY

Passage West

Do.

37

 

2

2

6

77

John LEARY

Pensioner 44th Regt

Butcher

37

 

 

 

1

78

Tim’y LEARY

Passage West

Do.

28

 

 

 

1

79

Daniel MAHONY

Cork

Taylor

36

Ann

1

1

4

80

John HANLY

Passage West

Shoemaker

40

Julia

2

4

8

81

James PENNY

Do.

Labourer

44

Mary

5

2

9

82

Thos. PENNY

Passage West

Labourer

20

Batchelor

 

 

1

83

Michael CALLAGHAN

Cork

Do.

26

Johanna

1

1

4

84

Robert DUGGAN

Do.

Cabinet Maker

20

 

 

 

1

85

Owen HEALEY

Cork

Mason

47

Catherine

1

3

}

86

John HEALEY

Do.

Do.

23

 

 

 

}      9

87

Dennis HEALEY

Do.

Do.

21

 

 

 

}

88

Thos. HEALEY

Do.

Do.

18

 

 

 

}

89

Thos. HAWKINS

Passage West

Labourer

28

Mary

1

1

4

90

DARBY

Do.

Do.

35

Batchelor

 

 

1

91

Matthew FITZGERALD

Cork

Mason

25

Do.

 

 

1

92

Cornelius [illegible]

Do.

Labourer

22

Do.

 

 

1

93

James SULLIVAN

Evergreen

Do.

30

Johanna

1

2

5

94

John DONNAGHUE

Do.

Do.

19

Batchelor

 

 

1

95

Abraham PRESTON

Charleville

Lab.& Schoolmaster

30

 

 

 

 

96

William HEALEY

Cork

Gardener

34

 

 

 

 

97

James BARRY

Do.

Labourer

20

 

 

 

 

98

Owen McCARTHY

Do.

Do.

20

 

 

 

 

99

WOOL

St.Hadon?

Farmer

 

 

 

 

 

100

WOOL

Do.

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

101

WOOL

Do.

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

102

WOOL

Do.

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

103

WOOL

Do.

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

104

WOOL

Do.

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

105

Wm. BOYS

Kilsworth

Gentleman Farmer

 

 

 

 

 

106

James FERNLER?

Cork

Plumber

 

 

 

 

 

107

Denis DESMOND

Kinsale

Wheelwright

 

 

 

 

 

108

Solomon BROMPTON

Cork

Sadler

 

 

 

 

 

109

Eugene SULLIVAN

Do.

Cooper

 

 

 

 

 

110

Barry HAYES

Do.

Mason

 

 

 

 

 

111

Wm. WALSH

Do.

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

112

Thomas SHARPE

Do.

Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

113

John TAYLOR

Cove

Gentleman

 

 

 

 

 

114

Wm. PARKER

West Passage

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

115

H. PARKER

Do.

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

116

Daniel NORMAN

Cove

Labourer

36

Wife

2

 

 

117

John FITZGERALD

Blackrock

Do.

22

 

 

 

 

118

David FITZGERALD

Do.

Do.

19

 

 

 

 

119

John WALSH

Passage West

Boatman

33

Wife

1

1

 

120

Cornelius [illegible]

[illegible]

Do.

25

Do.

1

 

 

121

William SHEEHAN

Cove

Do.

23

Do.

 

2

 

122

Daniel KELLY

Kinsale

Labourer

24

Batchelor

 

 

 

123

Michael WHITE

Rosskillen

Do.

27

Do.

 

 

 

124

David [illegible]

Kinsale

Wheelwright

45

Wife

2

2

 

125

John HIGGINS

Fota

Labourer

23

 

 

 

 

126

Michael DONAHUE

 

Do.

24

 

 

 

 

127

Michael HALLIREY

 

Do

34

Wife

 

 

 

128

Tim’y CARTHY

 

Do.

33

 

 

 

 

129

F. CORENCE

Bredons?

 

 

 

 

 

 

130

Patrick COLLINS

Cross Haven

 

50

Wife

 

 

 

131

Florence COLLINS

Cross Haven

Labourer

20

 

 

 

 

132

Patrick SWINEY

Do.

Boatman

24

 

 

 

 

133

Frederick FITZGERALD

Do.

Labourer

26

 

 

 

 

134

James HOLLAND

Do.

Do.

26

 

 

 

 

135

Charles McCARTHY

Carrigaline

Do.

23

 

 

 

 

136

Daniel CONNELLY

Monkstown

Do.

23

 

 

 

 

137

Wellin BERRY

 

Boatman

21

 

 

 

 

138

John DUGGAN

Cloyne

Labourer

22

 

 

 

 

139

Charles [illegible]

Cloyne House

Carpenter

21

 

 

 

 

140

John CONNELL

Cove

Shoemaker

36

 

 

 

 

141

Wm. McCARTHY

Do.

Do.

25

 

 

 

 

142

William SULLIVAN

Coolemore

Labourer

19

 

 

 

 

143

Michael FLAHERTY

Do.

Do.

18

 

 

 

 

144

James NOWLAN

Cove

House Carpenter

21

 

 

 

 

145

John HAYES

Passage West

Labourer

40

Wife

3

3

 

146

Daniel NOONAN

Cove

Do.

36

 

 

 

 

147

John FITZGERALD

Do.

Do.

 

 

 

 

 

148

David  FITZGERALD

Blackrock

 

19

 

 

 

 

149

John WALSH

Passage West

Boatman

33

 

 

 

 

150

William DONOUGHOE

 

Mason

36

 

 

 

 

151

John CATHINAN

 

Mason

32

 

 

 

 

152

John HAYES

 

Labourer

41

Wife

 

 

 

153

Richard PAYNE

Cloyne

Do.

37

Wife

5

1

 

154

John MOORE

Do.

Do.

33

Wife

 

3

 

155

Richard DUGGAN

Douglas

Smith

23

Batchelor

 

 

1

156

John KEEFFE

Shanbally

Labourer

30

Wife

1

1

 

157

Cornelius MURPHY

Kinsale

Shoemaker

24

Batchelor

 

 

1

158

James DRISCOLL

Do.

Taylor

21

Do.

 

 

1

159

James MAHONY

Cork

Baker

21

Wife

 

 

 

160

Michael MULCAHY

Do.

Do.

22

Wife

1

 

 

161

Patrick MAHONY

Do.

Do

24

Wife

 

 

 

162

Joseph REILY

Passage

Labourer

20

Batchelor

 

 

1

163

William DEVEEN

 

 

46

 

 

 

 

164

John DEVEEN

 

 

23

 

 

 

 

165

Denis BUCKLEY

Bandon

Labourer

32

Wife

 

 

 

166

Florence McCARTHY

Do.

Do.

31

 

 

 

 

167

William BUCKLEY

Little Island

Do.

24

 

 

 

 

 

240

Crown Hotel, Strand

29th September 1819

Sir,

            The unlimited confidence placed by such a large body of settlers in my exertions and the weighty and important duties which consequently devolve on me, require my addressing you more at large respecting my proposed Establishment on the banks of the Knysna. Therefore I must earnestly request that you will submit this letter without any delay to the serious consideration of my Lord BATHURST. It is absolutely necessary that the most perfect understanding should take place with the Colonial Department and myself on this subject. I am perfectly aware that a difficulty does exist respecting the extent of the cultivated lands in the neighbourhood of the Knysna and that the farms on the banks of that river are in possession of other individuals.

            Mr. BARROW in his letter from Ryde of the 19th inst distinctly states that he apprehends that the best speculation independent of the Government Grants would be the purchase of one of the farms at the Knysna, as the spot must, and speedily too, be the site of a flourishing town, as it possesses the only safe harbour in the whole extent of the Eastern Coast!! With the same impression I stated to you in my letter of the 3rd inst that I particularly requested Earl BATHURST would be pleased to facilitate my arrangements with Mr. George REX of Milkwood Kraal for the purchase of the farm of East Ford, which appears on the map and is represented to me as being the best situated for a town.

            Having suffered most severely from shipwreck, both in the loss of the nearest & dearest friends and of a considerable property, experience so dearly purchased teaches me to pause before I commit any more lives or property to the dangerous coast of Southern Africa without the utmost deliberation. The land in the Zuur Veldt is indeed described by Mr. BARROW as the richest in the Colony, but as no market can be had for its produce without a safe navigation it would be unwise, as a commercial man experienced as I am, to seek the means of my perpetual ruin.

            Mr. SHEARES who has made a complete survey of Algoa Bay has informed me that when the Batavia E.I. Ship lay there she was twice nearly being lost, the boats being swamped in the surf, he and the men with great difficulty saved their lives in getting to and from the shore. This gentleman has warmly associated himself with me, much as his knowledge as a scientific and enlightened seaman adds strength to my undertaking. I trust that the Earl BATHURST will, as far as his Lordship can, countenance our arduous exertions in establishing New Cork on the banks of the Knysna, which under the countenance of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, his Lordships auspices and the powerful protection of Government will I hope become as Mr. BARROW states and speedily too “a flourishing town”.

            I further beg leave to suggest that every requisite article of defence should be provided in London to give confidence and security to the settlers who embark with me. Difficulties may arise on their arrival at Cape Town as to their being supplied with arms and ammunition and as several Naval & Military Officers have volunteered to go out under my direction and as such high testimonials have reached Earl BATHURST of my unimpeachable loyalty, I shall on receipt of your answer take leave to submit to his Lordships consideration a requisition for Ordnance Stores to be shipped on board of one of the transports at the Tower for the use of the Settlement. These stores are to be considered bona fide as the property of the Crown and to be accounted for accordingly. An efficient Colonial Militia has frequently preserved our West India Islands and settlements in America from hostile attack. Such a kind of force is admirably adapted for the service of the new colony, particularly as I propose that one third of the corps I have offered to raise should be cavalry. An officer of the 10th Regt of great experience who has offered to go out, and who served at the Cape of Good Hope, has afforded me considerable information thereon.

            I take leave to inclose a copy of a letter which I have received from the Rev’d C.J. LATROBE. It may afford you some information in the arrangements with the settlers. It adds weight to Mr. SHEARE’s and my former determination of purchasing the lands on the banks of the Knysna; our settlers can I hope procure the lands that may be uncolocated [sic] adjacent to this harbour.

            Since I had the honour of seeing you last Mr. WILBERFORCE, Mr. GRANT of Russell Square and Mr. BUTTERWORTH of Bedford Square have offered me their assistance and advice. Mr. WILBERFORCE’s offer is the more gratifying to me as it was totally unsolicited, the spontaneous effusion of a noble and generous mind.

            Several public societies, mercantile characters of weight in the city have also come forward on this occasion. Therefore I patiently, although anxiously, wait the result of my Lord BATHURST’s final determination. I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servt.

Wm. PARKER

 

[enclosed with above letter]

Copy [in PARKER’s handwriting]

To William PARKER Esq

Crown Hotel, Strand

Fulmer, near Leeds

Sept 25th 1819

Dear Sir

            On my arrival here last night I found your obliging letter of the 18th instant and hasten by the first post to return an answer to it, tho’ I fear not as satisfactory as I would wish, not having made such observations as might assist in your researches. All I know of the country about the Knysna is contained in the account I have given of that River in my journal, and I hardly know anything to add that would be interesting to you (see p.156 158) Had not a thick fog prevented it I should have has a better report to make, especially of the Estuary of that River, of which as I afterwards heard it was intended to make some use as a harbour or place of refuge for ships. It was said that certain rocks formed a kind of mole, or defined towards the sea. For want of some island or rocks, breaking the force of the sea, lying before the entrances of Plattenburg, Algoa and other Bays they are very unsafe in south east gales, which are not infrequent in those seas. The Knysna appeared to me to flow thro’ a fine country and where there is any supply of water in S. Africa there is little doubt but cultivation would be easy. Mr. REX has a garden in the Valley but I don’t remember having seen any plantations or cultivated grounds higher up the river where the ford is situated. As I had heard from W. VANKERVAL the Landrost of George that all the country was occupied except Jackall’s Kraal, near Plattenburg Bay, I did not take such notice of the places I passed as I otherwise should have done. I remember our being much pleased with the banks of the Knysna when we spent the night. W. VANKERVAL informed me that there was no unoccupied land in his district except Jackall’s Kraal and prevailed upon me to go and see it. It appeared to me and the Missionary who accompanied me a very eligible spot for a settlement, but the Hottentots I had taken with me from Gnadenthal, who were very intelligent men, objected to it on account of their want of sweet grass, which with them is a main consideration. W. VANKERVAL is deservedly considered as a character of superior excellence and I hope is still the Landrost of George. A report reached me some time ago that he had another appointment at Cape Town. I was very sorry not to see him on my return from the interior.

            I wish you much success & that the favour & blessing of God may attend you in the execution of your benevolent plan, which as you foresee will be attended by no small difficulties.

            Our new settlement on the Witte River beyond the Sundays River has been burnt by the Caffres after all the cattle had been taken. Nine Hottentots were killed on that occasion; but I have as yet received no particulars relating to the melancholy event. I trust the war will soon end by the expulsion of those ferocious invaders. In the former war they penetrated far into the colony.

            I am truly concerned not to be able to answer your kind enquiries as you wish and as your kindness deserves, but with sincere esteem remain ever, dear Sir

Your most faithful and hble sevt.

C.J. LATROBE

 

256

No.10 Adam Street

Adelphi

4 Oct 1819

Sir,

            I most earnestly entreat your reference to my unanswered letters of the 22nd and 28th ult and I now take leave to inform you for the information of the Earl BATHURST that I have received from the Reverend Francis McCLELAND of Longford a very favourable testimonial with the signatures of the present Lord Bishop of Raphoe and two Fellows of the College of Dublin of his competency for the clerical duties.

            Mr. HART, another of the Fellows, is now with me and as he has assured me of Mr. McCLELAND’s excellent character as a Clergyman, a Scholar and a Gentleman the settlers who go out with me can have no objection to his being nominated by the Earl BATHURST as the Chaplain to the colonists.

            But Mr. McCLELAND, as the time is so limited for preparing for such an arduous enterprize, is anxious along with the other settlers to be favoured with an early answer, and he wishes to submit to Earl BATHURST the names of the individuals willing to accompany him under my direction. To this I can have no objection.

            As the religious, social and moral happiness of the settlers will depend on the zeal, ardour and abilities of my Reverend associate I should much wish that he should immediately join me in London, that I may have an opportunity of introducing him to the Committees of the Societies for promoting the great cause of Religion and Morality and to many persons eminent for their virtues such as the Bishop of Gloucester, Mr. WILBERFORCE, Mr. GRANT, Mr. COLQUHOUN and Mr. BUTTERWORTH.

            I request that you will be pleased to assure my Lord BATHURST that it is my fixed resolution to adopt every means within my reach to make New Cork a happy and thriving place. For proofs of my using these means I can refer his Lordship to the Personages to whom I have above alluded and to Sir Benjamin BLOOMFIELD.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient and very humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

Just as I was finishing the above I received the three accompanying letters respecting Mr. McCLELAND which I take leave to submit to your and my Lord BATHURSTs notice and request that you will be so good as to return them with an early answer.

 

[Transcriber’s Note: GOULBURN wrote across the corner of the above letter ‘Let the Clergyman be accepted & assured that he need not marry’, the latter point being a reference to a point made in Francis McCLELAND’s letters below. After William PARKER’s postscript on the back of the letter GOULBURN wrote:

Do you consider this person as a proper clergyman for Mr. PARKER’s Party or would you enquire what is the religious faith of his settlers before you send a Church of England clergyman?

In a different hand is written:

If W. PARKER goes out as principal it must be taken for granted he has applied for a clergyman agreeable to the faith of those he takes out. May we not assure the poor man that he need not marry, of which he seems so afraid by his note]

 

[enclosed with the above letter]

 

258

Longford

September 29th 1819

Sir,

            I did myself the honour of forwarding to you yesterday a character of morality which had been signed for me on my leaving College by the present Bishop of Raphoe. I waited on Lord FORBES this day who instantly signed the character I now enclose. It is also signed by two clergymen and the seneschal in this town. The rector of the Parish resides at present in France otherwise I should have his signature also. As there is at present no Bishop of Ardagh that will I trust account for my having no signature from the Bishop in whose diocese I reside.

            I have another character of morality, signed by Mr. COBBE, nephew of the late Archbishop of Tuam, by the Vicar General of this diocese Revd. Archdeacon BEATTY, Dr. WRAY FTCD and a Mr. RADCLIFF, vicar of a Parish in the County Armagh. There is no second Member of Parliament for this county but I have no doubt I shall be able to obtain G. FETHERSTONE’s signature [on] any character I like and he is supposed to be the successful candidate for the representation.

            My brother mentions that it would be an additional recommendation to me to be married, however if it could be dispensed with I should prefer waiting till I should be settled in the new colony. In conclusion my Lord FORBES directs me to [advise?] Mr. GOULBURN to refer to him if he should wish to make any further enquiries relative to me.

Yr. obed’t servant

Francis McCLELAND

 

[attached to above letter]

 

Copies – originals sent to Mr. McCLELAND 

 

The Revd. Francis McCLELAND has been personally known to me for some time and I believe him to be in every respect qualified to be sent out by Government as a clergyman to the Cape of Good Hope.

Longford, September 28th 1819

FORBES MP

Thomas WAKEBY seneschal

Geo. CRAWFORD of Raphoe

[illegible signatures]

 

I certify that I have known the Revd. Francis McCLELAND these 15 years and can safely declare that I consider him a most correct, proper, well conducted young man. He is an excellent scholar and in every respect qualified for any situation he may think proper to undertake.

R. WAKEFORD

 

262

10 Adam Street

Adelphi

Oct 5th 1819

My Lord,

            As a general interest has been incited throughout a great part of Ireland with respect to my offer of conducting a New Establishment of the Eastern Coast of Africa my numerous friends in that and in this country have kindly afforded me their most cheerful assistance.

            The inclosed letter from my Lord ROSSE to your Lordship with that to my near relative Mr. WRIGHT, one of Lord ROSSEs oldest friends, were received on Saturday by me and I beg leave to submit them to your Lordship’s consideration.

            It has so happened that few of my friends are honoured by a personal acquaintance with your Lordship, or I should not have been five weeks in the metropolis without having availed myself of an appropriate introduction.

            Honoured as my labours are by the countenance and approbation of the Bishop of Gloucester, Lord ENNISMORE, Mr. WILBERFORCE, Mr. GRANT Senior, Mr. BUTTERWORTH and Mr. MACAULEY, all of whom feel the great difficulties with which I have to combat and flatter me that my exertions will be found competent to the arduous task in which I am engaged. I am encouraged to hope that whenever you may please to honour me with a conference I shall be received by your Lordship with some favourable circumstances.

            I beg leave to assure your Lordship that I am greatly ambitious to introduce into the New Establishment a system that hereafter should be permanent by [image blurred] and to secure the happiness and welfare of the new settlers. On this subject I have corresponded with Mr. GOULBURN and have in reply been [deigned?] by some communications of a pleasing nature.

            Pleased as I am as the Director of a large party of emigrants, some of whom are very respectable and recommended as I have been in the handsomest manner to the Colonial Department by Mr. GRANT as the Organ of the Irish Government, I presume on public grounds to take the liberty of soliciting the favour of an interview whenever it may most accord with your Lordship’s commitments.

I have the honour to be my Lord

Your Lordship’s most obedient and very humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

Note from GOULBURN in margin: Lord B being detained in the country on urgent business of a personal nature is unable to fix a day for receiving Mr. PARKER]

           

[enclosed with above letter]

Parsonstown

September 24th 1819

My dear Lord,

                        I have been requested by some friends here to recommend Mr. PARKER to you, who is going to form a settlement near the Cape of Good Hope. I do not know the gentleman but I do his family, which is respectable, and I hear he is a man of very good character, active brave and enterprising, & particularly well qualified for such an undertaking.

My dear Lord

Your faithful humble servant

ROSSE

 

[presumably to PARKER’s relative Mr. WRIGHT]

 

My Dear Sir,

                        I enclose the letter though I cannot think that it will be of any use, Mr. PARKER having long since got letters of introduction to so many of the Cabinet Ministers. However Lord BATHURST is the only one of them, I believe, who has any connection with the affairs of the settlement at the Cape.

I am yours truly

ROSSE

 

267-273

Knightsbridge

13th September 1819

Dear Sir,

            I have the honour of enclosing you a letter which I have received from Mr. PARKER of the County of Cork. He shortly goes to the Coast of Africa as a settler, under the sanction of Government, and as he means to build a town on the River Knysna, which in many respects resembles that of Cork, he wishes to commemorate his native county by naming the town New Cork, and as you will see by his letter has hopes that His Royal Highness the Prince Regent will be graciously pleased to sanction his giving it that name, which will confer an additional honor on the City of Cork to which His Royal Highness has already been so munificent.

            Mr. PARKER is eminently qualified for the station which he hopes to fill and I have no doubt he will be of the greatest service both to the colony and to this country. Sir Jonas ROWLEY, Admiral at Cork, has entrusted Mr. PARKER with a manuscript map of that part of Africa where he means to settle which I have the honor of sending you with his letter and which it will be necessary for him to return to Sir J. ROWLEY.

            As Mr. PARKER is obliged to leave town for Ireland in a few days perhaps my dear Sir you will have the goodness to take as early an opportunity as circumstances may admit of to intimate his request to His Royal Highness.

I have the honor to be my dear Sir

Your very obliged and humble servant

ENNISMORE

 

[letter from William PARKER to Viscount ENNISMORE, Kingston House, referred to above]

Crown Hotel, Strand

11 September 1819

My dear Lord,

                        As a benevolent and patriotic Irish Nobleman, and especially as a native of the City of Cork, your Lordship must be particularly interested in the success of the enterprize which so deeply engages my attention and which has brought me to this metropolis.

            The great distress of a large part of the population in Ireland, whose sufferings have been so patiently and loyally endured, has for many years elicited my commiseration and induced me to use my personal exertions on their behalf. These exertions led me to a constant correspondence with some of the most distinguished characters of the age, and among others with Mr. VANSITTERT the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr GRANT the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. After reading Mr. VANSITTERT’s benevolent and humane speech on the 13th July in the House of Commons on the subject of the Emigration to the Cape of Good Hope, I tendered him my services to conduct one of the colonies in these fertile and salubrious regions.

            My friend Admiral Sir Jonas ROWLEY, who formerly commanded at the Cape, fixed my attention on the harbour at the Knysna, in the District of George Town, and through his kindness I procured a manuscript map of it and the adjacent lands. This map I beg leave to send your Lordship. It will remind you of our noble harbour of Cork, the “statio bene fida carinis” of which it is a complete epitome. [Transcriber’s Note: This means ‘Safe Harbour for Ships’ and is the motto of the City of Cork] The safety of the Knysna induces me to select it for the establishment of a commercial Port, so highly necessary and desirable to ensure a depot and market for the produce of the extensive country in its neighbourhood, and to offer an asylum to the shipping that may resort to this tempestuous and consequently dangerous coast.

            Viewing, as I do, the vast importance of my enterprize as one pregnant with the incalculable benefits to the British Empire and eminently calculated to provide for thousands of our redundant population, many of whom lead a life of helpless misery in Ireland, degrading to human nature, and fraught with alarm to national prosperity, I am desirous through your Lordship to elicit the countenance of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent to my arduous undertaking.

            Therefore, my dear Lord, I have the request on the part of myself and those respectable individuals associated with me in this philanthropic object, that you will be so good as to entreat His Royal Highness to be graciously pleased to direct that the Town which we propose erecting on the Knysna be called New Cork and that the Regiment of Colonial Militia which we propose organizing in the district be called the Royal Knysna Militia.

            I have submitted to Earl BATHURST detailed proposals respecting our enterprize and Mr. GOULBURN has been pleased to state that my soliciting through your Lordship the Royal countenance would be highly pleasing to Lord BATHURST.

            I am confident that as you have already elicited the Royal Patronage in promoting the fine arts in Cork that His Royal Highness will with equal zeal and an anxious desire to promote the interests of His Majesty’s subjects, afford me through your Lordship’s interposition these marks of the Royal favor.

I have the honor to be, my dear Lord, with great regard and respect

Your Lordship’s most obedient and very faithful friend and servant

Wm. PARKER

 

Carlton House

September 16th 1819

My Dear Sir,

                        The Prince Regent is favorably disposed to the Prayer of Mr. PARKER’s letter, if provided Lord BATHURST sees no official inconvenience in granting it.

Yours faithfully

B. BLOOMFIELD

 

279

10 Adam Street, Adelphi

6th October 1819

Sir,

            I have had the honour to receive your letter of this date and take leave to state that in my letter of the 22nd ult I full consented “as a settler accompanied by 100 artificers, mechanics and labourers to conform to the conditions of the printed circulars” at the same time I transmitted to you a list of 124 individuals willing to accompany me.

            I considered that letter as a full assent to the provisions prescribed by the Colonial Department and, as I have not been honoured with an answer, apprehend that it may not have reached your hands, which accounts for the circumstance of my not having been favoured with your reply.

            I deem it fortunate my having remained in London, that I may explain in person to yourself and Lord BATHURST any point you may please to require.

            My associate Mr. SHEARES will shortly transmit to me from Cork fair lists of the said individuals willing to join our party under my direction and of the labouring classes who will be articled to them and us. I therefore hope that the shipping for 800 men, women and children for our party will be immediately provided.

            I have not as yet made any arrangement with a Medical Practitioner, an individual so necessary to insure success to the colony.

            Be pleased to inform me if the testimonials for the Rev’d Francis McCLELAND be such as to entitle him to the approbation of my Lord BATHURST.

            This gentleman from the important duties he will have to perform as a clergyman will have several arrangements to make in London prior to our sailing.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient and very humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

185

October 6th 1819

 

My Dear Sir,

            On leaving you today I communicated to Mr. William PARKER what you stated to me relative to his intended emigration to the Cape. He desires me to say that he is ready to go out on the usual conditions and is extremely anxious that the ships should be sent to Cork for that purpose as soon as possible & beg therefore to recommend him to your favourable attention & am Sir

[by hand?]

W. COLQUHOUN

[GOULBURN’s note at foot:  Accept Mr. PARKER’s proposal]

 

281

No.10 Adam Street

Adelphi

8 October 1819

Sir,

            The suffering to which many individuals have been exposed who have emigrated to His Majesty’s foreign possessions having not the humane and considerate attention of My Lord BATHURST, and having in my own person been an eye witness abroad to the miserable fate of numerous similar adventurers, I am induced to hope, under his Lordship’s acceptance of my proposal to conduct a body of settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, that he will be pleased to sanction a supply of old and worn out naval stores being shipped on board the vessels for the use of the Irish settlers proceeding under my direction.

            When the trifling value of these stores to Government is placed in competition to the comfort and utility they would afford to so large a body of our almost naked and suffering fellow creatures, I trust I need not entertain a doubt that his Lordship will favourably attend to the accompanying requisition.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your very obedient humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

[note from GOULBURN on reverse: Lord B has only to repeat that he cannot afford to Mr. PARKER any indulgences not given to the other persons who proceed to the Cape with similar objects.

 

Naval Stores required for the use of Settlers proceeding from Ireland under the direction of Wm. PARKER Esq of Cork for the Cape of Good Hope.

Hammocks old              500

Junk                             10 tons

Fearnoughts                  5 tons

Gum Baise                    2½ tons

Old Sails                       7½ tons

 

284

No.10 Adam Street

Adelphi

8 October 1819

Sir,

            My Lord BATHURST having been pleased by your letter of the 6th instant to accept my proposal for taking out a party of colonists for the Cape of Good Hope, it becomes my important duty to provide as far as in my power lies, as well for their protection as their multifarious wants.

            The disturbed state of the Eastern Settlement at the Cape of Good Hope and the necessity of the settlers possessing within themselves the means of defence, induce me to submit to Earl BATHURST’s consideration a requisition for Ordnance Stores for their protection. Altho’ the appointment of Military or Militia Officers in a Foreign Settlement may lie with the Governor, yet while the settlers may be exposed to incursions during a ferocious Caffre war I most respectfully submit that arrangements for their protection should be duly considered before they sail, and that they should be provided with all the requisites for defence for their personal safety.

            I have already had the honour of a personal communication with W. HARRISSON of the Treasury and W. CREW of the Board of the Ordnance on this very important subject, and these gentlemen agree with me that it is an object which must press heavily on those who may have to conduct a party of colonists and that on a proper application being made to Earl BATHURST his Lordship would be pleased to give the necessary directions accordingly.

            As a provision for a poor & a redundant population is the principal feature of the late Parliamentary grant I beg leave to state that the large body of settlers I have proposed to conduct from Ireland is so extremely poor that providing arms and ammunition for their defence is beyond the means of the respectable individuals who accompany them. I must therefore respectfully yet most earnestly beseech my Lord BATHURST to take this application into his Lordship’s most gracious, humane and prompt consideration. I have the honour to be Sir

Your very obedient humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

[Note from GOULBURN at foot}

Acknowledge receipt and acquaint him in reply that as the Colonial Government will extend to the settlers under Mr. PARKER’s direction, in common with the other inhabitants of the Colony, every adequate protection against hostile incursion, Lord B does not think it advisable to place at the disposal of any individual settler the military stores specified in his list.

 

Requisition for the undermentioned articles of Camp Equipage, Arms, Accoutrements, Ammunition, Entrenching Tools &c &c for the use and defence of Settlers proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope under the direction of Wm. PARKER Esq.

 

?

[obscured] Bayonets

200

Horse Pistols

100

Carbines

100

Rifles

100

Cavalry Swords

16

Halberts

100,000

Musket Ball Cartridges

10,000

Pistol Cartridges

50

Barrels of Gunpowder

10

Barrels of Priming Do.

8

Six Pounder Field Pieces

1,000

Round Shot

1,000

Grape Shot

5,000

Musquit Flints

3,000

Pistol Flints

10

Blunderbusses

20

Gallons Oil 28th Emery

200

Sky Rockets

6

Drums

6

Fifes

1

Kettle Drum

3

Trumpets

4

Bugles

100

Saddles with 3 Girths Each

100

Pads of Pistol Holsters

300

Pouches & Belts

100

Valices

100

Bridles & 100 Collars & Chains

100

Cavalry Belts & Pouches

20

Pieces of Girth Webb

200

Spare Buckles

10

Hides

150

Tents

20

Marquees

2

Armourers Forges

10

Wallpieces

20

Sets of Harness

200

Pick Axes & Spades

10

Tons of Tarpauling

 

315

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

15 October 1819

Sir,

            I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 13th inst and I am much pleased to find “that my Lord BATHURST is of opinion that in consideration of the large proportion of individuals comprising my party that I should provide adequate medical attendance to guard against accidents and disease during the voyage.” You may recollect that this was a subject which pressed heavily on me and which in conversation I urged seriously on your attention.

            Indeed I rejoice that his Lordship has so humanely turned his attention to it, and I earnestly hope that he will not confine medical aid to the settlers during the voyage but that arrangements may be made for the Medical Attendant remaining among the settlers.

            It was my intention to advertise for a Medical Gentleman on the Half Pay of the Army or Navy, acquainted with Midwifery, but I thought it premature doing so until Lord BATHURST was pleased to hold out some public encouragement to such an indispensable individual. When you are pleased to communicate what the encouragement may be there can be no difficulty in my submitting the name of a competent individual to Lord BATHURST’s consideration.

            I am preparing with every dispatch the returns of the persons proceeding under my direction, but as your letter of the 6th inst was not received until the 7th I could not possibly have any accounts from Ireland for some days to come.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your very obedient humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

[Draft of GOULBURN’s rely to above]

            Acknowledge receipt and acquaint him that he appears to have much misunderstood the object of my communication, which was simply that as you had in your letter of the 6th inst given me to understand that it was your intention to procure a surgeon to accompany the settlers I should be informed whether you had, as other considerable settlers have done, engaged the services of a competent person. That nothing was further from Lord B’s intention in recommending to him a measure not less necessary to his own interests than to the welfare of the settlers to suggest any expectation that the Gov’t would undertake in Mr. PARKER’s case what has not been applied for in others to give regular pay or other special encouragement to a surgeon of his selection. A letter enclosed by mistake herewith returned.

 

318

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

16 Octr 1819

Sir,

            With reference to your letter of the 17th ult it is with considerable regret I learn “that the anti colonial system of the Dutch still exists in full force at the Cape of Good Hope and that from this circumstance it will not be possible to abandon in my favour the right of cutting timber which has heretofore always been reserved to the Crown”.

            On a reference to the printed circular which you did me the honour to transmit to me there is no reservation of the timber in question and as the conditions therein stated are the only terms on which the offers of settlers could be accepted “the usual and it appears the only 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”.

            As several Naval Artisans intended to accompany me they have got seriously alarmed at the dangers to be apprehended from the unwise system of Dutch colonization and they have earnestly requested my soliciting an explanation on the subject of the timber on the lands which they are to possess, which I now most respectfully do.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

[draft of GOULBURN’s reply]

            In reply to your letter of the...which I have duly laid before Lord B I have received his Lordship’s direction to refer you to my letter of the.....in which Lord B distinctly communicated that it is not in his power ,,,,&c &c &c

            If the reservation of timber is not specially mentioned in the printed letter especially transmitted to you it is only because the district in which it is proposed to establish the settlement is not abundant in timber of a description of that [obscured]

 

345

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

28 October 1819

Sir,

            I have had the honour to receive your letter of yesterday and request that you will be pleased to assure Earl BATHURST that I have every intention to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope this year, but as the individuals in Ireland, who are engaged in nautical pursuits, could receive no positive assurance from me of being located on the Sea Coast they have declined accompanying me for the present. However, I am supplying their places with agriculturalists as persons more suited to the proposed plan of Colonization. I therefore hope to experience from my Lord a few more days indulgence to enable me to complete my list; and if his Lordship pleases I shall make a Deposit on account of the settlers (early next week) proceeding with me.

            I have engaged two Medical Gentlemen to accompany me and I wish to know if I am to transmit their testimonials to you to be submitted to my Lord BATHURST’ approbation.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your obedient and very humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

354

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

October 30th 1819

Sir,

            With reference to my letter of the 28th ult I take leave to state that Doctor John ROCHE, an eminent Physician, and Mr. John ADDEY, a Surgeon and Apothecary, have acceded to the terms I proposed for their accompanying my party of settlers to the Cape of Good Hope.

            I therefore am desirous to know if My Lord BATHURST wishes to have their testimonials as to qualifications submitted to his Lordship’s approbation.

            I am much concerned in being obliged to inform you that Mr. SHEARES, from whom I expected the most zealous and valuable co-operation, has declined accompanying me, as being brought up to nautical pursuits and possessed of every requisite to render his services valuable he would not embark on any uncertainty as to his place of location.

            However I am fully determined to proceed even under this disadvantage. I have the honour to be Sir

Your very obedient servant

Wm PARKER

 

347

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

Saturday 30 October 1819

1 o’clock

 

Mr. PARKER presents his compliments to Mr. GOULBURN, takes leave to inform him that just as he had finished his official letter he received by the Two Penny Post his letter of the 20th inst which he ought to have received two days since.

Mr. PARKER is extremely concerned to inform Mr. GOULBURN that a very serious domestic misfortune has for this last month so occupied Mr. PARKER’s attention that it has prevented his being as forward in his arrangements as he otherwise should, and he is perfectly satisfied that if either Earl BATHURST or Mr. GOULBURN knew of the circumstances that every indulgent consideration would be made for Mr. PARKER. It is one which has involved the lives of two most respectable Females, one of whom is a friend to Mr. PARKER, and her two infant children.

Mr. PARKER is preparing his list with all dispatch and only waits for the fair returns from Ireland which he expects early next week. In the mean time he takes the liberty to suggest that there is not the smallest occasion to delay the departure of the settlers as Mr. PARKER will be all prepared to embark in the course of next month.

Mr.PARKER takes the liberty to inclose two letters from the Medical Gentlemen desirous to proceed. Their testimonials he shall forthwith procure and transmit to Mr. GOULBURN to be submitted to Earl BATHURST.

 

[Draft of GOULBURN’s reply]

Mr. GOULBURN’s compliments to Mr. PARKER and in reply to his note has only to observe that until a nominal list of the persons to be embarked under his direction is received it is certainly impossible to take any measures for providing a conveyance for them & as there are many other persons perfectly prepared & equally anxious to proceed as settlers to the Cape Lord B cannot delay in accepting their offers in preference to Mr. PARKER unless Mr. PARKER’s list be forthwith delivered.

 

352

[enclosed with above letter, from John ADDEY to William PARKER]

Saturday morning

Oct 30th 1819

Sir,

            I intended calling on you in the course of today. I certainly intend accompanying you to the Cape as before agreed between us and enclose the corrected copy of the articles between us which if you approve we can ratify on Monday evening in the presence of any party who are accompanying us. I shall wish to take my sister with me and my servants names are subjoined – but cannot make the deposits untill Monday evg or I would do so today. I remain Sir

Your obed’t serv’t

John ADDEY

 

Names &c for your list

John ADDEY 28 Apothecary & Accoucheur

Elizabeth ADDEY 21 Sister of the above

John WORLGROVE 35 Servant to the above

The above has resided at the Cape 3 years

 

[Transcriber’s note: Elizabeth ADDEY does not appear in Nash but is listed as John ADDEY’s wife in HOCKLY’s ‘Story of the British Settlers of 1820’]

 

349/351

[second enclosed letter, from John ROCHE to William PARKER]

 

Dear Sir

            In acceding to your terms and agreeing to go out the Cape of Good Hope with your Party I have thought it necessary to send you the enclosed statement which I trust will be found satisfactory.

            Your terms, if I remember right, are as follows: first each free settler to pay annually to the Physician and Surgeon one pound sterling for each of his articled servants. 2ndly the respectable families to pay as they do on the British Islands. 3rdly the Physician to have a grant of 100 acres of land for himself, and 50 acres for each of five articled servants, subject to the regulations prescribed by Government. 4thly the Physician to pay the Deposit required by Government.

            I shall wait on you tomorrow about 9 in the evening, previously to my going out of town for a few days to make some necessary arrangements. In the mean time I have the honour to be Sir

Your obedient servant

John ROCHE

London

October 29 1819

Dear Sir,

            The following statement will, I trust, supply you with such particulars respecting my character and qualifications as it may be necessary for you to make known at the office for the Colonial Department.

            I am in my 36th year, was married in 1807 and have, at present, three children. I am a regularly bred Doctor of Medicine having attended lectures in every branch of medical & chirurgical science in Edinburgh for five whole years; that is from 1805 inclusive till 1810. Family affairs having again rendered it necessary for me to visit Edinburgh in 1816 I attended the lectures over again for six months: having thus in fact studied six entire sessions at that university which falls to the lot of but few, either surgeons or physicians.

            In the courses of lectures, so far as I can call them to mind, were two courses on Anatomy & Surgery under Doctor MUNRO; one on Comparative Anatomy under Doctor BARCLAY; three courses of the Practice of Physics under Doctor GREGORY; three of Chemistry under Doctor HOPE; three of Materia Medica & Pharmacy under Doctors HOME & MURRAY; one of Physiology under Doctor DUNCAN; one of Botany under Doctor RUTHERFORD; three on Surgery & on Military Surgery under Doctor THOMSON & three on the Theory & Practice of Midwifery under Doctor HAMILTON. Besides these I attended lectures on Rhetoric, Logic & Natural Philosophy and two courses on Moral Philosophy, and two on Political Economy under that eminent philosopher, my master & friend, Professor Dugald STEWART.

            The certificates of all these teachers (or Professor’s Tickets as they are called in Scotland) together with my Doctor’s Degree, Midwifery Diploma &c &c are all at present among my papers in Dublin and shall be submitted if necessary to the Chief Secretary in Ireland, Mr. GRANT.

            From 1810 to 1814 I practised in London: but being appointed Lecturer on Moral Philosophy to the Dublin Institution I went over to Dublin in the winter of the latter year and delivered public lectures there, & subsequently at the Institutions of Cork & Belfast on Moral Philosophy & Political Economy. These lectures it is my intention to publish at some future period. During my residence in Ireland I was always in the habit of practising my Profession as a Physician. During the winter of 1815 & the spring of 1816 I practised a little in Bath having gone there for the benefit of the waters. During that period I published a weekly Moral & Literary Paper on the Plan of the British Essayists, which was much esteemed in Bath. It was called The Sceptic and is to be republished.

            While in Edinburgh I had the honour of being unanimously chosen President of the Royal Physical Society of that city owing to my reputation as a public speaker & scholar at the time. This can be seen by my Diploma as President and Honorary Member of the Society.

            I am one of the authors of Dr. REES’ Cyclopaedia and the Encyclopaedia Britannica. You may see a contribution of mine in the former under the word “Instruct” and in the latter under the words “Semiplagians”, “Sense, pains & pleasures of” and “Smelling”.

            In 1808 in Edinburgh I published a new edition of the Latin Medical Works of Celsus, an ancient Roman author. From this fact you form some idea of my classical acquirements.

            I published in London, in 1813, a work (which I dedicated to my friend the Duke of Devonshire) on the Junius Controversy. You may see a long & elaborate account of it in The Antijacobin Review for September 1813 written by the late John GIFFORD Esq, the magistrate of Worship Street office. In the New Quarterly Review, of which Mr. GIFFORD was also editor, you may see a long essay of mine on The History of Political Philosophy and Jurisprudence in Europe. It is in the 2nd No. and was a Review of a work on Political Economy by a Mr. BOILEAU.

            In the Reflector, a London quarterly magazine, you will find three long essays of mine (in Nos. 2, 3 & 4) on “The Instincts & mental Faculties of the Lower Animals as Compared with those of Man”, on “The Philosophy of Sensation & Perception” and on “The Origin, Progress, Corruption and Gradual Improvement of Medical Science” It is my intention, at some future time, to publish a history of medical science, for which I have been preparing materials for several years. I have been also, for some time, with the approbation of my friend Professor STEWART of Edinburgh, been preparing materials for a work on the Inductive Logic of Lord BACON.

            The most recent of my literary labours, and on which I am at present engaged, is A Defence of the Protestant Religion in answer to a work recently published by the Roman Catholic Bishop Doctor MILNE, which he has called “The End of Religious Controversy” &c. A part of my MS has been submitted to the Rt.Hon. Robert PEEL, to whom my first letter is addressed.

            In concluding this long statement permit me to add that it will afford me great pleasure to give you any further information that may be necessary for you at the office of the Colonial Department. Allow me to suggest that you ought still to exert your influence to obtain from His Majesty’s Government some annual salary for the Physician who is to accompany you. With every possible respect for the clergy & for Religion, which no one values more highly than I do, I must affirm that the Physician is a more necessary member of the new colony than any clergyman. In a climate so different from ours health can be injured without the constant attendance of a scientific Physician.

I have the honour to be Sir &c &c

John ROCHE MD

           

364

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

1 November 1819

Sir,

            I take leave to enclose the memorials of Mr. John ADDEY, a Medical gentleman, who is desirous to accompany my party of settlers to the Cape of Good Hope in the capacity of apothecary. Doctor ROCHE has proceeded to the country to make arrangements for his embarkation.

            I shall be able to return you in a few days complete lists of the settlers. As I intend to give my encouragement to the clergyman I wait his returns from Longford, Mr. McCLELAND being particularly anxious to take a few families [therefrom?] that he was acquainted with.

            At your leisure I will be much obliged by your having the goodness to return to me Doctor PERCEVAL’s letter on the state of the Poor in Ireland and Mr. McLELAND’s testimonials, along with Mr. ADDEY’s, should not Earl BATHURST deem it necessary to retain the letter.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

[note from GOULBURN: return him his papers]

 

366

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

3 Nov 1819

 

Mr. PARKER presents his compliments to Mr. GOULBURN, takes leave to inform him that in last night’s he had the honour to receive his note of the 1st November and that he will send early tomorrow a nominal list of the 124 able bodied men who are willing to proceed as settlers under his direction to the Cape of Good Hope.

            Mr. PARKER has not as yet rec’d the Rev’d McCLELAND’s returns which he hopes to do tomorrow. Mr. GOULBURN will please to receive two additional testimonials of Mr. ADDEY’s qualifications as a Medical Practitioner.

            Mr. PARKER has received a communication from the Governor of the Foundling Hospital in Cork wherein they propose his taking out with him some grown up young men and women. This Institution is supported by a Local Tax on Coals imported into Cork Harbour. Its revenues are considerable but the number of young persons approaching to an adult age whom the Governors cannot procure situations for is so great that it has caused to them much anxiety. Mr. PARKER, if it met Lord BATHURST’s approbation, would enter into an arrangement with the Governors, of whom the Lord Bishop of Cork is President, to take out 20 lads and 20 girls above the age of 15 years as agricultural apprentices, provided a grant of land was made to Mr. PARKER for his care and superintendence of these individuals. Mr. PARKER with the assistance of the Governors will provide in Ireland such Deposits as Earl BATHURST may judge expedient for the persons proposed to be taken from the Foundling Hospital.

 

368/370

 

I hereby certify that when I was House Surgeon of the Middlesex Hospital in the year 1808 I knew Mr. John ADDEY as articled apprentice to Mr. Charles DAWES, Apothecary, then of Charlotte Street, Rathbone Place, London. That he frequently visited me at the Hospital, witnessed the practice there and assisted at the inspection of bodies. That having completed his engagement with Mr. DAWES he resided with me six months at Twickenham, when I had every reason to be satisfied with his medical abilities, which are doubtless greatly improved by the nine years experience of London practice he has since obtained in the capacity of assistant apothecary.

Witness my hand this first day of November 1819

Charles Henry PODMORE

Twickenham, Midx.

 

65 Upper Berkeley Street

Portman Square

November 2nd 1819

 

Having resided with Mr. John ADDEY for these eight years past and thereby obtained an intimate knowledge of his medical abilities I have no hesitation in affirming that I believe him fully competent to all the practices of an apothecary.

Christopher HARRIS

Assistant Surgeon to Mr. SMITH

 

372

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

4 November 1819

Sir,

            Herewith be pleased to receive a nominal list of the individuals who have proposed emigrating with me to the Cape of Good Hope. As I could give no assurance as to may place of location all the officers of the Navy and several shipwrights have declined accompanying me. This, with Mr. SHEARES withdrawing his co-operation attended with a severe domestic affliction has unavoidably caused some difficulties. I am also without any return from the Rev’d Francis McCLELAND of the names and ages of the persons who are desirous to accompany him. I however hope that by Saturday I shall be able to transmit to you correct lists.

            About sixty of the families go out as articled servants to myself. You will be pleased to observe that in the selection of the individuals I have paid particular attention to the pressing wants of the settlers.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient and very humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

374

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

5 Nov 1819

Sir,

            I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 4th inst and now take leave to send you a fourth list with a list of the Military Pensioners who have joined my party of settlers for the Cape of Good Hope.

            These lists should have been sent yesterday but I was obliged to attend the Middlesex Sessions on a subject which has caused me great distress.

            Should Earl BATHURST be disposed to permit me to take with me some of the grown up children from the Foundling Hospital in Cork, which is heavily incumbered with them, his Lordship will render important service to the cause of humanity. Indeed on the perusal of the first Circular Letter I did imagine that a proposition of this kind would be most favourably received as one completely within the object of the late Parliamentary grant. The Governor of that excellent institution having assured me through the Lord Bishop of Cork and its chaplain the Rev’d Thomas COLE that they would be happy to place their children under my protection.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your very obedient and humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

380

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

10th November 1819

Sir,

            I take leave to transmit to you lists of one hundred and twenty four able bodied men and their families who have engaged to proceed with me to the Cape of Good Hope pursuant to Lord BATHURST’s acceptance of my proposal.

            The first seventy of these families will be ready to embark in Cork Harbour on the arrival of the transports there and they are numbered from No.1 to No.70 inclusive. The other fifty four families will be ready to embark in the River Thames at as early a period as may be convenient to Government.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

382

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

12 November 1819

Sir,

            I have received your letter of the 11th inst and regret very much that any difficulties of such an unforeseen nature should have occurred in respect to the settlers who have engaged to proceed with me to the Cape of Good Hope.

            The uncertainty as to my place of location, which I contemplated would be on the Sea Coast, made all the seafaring persons who promised to accompany me from Cork Harbour withdraw, therefore I was forced to supply their places with agriculturalists and mechanics whom I have selected in London as time would not permit any further correspondence with Ireland.

            I understood that the ships were to proceed from the River Thames to their Ports of Destination, therefore I presumed that there could be no difficulties in regard to such of the settlers who were ready to embark here proceeding in the ships to Cork, where those from Ireland would be ready to join them.

            Indeed as I understood that the embarkation would be left to the Navy Board I did expect that every facility consistent with the public interests would be given to my party of settlers; I have full confidence that they will be pleased to remove any difficulty.

Sir, your most obedient humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

[Transcriber’s Note: below is the draft of GOULBURN’s reply. This is a best guess as to how the final letter would have gone out. He obviously laboured over the wording as there are several pages of crossings out, re-worked paragraphs and insertions]

 

            I have rec’d and laid before Lord B your letter of the 12th inst in which you refer to your request for permission to embark a large proportion of your settlers in the River Thames, which Lord B had considered objectionable, & express your expectation that every facility consistent with the public interest should be given to them. In reply I am directed to observe that a slight review of your communications with this office will satisfy you that whatever difficulties you may now labour under as to the embarkation of this party of settlers result entirely from your own mode of proceeding. You will remember that your original proposal was to take a body of settlers from Cork to the Cape of Good Hope & that you did not fail to enlarge upon the great advantage that Ireland would derive from the removal of her superabundant population. Your first proposal was actually accompanied by a variety of other inadmissible propositions to which Lord B gave an almost immediate reply but then had no reference to the ground upon which you were accepted, which was simply your engagement to take from Ireland the settlers who were to accompany you. Upon the plan of taking them from Ireland to the extent of above 100 families you were permitted to select a native of that country to accompany them as their minister. Nor have you ever until this moment given the slightest inclination of your wish to substitute for natives of Ireland, over whom you might be supposed, as you state yourself, to have some influence, a body of persons hastily collected in London of whom you can know but little & who are in many cases the very persons whose proposals to emigrate have already been considered and rejected by Lord B.

            In applying the terms assigned by Parliament to the encouragement of emigration it became necessary to make a proportional distribution of it to all parts of the United Kingdom & if you have been included as settlers from Ireland it is entirely the result either of your own representations or of your own failure to notify the change which had subsequently taken place in your own intentions.

            At the present advanced period it is not easy to make an alteration in the general arrangements but [understanding?] that the persons engaged by you in this country may necessarily be inconvenienced by being now prohibited from embarking, Ld.B. does not deem it proper to make them suffer on account of your irregularity and has therefore directed me to acquaint you that he will concede you as the leader of two separate parties, the one from London & the other from Cork, to be separately located on their arrival in the Colony, & will give orders for embarking your settlers accordingly; but as they are to be separately located you will observe that neither of the parties are sufficiently numerous to entitle them to the nomination of a minister

 

390

22 Nov 1819

Private

 

Mr. PARKER presents his compliments to Mr. GOULBURN, takes leave to refer him to the letter of introduction which he had the honour to hand him, and to state that as Mr. GRANT is at present in the neighbourhood of London and as he has kindly promoted a negotiation with the Board of Customs in Ireland for a sale to them of part of Mr. PARKER’s property in Cork harbour, he hopes that through Mr. GRANT’s and Mr. VANSITTERT’s favourable interposition it will be brought to an immediate conclusion, which will supply most useful funds for Mr. PARKER’s undertaking.

In the mean time Mr. PARKER respectfully hopes that on his paying the sum of £500 to the Treasury, which shall be done this day, Mr. GOULBURN will be pleased to give directions for the embarkation of about fifty able bodied men with their families in this Port of London, along with the stores which Mr. PARKER has provided for them all at the Cape of Good Hope.

MR. PARKER on making the necessary arrangements for this purpose will proceed by Dublin to Cork and instantly remit to the Treasury the balance of his Deposits. In the meantime he trusts to Mr. GOULBURN to have the goodness to forward the transport to Cork with the remaining Forage for his settlers. Such stores for the use of the settlers and Mr. PARKER’s large family are provided in London and should any arrangement prevent the ship that takes       them in forwarding to Cork it would form a sad inconvenience to the entire party.

Mr. PARKER assures Mr.GOULBURN that he is not aware of any objectionable person being admitted in his list. But should any of the individuals whose names have been returned not be approved of by Lord BATHURST Mr. PARKER will do all in his power to exclude them and fill up their vacancies by persons in Ireland.

Doctor ROCHE, altho’ his name is returned on Mr. PARKER’s list, has very much disappointed him and as his accompanying the settlers has not been officially approved of by Lord BATHURST, Mr. PARKER would be glad to submit the name and qualifications of some other competent individual to his Lordship’s consideration. But he should wish to select a Head Medical Attendant in Ireland.

The Rev’d Mr. McCLELAND, who has also been recommended by Mr. PARKER’s friend the present Bishop of Raphoe, has arrived in London where Mr. PARKER recommended him to come for the purpose of establishing a correspondence with some of the excellent Public Institutions in London who have so generously and humanely afforded their assistance to Mr. PARKER’s settlers. Disappointment to him would be dreadful.

 

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

23 Nov 1819

 

Mr. W. PARKER presents his compliments to Lord BATHURST, takes leave to refer his Lordship to Lord ROSSE’s letter of introduction and to solicit the favour of an interview with him any day this week his Lordship pleases to appoint.

 

402

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

30 Nov 1819

 

Mr. PARKER presents his compliments to Mr. GOULBURN, takes leave to transmit a letter for the Earl BATHURST written in consequence of His Lordship’s note.

Mr. PARKER avails himself of this opportunity that should the Lords of the Treasury not be pleased to advance [the] sum Mr. PARKER requires he shall be under the necessity of limiting for this season the number of his settlers to about 75. But should their Lordships on the very kind interposition of Mr. VANSITTERT, Mr. GRANT and Colonel BA[obscured] accede to the request, Mr. PARKER will immediately pay the required Deposit. If not Mr. PARKER most earnestly and respectfully hopes for the Earl BATHURST’s permission for the remaining settlers to join him next year.

 

[note from GOULBURN at foot]

If Mr. PARKER’s deposit is paid tomorrow Lord B will give directions for the embarkation of the number of persons for whom the deposit is paid, but will enter into no engagement as to any additional number proceeding next year.

 

[enclosed with above letter]

398

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

29 November 1819

My Lord,

            In answer to your Lordship’s note of the 24th inst I take leave to call your private consideration to the following observations.

            Being honoured by your Lordship’s acceptance of my proposal to take 124 able bodied men to the Cape of Good Hope I feel bound, as those individuals with all their wives and children place themselves under my care and protection, to in part perform the duty of a parent towards them and as far as in my power lies to provide for their personal safety and their future happiness and prosperity. Weighty objects which will I humbly trust apologize for this intrusion on your Lordship’s time.

            Inured from my earliest years to an active and industrious life and possessing the most respectable family connexions, many of whom have lost their lives in the service of their King and Country, I embarked largely in commercial pursuits and became at one period a considerable ship owner out of the Port of Cork. A property in shipping led to an extensive connexion with the West India Islands where in the year 1809 & 1810 I had a very large investment in the [parishes?] of Martinique and Guadeloupe.

            One of your Lordship’s Noble Predecessors in the Colonial Department, the Earl of LIVERPOOL and Mr. VANSITTERT well know the destructive operation of the Orders in Council of this property which scarcely left a wreck of thirty thousand pounds st for the support of an amiable wife and a large young family. To the distinguished personages whom I have named I can refer your Lordship for the truth of this statement, which is alone sufficient to elicit your generous sympathy and at least a wish to honour me with your countenance as a palliative for past misfortunes. But should your Lordship divest yourself of such friendly considerations the object which I now pursue is I presume adequate to attract your prompt and humane attention, so far as it regards the successful and happy colonization of Southern Africa under your Lordship’s auspices.

            Commerce, Agriculture and Nautical pursuits were at one period my avocations. In these I gave employment and support to at least 1000 individuals in Ireland. Many persons can bear testimony to my indefatigable exertions and my care and attention to the sick poor. These were in a great measure the cause of my own misfortunes.

            I have thus learnt experience in the school of adversity and in the exercise of relief to such a large body of my distressed fellow creatures. Hence arise my qualifications to give a direction to industry and to provide for the multifarious wants of needy and distressed people – the cause of serious alarm to Government and such as were humanely contemplated to be relieved by the late Parliamentary grant.

            The better to enable me to effect this I have offered to the Irish Government a part of my property in Ireland, which the Board of Customs there long contemplated purchasing and the delay in the arrangements for which has caused me great pain and anxiety.

            This I am aware is an object [incidental?] to your Lordship’s official department and I only state it by way of apology for the cause of my delay, but a [??] the kindness of the Lords of the Treasury or the representation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr. GRANT will I hope remove.

            When I embarked on my present enterprize on reading Mr. VANSITTERT’s humane speech in the House of Commons I was naturally led to make enquiries from those persons most capable of affording me information respecting the Cape of Good Hope. Among them Admiral Sir Josias ROWLEY, Mr GRANT the Irish Secretary with his worthy and benevolent father, Mr. BARROW, Mr. LATROBE, lastly Colonel WAIN and Mr. BURCHELL, all of whom travelled into the interior and along the Sea Coast & gave me the most valuable information.

            They fixed my attention as a commercial man on the Harbour of the Knysna, and having heard several letters read from that brave and intelligent officer Sir [Jonathan?] BRUNTON, the Naval Commissioner at the Cape, lamenting the great want of a Coasting Trade along the extensive range of the Southern Coast of Africa, I became the more zealously inclined, notwithstanding the impediments I met with, to persevere in humbly soliciting your Lordship’s kind recommendation to be located at the Knysna. Mr. BARROW has most strongly recommended to me said location. This my Lord, permit me to state, is an object of vital importance not only to the settlers who accompany me but to the Colony at large. 

            Colonel WAIN, from his situation as Adjutant General at the Cape, had [an?] opportunity of knowing where the unlocated lands were situated. He has assured me that at the West side of the Knysna all the lands are the property of the Crown except a small farm acquired by a Mr. BARNARD, and he has given me papers, that if I submitted to your Lordship a proper requisition on this subject that you would have the goodness to recommend to Lord Charles SOMERSET my being located at the Knysna or in case this was impracticable at Knysna Bay.

            Now, as your Lordship was pleased to state in the first circular letter issued from the Colonial Department, in a manner so creditable to your considerable regard of the interests of your fellow creatures, that the wishes and interests of the settlers would be consulted, permit me as one of those to respectfully solicit your kind attention to this promise. My receiving any assurance from your Lordship of being located on the Sea Coast would immediately enable me to make commercial arrangements in London of vast importance to the interest of all the settlers in the entire Colony.

            I have such an intelligent and respectable an individual as Mr. COLQUHOUN, who, to his great research and indefatigable exertions in the cause of suffering humanity has added the wisdom of experience, honours me with his friendship and advice. I feel the most confidence in the success of my exertions but particularly should I proceed to the Cape of Good Hope, recognized by your Lordship as an individual deserving your countenance.

            Motives of humanity and a regard for human life also influence me to solicit your Lordship’s attention to the personal protection of the Colonists. We live in vain if we do not benefit from experience. The melancholy but simple narratives of the Moravian Missionaries corroborated by the recent letters which Colonel WAIN sent to me from the Banks of the Great Fish River written by Military Officers who were engaged with the Caffres, are sufficient to daunt the most ardent from exposing themselves to the sudden irruptions of a savage foe on whose minds although depressed by the late chastisement of the British Troops no dependence can be placed. 

            Colonel WAIN from his high rank at the Cape, his accurate knowledge of the military strength of the Colony, is highly competent to afford your Lordship the most valuable information. In taking the liberty to mention the name of this excellent officer and referring your Lordship to him, I do so with his permission as it may under God be the necessary means of averting the evils so justly to be apprehended.

            It is true, my Lord, that Mr. GOULBURN has stated that “the Government would extend every adequate protection to the Colonists at the Cape”. I have no doubt but that it is the wish of the Colonial Department and of His Excellency to do so; but circumstances may arise that may prevent him. Instances have occurred in Ireland where, notwithstanding its contiguity to Great Britain, many lives were lost in the absence of military protection. If this has been the case in a Christian country what may not happen in a region where Christianity and humanity have no influence?

            Colonel WAIN has assured me that the number of Kings Troops at present at the Cape is unequal to give adequate protection to the Colonists in a Territory of such great extent. Indeed the unfortunate fate of the Moravian Missionaries is an incontrovertible proof       of the correctness of Colonel WAIN’s assertions. I therefore trust to your Lordship’s enlightened and comprehensive mind to provide for the worst and to give confidence, animation and energy to the settlers at large. Thus will due and adequate protection be given and the Colony will be advanced under your Lordship’s auspices to civilization and prosperity.

            Let me most respectfully solicit your Lordship’s kind indulgence and permit me to subscribe myself

Your Lordship’s most obedient and very humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

[Note from GOULBURN at foot]

Acknowledge receipt and acquaint him that as this application appears only to be a repetition of that which he made originally on ___ Lord B has only to refer him to the reply which I was then directed to make to him under date of ___

 

404

Mr. PARKER presents his compliments to Mr. GOULBURN, takes leave to inclose Mr. ROBERT HOLDITCH’s testimonials as a Surgeon and as he is very highly recommended by Alderman ATKINS to the Earl BATHURST hopes for his Lordship’s permission to substitute Mr. HOLDITCH in the place of Doctor ROCHE, who has not fulfilled his promise to Mr. PARKER

30 Nov 1819

 

[note from GOULBURN: Have no objection to this person]

 

406 [enclosed with above]

Nov 23rd 1819

My Lord,

            I can only corroborate the statement of Ald’n ATKINS in favor of Mr. HOLDITCH by saying that he was a diligent and attentive student at the hospitals to which I belong & that I believe him to be in every respect deserving of your Lordship’s kindness.

I have the honor to remain

Your Lordship’s obed’t humble serv’t

Astley COOPER

 

408 [enclosed with above]

Walbrook

22 Nov 1819

My Lord,

            The bearer Mr. Robert HOLDITCH is a Surgeon and desirous of going out to the Cape of Good Hope with Mr. PARKER. Mr. HOLDITCH is recommended to me in the strongest manner for steadiness of conduct and gentlemanly deportment and that he will perform every professional duty committed to his charge in a manner creditably to himself and satisfactory to those who may come under his care. Mr. HOLDITCH is a loyal man, has recently taken up a weekly publication against the present order of reforming but did not answer his endeavours. I therefore beg to introduce him to your Lordship’s notice and attention as a gentleman worthy of going out to the Cape according to his wish. He has a wife and two children.

I have the honor to be, my Lord

Your faithful humble servant

John ATKINS

 

410 [enclosed with above]

Hammersmith

Middlesex

Nov 21st 1819

 

I certify that Mr. Rob’t HOLDITCH served a regular apprenticeship with me at Plymouth in Devonshire as Surgeon and Apothecary, during the whole of which period he conducted himself with the greatest degree of fidelity and is fully entitled to my warmest praises and recommendation, both in respect to his professional abilities and deportment as a gentleman.

John H. BRIDGEMAN MD

 

413

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

1 December 1819

Sir,

            Herewith be pleased to receive lists in Triplicity seventy five able bodied men with their families willing to proceed with me to the Cape of Good Hope.

            The Deposits for these individuals amount to eight hundred and fifty five pounds, which should be found correct. I am prepared to pay at the Treasury at a moment’s notice.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your obedient and very humble st.

Wm PARKER

 

415

No.10 Adam Street, Adelphi

3 December 1819

 

Mr. PARKER presents his compliments to Mr. SMITH, would be obliged if he could with convenience add the name of Wm. OSBORNE, baker, aged 24, Elizabeth OSBORNE his wife aged 20 and Elizabeth aged 1 to his list of settlers, for which the deposit of £10 st is enclosed.

            Mr. PARKER hopes that Mr. SMITH will pardon this trouble, as two families are proceeding with him that are intimately connected with OSBORNE, from whom they didn’t wish to separate.

 

[note signed PS overleaf]

His money returned and himself informed that Mr. GOULBURN could not sanction his application.

 

419

10 Adam Street, Adelphi

Saturday ev 4 o’clock

4 December 1819

Sir,

            I have the honour to inclose a letter this moment received from the Commissioners of the Navy and apprehend some fatality has happened in regard to the instructions for [persons?] to be forwarded respecting the transport for the settlers proceeding under my direction to the Cape of Good Hope.

I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

421 [enclosed with above – to William PARKER Esq]

Navy Office

4th Dec 1819

Sir,

            In return to your letter of this date enclosing three lists of settlers said to be proceeding under your Direction from London and Cork to the Cape of Good Hope, I am commanded by the Commissioners of the Navy to inform you that the Albury and Sir George Osborne Transports are fitting at Portsmouth for the conveyance of the Emigrants from Cork to the Cape of Good Hope, but that Earl BATHURST has not communicated to them that any of the Heads of Parties to embark at Cork are to be allowed to embark a portion of their number in England and therefore the 49 families that you state to be ready to embark in the River Thames cannot be provided for until they receive His Lordship’s Directions for that purpose. I am also to observe that although the Commissioners have been informed by Earl BATHURST that it was His Lordship’s intention to permit a Party of Emigrants to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope under your direction, they have not yet received His Lordship’s instructions actually to provide for your Party.

I am Sir

Your most obedient servant

R. NELSON

 

423

10 Adam Street, Adelphi

11 December 1819

 

            Mr. PARKER presents his compliments to Mr. GOULBURN, begs leave to inform him that he understands that the Earl BATHURST has given some Gentleman a letter of recommendation to join his party of settlers on board the East Indian and that he called several times at Mr. PARKER’s lodgings.

            Mr. PARKER assures Mr. GOULBURN that he will be at all times gratified in complying with any design of his Lordship’s or Mr. GOULBURN’s and the individual recommended can proceed with Mr. PARKER’s settlers from London to Cork. On the East Indian’s arrival in Cork arrangements can then be entered into between the individual recommended by His Lordship & Mr. PARKER.

            Mr. PARKER proceeds to Passage West, Ireland by this night’s Holyhead Mail, where Mr. GOULBURN will be pleased to address any communication for him.

            As Mr. WOODCOCK, one of Mr. PARKER’s settlers, has been obliged to proceed to Ireland, Mr. PARKER has deputed Mr. D.P. FRANCIS to take the temporary direction of the settlers to Cork.

 

425

Passage West

Ireland

23 December 1819

Sir,

            I have the honour to inform you of my arrival here where I wait the appearance of the East Indian from the Thames to embark with my family and settlers for the Cape of Good Hope.

            On examining the settlers who have joined my party from the County of Longford I find that there is a Military Pensioner among them, namely John ARMSTRONG, late Private of the 6th Battalion of the 60th Regiment of Foot, who was admitted an Out Pensioner of Chelsea Hospital on the 4th Feb 1810 at 1/1 per day. This man has this day written to the Paymaster Chelsea Pensions stating his intention of emigrating with me to the Cape of Good Hope. I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient and very humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

427

Passage West

25th December 1819

Sir,

            Since I had the honour of addressing you on the 23rd inst respecting John ARMSTRONG, a Military Pensioner, I find that Sarah ROBERTS, aged 24, one of the settlers proceeding with me to the Cape of Good Hope, since my returns were made got married to William ROBERTS, aged 27 years a carpenter, who had a child named John ROBERTS aged 15 months.

            A Deposit of £10 being paid for the woman, I hope that the Earl BATHURST will be pleased to allow her husband to be added to my list of settlers and give the necessary instructions accordingly.

            I need not tell you the peculiar difficulties which attend an expedition of this kind and of the many changes likely to occur from the mutability of human affairs. As distress has unquestionably been the strongest impulse to the Emigration to the Cape of Good Hope I must fear that pressing embarrassments may detain some of the settlers who engaged to embark in the Thames, altho’ I paid the deposits required and otherwise advanced them money to relieve them from their difficulties. Should this be the case I must respectfully hope that the Earl BATHURST will be pleased to permit me to substitute in Ireland others in lieu on the East Indian’s arrival in this Harbour. 

            I have strong reason to suppose that ill health and pecuniary difficulties may prevent an individual already approved of by the Earl BATHURST proceeding to the Cape in the Fanny, which ship is now in this harbour. Should this be the case I take leave to offer to supply the deficiency of the Fanny’s complement of settlers and to remove the difficulties that may occur.

            Be pleased to assure the Earl BATHURST that I shall pay the strictest attention to enforce the excellent regulations for the conduct of the settlers on board ship as a due observance of them will be conducive to the health and comfort of the individuals proceeding under my direction. I have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Wm. PARKER

 

[Note at foot: Mr. PARKER has been directed to return the Govt. letter]

 

[filed under F in CO48/43]

 

255

26 Dec 1819

Will’m NORMAN Labourer 36 years of age

Jane his wife 33 one child Maria 8 yrs of age

In the room of Henry HUNT & his wife

 

Will’m DOUGLAS Bricklayer 39 years of age

In the room of Jonathan THORNTON

 

George HAWKS Ropemaker 21 years of age

In the room of Henry BEAVER

 

John JOBSON has no child. May not NORMAN’s child be placed in the room of JOBSON’s

 

Mr. Will’m PARKER

Passage near Cork

West Ireland

 

PARKIN, James

 

214

Sept 14, 1819

Sir

having been in bisness for about fourteen years but with very little success have resolved to adventure to the cape of good hope should you think me a proper person am thirty-four years of age have a Wife and three Children the 2 oldist are boys one eight the other nine year of age.

I humbly request a passage for myself and two boys my wife is willing to stay till I should settle myself.

Your acceptance will be thankfully received by your very humble servant

James PARKIN

 

Please direct to

J. PARKIN at Mr WHEBELL’s

No. 5 Throughmorton St

 

PARKIN, John

 

191

[Transcriber’s note: In this letter PARKIN has used the word “likewise” before the names of potential settlers, with little or no punctuation. To make it easier to read, I have taken the liberty of re-formatting the information below the original. Subsequent letters concerning PARKIN’s Party were written by Robert NEWCOMBE (in CO48/44)]

 

Lower North St

Exeter

 Sept 3rd 1819

My Lord

I beg permission to make a reply to your kind letter dated the 19th of August last and I have to inform your Lordship that the following persons with myself are willing and ready to emigrate under your Lordship’s directions and regulations to the Cape of good Hope as before specified.  My own profession or calling is a carpenter and farmer age 32 – wifes age 30.  I have also 5 children – the eldest 9 years, the fourth 7 years, the third 4 years, the second 2 years & the younger one year – likewise Richard FORD, carpenter and farmer age 42, wife 39 with 2 children one ten year old & the other 4 years old – likewise Daniel DINGLE farmer age 22, single man likewise Samuel ADDICOTT farmer age 15 – likewise Richard CROSS carpenter & farmer age 23, wife 27, one child one year – likewise William LANGWORTH smith and farmer age 22, single man – likewise John SPRAGUE carpenter and farmer age 27, wife 27 – likewise William GENDLE Carpenter age 22, single man – likewise Robert FOURACRES Cooper and farmer, age 32, wife 27 – likewise Richard LUCAS farmer age 16 – likewise William CLOGG farmer age 29, wife 27, one child two years – likewise Phillip ROBERTS Carpenter age 23, wife 27, one child one year old – likewise Henry BROOM farmer age 18 years Samuel CURTIS farmer age 17.

Should the before mentioned names and occupations meet your Lordship’s approbation stating what we might be allowed to take out with us such as deferent sorts of cattle and implements in [obscured] and the particulars that will be wanting and the [time] and place we are to take shipping your Lordship’s [kind] information of particulars will be thankfully accknowledged and punctualy attended to by your Lordship’s

Most obedt humble ser’t to command

John PARKIN

 

[Transcriber’s revision of families mentioned in the letter]

John PARKIN, carpenter and farmer, age 32, wife 30, five children between 1 and 9 years old

Richard FORD, carpenter and farmer, age 42, wife 39, 2 children one 10 & the other 4 years old

Daniel DINGLE, farmer, age 22, single man

Samuel ADDICOTT, farmer, age 15

Richard CROSS, carpenter & farmer, age 23, wife 27, one child 1 year old

William LANGWORTH, smith and farmer, age 22, single man

John SPRAGUE, carpenter and farmer, age 27, wife 27

William GENDLE, Carpenter, age 22, single man

Robert FOURACRES, Cooper and farmer, age 32, wife 27

Richard LUCAS, farmer, age 16

William CLOGG, farmer, age 29, wife 27, one child 2 years old

Phillip ROBERTS, Carpenter, age 23, wife 27, one child 1 year old

Henry BROOM, farmer, age 18 

Samuel CURTIS, farmer, age 17

 

PARNELL, William re Joseph FORREST

 

166

Brighton

Aug 30 1819

My Lord,

            I take the liberty of addressing your Lordship on behalf of Joseph FORREST (and Eve his wife) a bricklayer by trade of honest sober habits an industrious couple where great dependence and trust can be placed (work at this time being very scarce in this country in his line) hath a desire for a situation at the Cape of Good Hope or Canida either of which place your Lordship should think most proper for a mechanic (being moneyless cannot go out as a settler) should your Lordship think his services in either of these places eligable will thank you for such information how to proceed whether a passage is provided for or allowed to carry his little furniture if any grant of land will be given to cultivate. He his a strong robust man about 40 years of age (no children) capable of carrying arms having been in the Surry Volunteers during the War, a good draftsman & [sawyer?] and will I presume be a great acquisition in our Infant Colony. Testimonials of his character of eleven years service can be obtained from Mr. STUTELEY bricklayer, Martins Lane London, or a Mr. ADAMS Lee labouring Trust, House of Lords, who he has had the pleasure of serving and through acquaintance with his abilities an answer will be thankfully acknowledged.

I have the honor to be, my Lord

Your Lordship’s most obed’t humble serv’t

Wm. PARNELL

 

PS I hope I shall not be thought intruding on your Lordship’s goodness by the above application my sole motive being to serve an industrious couple, please to advice it to be left at the post office.

 

PARSONS, R

 

145

Christian Malford

Nr Chippenham

Wilts

[received 20 August 1819]

My Lord

I humbly beg your Lordship will pardon the liberty I have taken in thus addressing you, but having heard a succinct account that it is the intention of his Majesty’s Government to grant a portion of land &c to those who choose to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope, I should be thankful to Lordship to inform me, to whom and in what manner I am to apply, to obtain a grant of such land, also if there is any distinction in the description of persons so emigrating.

I have the honor to be My Lord

With great respect

Your Lordships most obed servt

R PARSONS

 

I trust your Lordship will honor me by an early answer

 

PARTRIDGE, Joseph

 

23

Birmingham

July 22nd 1819

My Lord

We your Lordships Humble servants being by trade Mathematical Instrument Makers but through the present depressed state of Commerce we are unable to obtain a Living.  We therefore humbly pray your Lordship that we may be permited to take our Passage to his Majestys Colony the Cape of Good Hope under the Regulations that his Majesty Ministers in their Wisdom have seen fit devise for the purpose assisting persons willing to Emigrate there.

We are both young men under 25 years of age one Single the other with wife & 1 child.  We hope your Lordship us for thus troubling you & you cause Instructions to be given us how to proceed and your Petitioners will ever pray for your Lordship & the whole of his Majestys Government.

We are your Lordships Obedient humble servants

Joseph PARTRIDGE

Abraham BEESLEY

 

Please to address

Abraham BEESLEY Junr

Water Street

Birmingham

 

[Transcriber’s note: Abraham BEESLEY was included in the list for GARDNER’s Party and replaced at the last minute by Robert ROE – see the correspondence of William CHESHIRE in CO48/42]

 

PASS, William (1)

 

43

Claydon

July 26th 1819

My Lord

I beg leave to represent to your Lordship that I have been upwards of twenty three years in His Majestys service, and am at present on the Retired List, as Lieutenant of the late 2nd Royal Veteran Battalion, with a large family consisting of my wife and eight children, finding my income so every way inadequit to their support, I am desirous of Emigrating to either Canada or the Cape of Good Hope.

I should therefore feel much obliged if your Lordship would be pleased to condescend to inform me if there is any regulations in favour of Officers wishing to settle in any of his Majestys Colonies, and when so settled if I could continue to receive my pay in the same.

I remain My Lord

With due Respect

Your Lordships most obed humb servt

William PASS

Lieut late 2nd R V Bn

 

PASS, William (2)

 

207

[Received 6 Sept 1819]

To the Right Honn Lord Viscount SIDMOUTH

 

Your servats hearing in the town Birmingham that your Lordship wanted servants in the farming buisness for the Cape of good Hope wee being yong and wishing try our fourtunes in serving your Lordship in that country volunteer for wee being labouring men wee have na money to defray expences to you so by the ad[obliterated – advice?] of a credible gentleman I take the liberty to write in hopes that your Lordship will send us word in return how we must proceed to you for wee are three in number two men and 1 woman and we have to mentain our travil so I am your Humble servat

William PASS

att William SHAWS

Edgbason Stret

Birmingham

 

PATTERSON, Robert

 

33

Ordnance Barracks

Ballyshannon

23rd July 1819

May it please your Honor

At the request of a number of Mechanics and others of the first Respectability and connections of this Town, and its vicinity, on their being information that the British Government had granted a large sum for the purpose of assisting persons of the above description to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope, I therefore most humbly beg leave to trouble your Honor on the present occasion to request your ordering to be forwarded me as soon as convenient every necessary information on this subject, such as the sum allowed to each, where the vessels are to be stationed, and at what period the emigrants are to attend to go on board, and any further information that your Honor may consider requisite so that I may communicate same to the different persons who are so anxious to emigrate to that part of the world in preference to all others and more particularly as they cannot obtain any employment, owing to the Embarrass’d state of this Country.

I am with all due respect

Your Honors most obedient humble servant

Robert PATTERSON

Ordnance Department

 

PAWLE, James

 

122

No. 33 Uxbridge Street

Newington Causeway

Thursday Augt 12th 1819

Sir

Having a desire to Emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope & being unacquainted with the proper mode of obtaining the requisite information I trust you will excuse the liberty I am now taking in thus addressing you upon the subject.

I am a Medical man who has been respectably settled in Practice but now much reduced from various severe pecuniary losses and disappointments.  Finding it very difficult & indeed almost impossible (from the want of friends &c) to recover myself or to procure a living for my family I am desirous of Emigrating to the Cape, where I feel confident that I may (with the proper industry & perseverance) in course of time somewhat recover myself.  It may be necessary to mention that I have a wife and two young children.

Your early attention to the above will very particularly oblige, Sir

Your most Obed Humble Servt

J. PAWLE

 

388

32 Gt St Helens

Novr 22nd 1819

Sir

As the principal Medical attendant in Mr Thomas WILLSON’s party (that is about to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope) I have to beg the favor of your furnishing me with some information as to the extent of the supply of Medicines & Instruments, which I understand will be given by Government but more particularly, as to trusses for Ruptures, it appearing probable such accidents may not be very infrequent and therefore that a supply of them will be absolutely necessary.

The favor of an early reply will very much oblige, Sir

Your most respectful Obed Servt

J. PAWLE

 

[GOULBURN’s notation] Refer to the Navy board with whom I believe the necessary discretions rest

 

[The letter below is filed with the Thomas WILLSON correspondence in CO48/46. It was addressed to Thomas WILLSON]

32 Gt.St.Helens

Dec 15th 1819

Sir,

            I was yesterday with the Agent of Transports at Deptford and had the mortification to learn that it is the intention of Government to remove me from your party. I should certainly be very sorry to create difficulty but as you are aware of the engagement that exists between Mr. COCK and myself to render mutual assistance, I should hope by your representation of the case to Earl BATHURST that such removal may be abandoned.

I am Sir

Your most obed’t serv’t

J. PAWLE

 

PAYNE, John Francis

 

[Transcriber’s note: The details do not quite fit for this to be John PAINE of SEPHTON’s Party, but several of his party below did emigrate with either BAILIE or WILLSON]

17

Paxton Place

Tottenham Court Road

20 July 1819

Sir

I trust I shall be pardoned for soliciting further information on the subject of Emigration to the Cape, than what is contained in the circular of the 17 dated at your office Downing Street.  I whould wish to be informed if the monies required to be paid into the Hands of Government is considered sufficient to answer all the purposes of agriculture and meet the exigences of the Plan, or is it contemplated by government that more Funds are necessary for the carrying in to Effect a Design which appears to promise success to boath parties and if so does Government feel inclined to assist in such a case providing Character &c &c are satisfactory and if I may be further indulged in asking may I be permitted to go myself – that is with my family which consists of a wife and 4 children under 7 years of age.  Providing I cannot form a party mentioned in the circular of the 17 inst it is Sir considered by some a mighty effort to leave their native soil – but when wee are enabled to go as friends all the ties of reciprocal interests becomes sacred!  I humbly solicit an answer as soon as possible.

I am Sir your most obd & very hble servt

John Francis PAYNE

Fishmonger

 

50

Paxton Place

Tottenham Court Road

 26 July 1819

Sir

In the Latter part of the first paragraph of the circular of the 23 inst it is said that Government will reserve to it selfe the right of selecting offers that may appear on examination to be most eligible.

There are now 10 more of us all able bodied and willing to work.  Some of us have Families 4 out of the number are unmarried none of us above the age of 31 – but one & all of us have fell a victim to the hardness & distress of the times.  I have a wife & 4 children and no doubt my children would have been on the parish had it not been for the Bounty of Gentleman in Bedford Square who assisted me in Business – but notwithstanding my unremitted attention to the same I cannot succeed in supporting my family.  Wee do not wish to hurt the feelings of Government by giving a general description of the distresses wee have all under gone; but suffice it to say they have been very, very severe.  And we hail the present offer of emigration as calculated to remove at least some of our dificulties.  The shape in which we presume to make our propisitions to Government is as follows –

We will be thankful & glad to emigrate to the Cape providing Government will guarantee to each man or Head of a Family his own proper allotment of land as his own individual right.  We mean under the provision of the circular regarding the quit rent &c which appears to us extremely lenient on the part of Government – such a Dispensation we presume to say will be usefull with the happiest result for each man then becomes as far has possibility will allow highly interested in the thing – and after all it must be acknowledged that one man can certainly cultivate on Hundred acres of land equial as soon has 10 men can a thousand – [obscured] and sooner – and better – for those will be the Dearest and best of reasons to call forth his efforts – and no doubt being the meanes of giving Government every satisfaction.  Therefore we humbly pray Government to accept of our offer and assist our resolutions, as we presume on the certainty that Government will be highly satisfied with all our character, and we assure Government that in a connected party of ten we can see economy and wisdom for when located.  We no doubt shall require each others mutual assistance.  We humbly solicit an answer as soon as possible.

I am Sir your very obd hble servt

John PAYNE

 

[GOULBURN’s notation in the margin] proposal under consideration

 

112

Paxton Place

Tottenham Court Road

 August 10, 1819

Sir

It must be acknowledged on all hands that penetration vigilance & Discretion and a true Disposition to Labour must be quallifications highly calculated to recommend our suit to Government.  The return I sent to your office on the 26 of July amounted only to Ten – since that time we had been constrained to accept of six more which of course in the whole makes up sixteen.

I trust here I shall be pardon’d for offering something by way of elucidation on the characters of the above mentioned Party before I proceed to offer a reason for writing in the present moment.  Most of these men notwithstanding the manner in which they have been used by the times possess Capitals or can realize the same fully equivilent to the purposes in question and what is more their mind are far removed from the flames of a political faction which evidently as bewildered the Hearts of many of our Countrymen & almost certainly has placed them in a condition not to understand the High duties they owe to their God, their country, and themselves!

I do not expect that my bare word will secure our nomination but that Government will require further testimonials which we are Prepared to give.  The reason of me writing in the present moment; are some of my Party are alarmed in consequence of being informed that Government prefers Treating with Parties more numerous.  If such is the case I need only Hollow I should soon have numbers – but I assure you Sir we have had regard to character and all other necessary quallifications to secure an infallible result.  We presume it would be but little use to take persons on a Colonizing Expedition void of the qualifications I have alluded to in this note.  The only thing I have to ask more at this time is that you will be pleased to afford us some hope of our Nomination, for at present the minds of us sixteen are placed under the Dominion of Doubt.  We dont wish to trouble you with to great a description of things, but most of us have lost hundreds, but have just enough to try our Luck in an other Hemisphere.  I humbly hop I shall be Pardoned for giving so much Trouble.  We humbly solicit an answer to this.

I am Sir your most obd & very hble servt

John PAYNE

 

159

Paxton Place

Tottenham Court Road

Augt 24, 1819

Sir

It may not be unpleasant to the feelings of Government to be informed that the Party which proposes going out with me are about forming a plan for the mutual assistance of each other in case of Loss or Distress, and we mean to commence the formation of it as soon as Government condescend to inform us of our Nomination.  This certainly may be considered local business, but we beg leave to state it as it will no doubt exhibit to our Government the sincerity of our intentions and put our country in possession of one pleasing Contemplation – that when located we shall not be deficient in the laws of Wisdom Prudence and Charity, which have so conspicuously adorned the heart of our King, our Government and our Nation!

I am Sir your very obed & hble servt

John Francis PAYNE

 

161

[Transcriber’s note:The following return is undated, stamped 161. This might well be an attachment to the letter dated 10 August, as it lists the sixteen mentioned in that letter]

 

Sir

My name is John PAYNE by Trade a Fishmonger and have acquired a thorough knowledge of my business in all its respective branches.  My original business was a farmer – my Father and Grandfather were Tenants to Lord BRADFORD many years.  I am known to Sir Humphry DAVY, I have a brother who studied under him & was his operator 13 years.  I should have solicited his recommendation had Mr H. DAVY been in Town.  I beg leave to refer Government in point of character to Andrew LOUGHNAN Esq 5 Bedford Square & to Revd T. PERCY Sardinian House Lincoln’s Inn Fields, G.SMITH Esq 42 Bernard Street Middlesex Hospital.  With respect to my person I am a strong man able and willing to bare fatigue – my age 30, my wifes age 27 my children ages – my oldest John PAYNE 6 ½ years, William PAYNE 9, Edward PAYNE 1, Mary PAYNE 4.

With respect to the men going out with me I beg leave to say they are all useful & clever men and have general knowledge of agriculture.

 

Names of the Settlers

Profession or Trade

Age

Names of the Women

Age

Male Children

Age

Female Children

Age

William CARPENTER

Carpenter

32

Mary

32

 

 

Eliza

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emma

1

John CARPENTER

Carpenter

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

John LONG

Printer

21

Sarah

19

 

 

 

 

James JORDAN

Printer

29

Hannah

27

Charles

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George

6 mo

 

 

William SEYMOUR

Baker

32

Sarah

28

 

 

 

 

Sampson DAWE

Carpenter

22

Mary

21

 

 

 

 

William DAWE

Carpenter

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

John MAXWELL

Carpenter

33

Ann

30

 

 

 

 

Benjamin HALL

Carpenter

29

Frances

28

 

 

Hannah

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary

Henry FROST

Gardener

27

Sarah

28

 

 

Frances

5

Thomas BROWN

Shoemaker

40

Jane

35

John

11

 

 

Charles JOHNSON

Shoemaker

30

Susanah

26

 

 

Susanah

2 ¼

Thomas WALPOLE

Clicker

27

Sarah

23

Thomas

5

Sarah

3 ½

John STREET

Taylor

32

Ann

32

 

 

Elizabeth

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary

2

James WHEELER

Farmer

39

Harriet

35

Richard

1 ½

Martha

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ann

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harriet

8

Henry JACKSON

Butcher

29

Susan

28

Henry

6

Sarah

4 ½

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Susan

12

 

212

Paxton Place

Tottenham Court Road

13 Sept 1819

Sir

I trust I shall not be considered too troublesome for inquiring respecting our nomination.  My party are waiting with the utmost anxiety for an answer, I am well aware that business of such importance cannot be disposed of immediately, but if it may be convenient to assure us of going to the Cape, we will feel most gratefully obliged – as many of us have some business to dispose of that will require some time.

I am Sir

Your most obed & very hble servt

John Francis PAYNE

 

250

Paxton Place

Tottenham Court Road

1 Oct 1819

Sir

I received your letter to day.  Nothing can exceed the Disappointment I feel in not being accepted by the Earl BATHURST.  I hope I shall be pardoned for stating but I assure you Sir, as far as the Denial regards myself I shall be quite ruined.  I have lost every farthing I have in my business and could I have procured my nomination to go as a settler to the Cape my friends would have assisted me off in a handsome manner, and with respect to the sixteen who were going with me their capital amounts to more than thousand pounds which money they are willing to place at my disposal, and I assure you Sir, I am willing to comply with Government instructions in every respect.  I entreat you to lay my case again before the Earl BATHURST, and I trust his Lordship will perceive it to be a great Charity to permit me to go as I presume on the certainty that by my industry there I shall be able to support my family which absolutely as not been the case here.

I humbly solicit the favor of an answer as soon as it may be convenient, assuring you I am prepared to be examined with regard to my Pretentions if it may be judged necessary.  I beg of you Sir for the sake of my little family to interest your self in my behalf and I will not only be thankful & greatful but feel myself under a weighty obligation to you.

I am Sir

Your very obed & hble servt

John Francis PAYNE

 

252

Paxton Place

Tottenham Court Road

1 Oct 1819

My Lord

I have received a letter from Henry GOULBURN Esq stating that your Lordship as not accepted me to go as a settler to the Cape of Good Hope.  I assure your Lordship that such a refusal will place me and my family in the Greatest Distress.  I have lost all I had in the world in business, but my friends are willing to come forward in a very Handsome manner to assist me to the Cape and thereby Possess me of means to commence with spirit as they have from experience implicit confidence in my Industry & Integrity, and I also assure your Lordship that the party that intended going out under my direction in number sixteen possesses in capital above a thousand pounds and will place it at my disposal as far at least as it may be to the General Interest of the whole.

I entreat your Lordship to take my case into consideration.  My friends see it useless to assist me in my business as it is so very bad and if your Lordship does not perceive it just to nominate me to go to the Cape I shall most assuredly fall a Victim to the greatest want and Distress.

With respect to my pretensions as far as it regards my self or party I am persuaded they are such as your Lordship will approve of – we are strong healthy men and generally speaking skilled in their respective Professions as well as most of us understand well the Farming Business.

I intreat your Lordship in case your Lordship concurs & to many we will be thankful for us to be nominated and I assure your Lordship as far as it will assist me it will be complying with the sacred obligation of charity.

I am My Lord

Your Lordships most obed & hble servt

John Francis PAYNE

 

307

11 Oct 1819

Sir

I humbly solicit you will favor me with an audience on the subject contained in a Letter I addressed to you last week.  The Honble Mr BRIDGEMAN son to the Earl of BRADFORD as undertaken to recommend me to the Earl BATHURST as qualified in every respect to receive a nomination for the Cape.  I should wish to see you and it is more than probable you have received something on the subject from the Earl BATHURST.  I am waiting with the greatest anxiety.

I am Sir your very obedient servt

J. F. PAYNE

 

PAYNE, Thomas

 

12

22 Primrose Street

Bishopsgate, City

July 19, 1819

Sir

I saw an advertisement in the paper wherein incorragement is given to Persons who wish to emigrate to the Cape of good hope.  I aplied to your office this day to Enquire the Particulars and I was ordered to Rite to you.  My wife my self and a few frends wish to go.  I am by Profession a Carpenter and builder but have some knowledge of Agriculture.  My frends are farmers and we have some little Property and wish to go were we can make some Improvement.  If you will favour me with the Particulars and your proposals can be Exceeded to arangements will be made acordingly.  Your answer will much oblige Sir

Your most obedt and very humble servt

Thomas PAYNE

 

PEARCE, Robert

 

362

Sheet near Petersfield, Hants

November 1st 1819

My Lord

Having understood His Majesty's Government is providing Passages for Emigrants to the Cape of Good Hope.

I have to acquaint your Lordship should that be the case, I would be much obliged if you would allow me to be made acquainted with the regular mode of application and if there is any prospects held out for seafaring people.  I have a large family and been brought up has Master/Mate in the Brit India trade been 5 years in that of the East Indias, & several times at the Cape of Good Hope. Should I be able to get a passage for my selfe (only) that I might be able to better their conditions who feels much of the effects of the badness of the times.  By my being able to get out, it may be the means of gaining their better conditions, I dont fear of gaining some employment their, and with an order from Government I could work my passage out it being out of my power to pay for my passage.  An answer will much oblige my Lord

Your Lordships most obdt humble srvt

Robt PEARCE

 

PEARSE. G

 

143

28 Ironmonger Row

St Lukes

[received 21 August 1819]

Sir

Having some intentions - together with some others - of going to the Cape of Good Hope, I have made bold to trouble you for a copy of the Circular, containing instructions for carrying the above purpose into effect, which if you will have the kindness to forward will be acknowledged as a favour by

Sir

Your obedt sert

G. PEARSE

 

PEARSON, G

 

208

73 London Wall

[received Sept 9, 1819]

My Lord,

Being about to engage persons to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope I respectfully solicit your Lordships Answer to the following questions to enable me to make my arrangements with greater Certainty.

First - what tonnage will persons taking out Ten Settlers be allowed

Second - will means of Conveyance from the place where the Settler may be landed to to [sic] the Spot where he will be located be provided at the expence of Government or must the Settler provide these at his own costs

And last - will the Settler have the advantage of the exchange between this country and the Colony upon the sums (£10 - for each family) deposited in the hands of Government here - or will it be a mere payment to him by the authorities in the Colony of a sum of ten pounds (Cape Currency) for every family settling under his direction.

Begging your Lordships early attention

I am, My Lord

(very respectfully)

Your obedient humble servant

G. PEARSON

 

PELLY, Henry

 

168

No. 2 Beaumont Mews

Marylebone

31st August 1819

Hon’d Sir

Myself with several of my friends are desirous of emigrating to the Cape of Good hope & wish to know on what terms Government intends to send out settlers to that Colliny.

I am Sir your ob’t ser’t

Henry PELLY

 

PEMBERTON, John

 

193

Fore Street

72 Limehouse

Sept 3rd 1819

 

Sir

Having conformably with the directions issued by his Majesties Government engaged ten men with their respective families to go to the Cape of Good Hope or other parts of Southern Africa I beg leave to subjoin a list of the same and request information as to whom I am to pay the required deposit.

Trusting our being accepted

I remain

Your obedient humble servant

John PEMBERTON

 

John PEMBERTON

Capitalist

single man

28

Henry WRIGHTON

Baker

single man

20

Henry WARDLE

Farmer

single man

22

Charles STAPLES

Sugar Baker

single man

19

Charles James MAJOR

Farmer

single man

21

James MORGAN

Bricklayer

single man

19

Henry WOOD

Farmer

single man

28

George BROWN

Farmer

single man

25

George HARCOURT

Farmer

single man

23

Benjamin HUNT

Smith

single man

25

Thomas TAYTON

Wheelwright

married

42

Mary TAYTON

 

 

32

Richard TAYTON

 

 

16

Catherine TAYTON

 

 

13

 

PENNINGTON, Joseph

 

48

London

26th July 1819

Sir

Understanding it is requisite to address you by letter; I do myself the honor of requesting that you will favour me with a copy of the circular letter, to be sent me (issued by Government containing the regulations under which settlers are allowed to go out to the Cape of Good Hope) and any other printed information that may have been circulated on that subject, being desirous of going there as an agriculturist thru’ the medium of my friends in the country.  A compliance with my request will infinitely oblige me, according to the address below.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your obedient humble servant

Joseph PENNINGTON

 

Mr PENNINGTON

No.  3 Haberdashers Place

Hoxton

 

PENNY, George

 

14

No. 7 Stepney Green

Mile End Road

July 20, 1819

Sir

The undermention’d young men wishing to embark for the cape of good Hope, having understood that government has made proposals for the same, and by answering the same you will oblige

Your humble serts

George PENNY, aged 20    }

Henry MITCHELL, aged 20 }        Cordwainers

William BERRY, aged 20    }

 

PERKINS, John

 

21

75 Paradise Street

Liverpool

July 20th 1819

To the Rt Hon’ble Lord SIDMOUTH

 

My Lord

I hope your Lordship will pardon the presumption of an individual who has thus presumed to address you.  Having been informed through the channel of the Newspapers that land will be granted to individuals who may wish to emigrate to the Cape of good Hope, I have taken this liberty which nothing but a consciousness of your Lordship's Pardon would have induced me to do.  My Lord I have been brought up to agriculture the major part of my life and have not the least doubt of being very comfortable in the situation which it shall please your Lordship to nominate for me.

My Lord give me leave to solicit an answer it would give me the most heartfelt satisfaction in thinking that I should obtain a decent livelihood (through your Lordship's goodness) & likewise in assisting my aged parents.  My Lord I sincerely hope your L’dship will pardon this presumption and allow me to subscribe myself your L’dship's

very humble serv’t

John PERKINS

 

N. B. My Lord it is my particular wish to go as soon as is convenient to your Lordship to the Cape of good Hope.  I only wait for your Lordship's information.

 

PEROLZ, Thomas

 

127

14th August 1819

 

The Petition of Thomas PEROLZ of Tinahely Parish of Kilcommon & County of Wicklow, Ireland

Humbly Sheweth

That petitioner having a desire to avail himself of the grant made by Government to such as shall have a purpose to emigrate to the Cape of good Hope, and being able to make the Deposit required by Govt as also to produce well authenticated Certificates for honesty and Sobriety most humbly intreats your Lordship’s instructions and information respecting the particulars of the encouragement given to emigrants as also how Petitioner shall proceed and to whom he shall attach himself.  And whether such person will have a power of retaining any part of the land granted as above.  And for which Petitioner shall as in Duty pray.

Thomas PEROLZ

Victualer

 

PERRIN, William

 

290

Leinster Lodge

Athy

10th Oct 1819

My Lord,

            Referring to your Lordship’s circular of the 16th Augt I beg leave to propose becoming a settler in the Cape of Good Hope agreeable to the regulations of His Majesties Government for which purpose I shall immediately on receipt of your Lordship’s direction for that purpose deposite or forward as directed the sum of money required by Government to enable me to bring out 10 or 15 able bodied men and their families as settlers, who are now ready to come with me, who are all of the best character and are willing to work but from the depression of the times find it almost impossible to get employment and consequently are barely able to support themselves and families.

            I beg leave to state that on receipt of your Lordship’s letters I disposed of all my property here in order to create a fund sufficient to carry on the undertaking with success.

            I enclose testimonials of my character &c which I trust will meet your Lordship’s sanction and I hope your Lordship will consider me a proper person to proceed to the Cape as a settler. On receipt of your Lordship’s answer I will send returns of the men and their families who have placed themselves under my direction.

            My own family consists of my wife, my sister in law and one son. Waiting for your Lordships reply, I have the honour to be, my Lord

Your Lordship’s most obed’t humble serv’t

William PERRIN

 

292 [enclosed with above]

Custom House

Dublin

14th October 1819

 

I certify that I know the family of Mr. William PERRIN these many years, they are highly respectable. I understand he has a wish to go to the Cape of Good Hope & I have little doubt from his excellent character will prove a useful member of that rising colony.

H.B. MANTENVILLE

 

293 [enclosed with above]

22 Bagot Street

Sept 28 1819

 

I certify that I have known Mr. William PERRIN during many years past. He is a young man of good character desirous of emigrating to the Cape of Good Hope. His family is highly respectable and he has means sufficient for his support till he arrives there. He is married and has but one child. Several able men have promised to accompany him. Under these circumstances I believe he would prove a valuable acquisition to the colony.

Fr. BARKER MD

 

294 [enclosed with above]

 

I have known Mr. William PERRIN for some years. His family and connexions are very respectable and I am confident he will conduct himself with propriety in any situation he may be placed in.

Geo. STUDDART

 

295 [enclosed with above]

28th September 1819

 

I certify that I have known Mr. William PERRIN and his family for many years past, both are highly respectable and have been uniformly well conducted. I understand Mr. Wm. PERRIN is desirous of going to the Cape of Good Hope & I have no doubt should such an event take place that he would be a great acquisition to that settlement.

Thos. M. KENNY

Lord Mayor of Dublin

           

PESHALL, Sir John re William MOUNTAIN

 

202

Barton Court

Near Chelsea Hospital

Sep 8 1819

My Lord,

            I beg leave to recommend to your Lordship’s notice Mr. William MOUNTAIN as a settler for the Cape of Good Hope with a Party of     Men under him, he being a most respectable man, with whom I have been acquainted for many years, and I well know his qualification for the same, which will much oblidge

Your Lordship’s most obedient and faithful humble servant

John PESHALL Bt.

 

PETTITT, John

 

35

St.Mary’s Hall, Southwark

July 23rd 1819

Sir,

            Not clearly comprehending the official circular dated from Downing Street on the 17th inst and referring to the Cape of Good Hope you will oblige me by answering the following questions at your earliest convenience, and thro’ which I shall be able to reply to some of my correspondents, who are making similar enquiries:

1st Does an individual paying the 10£ without wife or family have 100 acres of land allotted to him on his arrival at the Cape? And is there any difference in the grant whether he goes by himself or accompanyed by a wife & 2 children

2 Does the person procuring 10 families receive 1000 acres of land in addition to the 100 acres given to the head of each family he takes out or does the 1000 acres include the whole of the grant in such case.

Waiting of reply I am respectfully, Sir

Your obed’t serv’t

Jno. PETTITT

 

110

London

August 10th 1819

 

The humble petition of John PETTITT wishes to engage himself according to your Lordships proposhals with a wife and two children under eighteen by trade a sawyer living at N0.13 Baker’s Row Mile End New Town and can make himself other ways useful, answer from your Lordship will be esteemed an obligation by your humble petitioner

John PETTITT

 

OWEN, Sir John, MP for Pembrokeshire, re Thomas PHILIPPS

 

951

Milton

5th August 1819

Dear Sir,

            The bearer Thomas PHILIPPS who is a particular friend of mine and a member of one of the principal families in this county, is desirous of obtaining a grant of land at the Cape and of going out there with his family and about twenty settlers. You will particularly oblige me by giving him an early interview and by lending your kind assistance to forward his plan without delay. I am sincerely anxious to serve him and highly interested in his success or I would not have taken the liberty of troubling you with this letter and I am. Dear Sir

Very faithfully

John OWEN

 

[note from GOULBURN: act according to what I have said in the enclosed letter, which send on to Milton [and in an addition in a darker ink] Mr. PHILIPS called here and got the letter]

 

PHILIPPS, Thomas

 

129

[in clerk’s hand at top: Sir John OWEN’s friend]

Milford, 14th August 1819

Sir,

            Sir John OWEN having already intimated to you my intention of availing myself of the offer of Government for taking out settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, I beg leave in pursuance of it & in conformity to the circulars already issued from the Colonial Office to become a candidate for the allotments of land, and to annex a list of my own family and of those settlers whom it is my intention to take out with me.

I have the honor to remain Sir

Your most humble & obedient servant

Thomas PHILIPPS

 

Thomas PHILIPPS aged 43, wife, two children above 14 under 17, five children under 14

E.K. SAYER, agriculturalist 38, wife & three children under 14

Wm. WADE, gardener, 32

Daniel HANCOCK, carpenter, 29, wife & two children

James HANCOCK, smith, 30, wife & two children

Wm. MORGAN, mason, 22

Thomas GRIFFITHS, labourer, 22, & wife

Thomas WILLIAMS, labourer, 21

Wm. THOMAS, labourer, 19

Joseph WILLIAMS, labourer, 23

William BROWN, labourer, 28

Wm THOMAS 2, labourer, 18

Joseph GRIFFITHS, labourer, 19

James WILLIAMS, labourer, 24

Wm. WILLIAMS, labourer, 20

Thos. WILLIAMS, labourer, 23

Joseph THOMAS, labourer, 26, wife & child

Isaac JONES, labourer, 22

John JONES, labourer, 19

William PHILLIPS, labourer, 24

Joseph JENKINS, labourer, 35, wife & two children

 

203

Milford, 9th September 1819

Sir,

            I received so much attention from you whilst in London the middle of last month that I take the liberty of again troubling you on the subject of my application for a grant of land at the Cape. I am led to believe from the public prints that the applications are so numerous that not a 20th part can be complied with, if that should prove the case it is probable that you might think of reducing the quantity asked for & I beg leave to say that I shall have no objection provided the whole of my demand cannot be complied with to accept one half. As the time is drawing near I should be very glad to be informed how soon I may expect a reply.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most humble servant

Thomas PHILIPPS

 

[note in GOULBURN’s hand: this is the gentleman who came with a letter of recommendation from Sir John OWEN]

 

287

Milford, 8 October 1819

Sir,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 30th September and in conformity beg leave to enclose a return of those Settlers whom I intend to take with me to the Cape of Good Hope.

            As I have no doubt that there may be other Settlers residing in the western part of this Kingdom to whom it would be most materially convenient to embark from a Port contiguous to them, I take the liberty of stating my hope that you will be kind enough to take us into your consideration and also to mention that if vessels are fitted out at the Royal Dockyards, that this dockyard may be included, we have almost daily passage vessels sailing to and from Bristol from which city our implements can be obtained with great advantage.

I have the honor to remain Sir,

Your most humble and obedient servant

Thomas PHILIPPS

 

329

Milford, 24th October 1819

Sir,

            I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your two letters of the 20th and 21st Inst. I learn from Mr. Robert CURRIE that his application to the Cape of Good Hope was made long prior to his being put down in my list, he has now decided on proceeding with me, and he will of course return the letter, which he has received to the Governor of the Cape.

            I am concerned to state that owing to death and illness I am under the necessity of taking out other labourers than those which I have returned a list of, but those I have now named do not differ in the size of their families or in age & consequently will not require any alteration in my deposit, should it be considered necessary to give in a new list I shall be ready to attend to your orders at No. 17 Gloster Place, Portman Square to which place I shall proceed by the Mail of Tuesday.

            I have directed my agent to pay my deposit money of two hundred and fifty pounds to William Hill Esq. Comissariat Department, Treasury and I have the honor to remain,Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Thomas PHILIPPS

 

[note from GOULBURN on reverse: Mr GOULBURN presents his compliments to Mr. PHILIPPS and requests Mr. PHILIPPS to call at this office as soon as convenient

Downing St. 26th Oct 1819]

 

431

Kennersley Castle Transport

31 Dec 1819

Sir,

In consequence of two of my party marrying I have been under the necessity of leaving behind the two married people in my former list, and of making some other changes. I therefore take the liberty of enclosing an amended list and returning the letter to the Governor of the Cape in order that it may be altered in conformity. I am exceedingly sorry to occasion so much trouble.

I have the honor to remain Sir

Your most humble servant

Thomas PHILIPPS

 

P.S. We expect to sail on Monday next, but Mr. GREATHEAD's party has not yet joined.

 

Thomas PHILIPPS                   44

Charlotte PHILIPPS                 41

Edward PHILIPPS                    16

Fred PHILIPPS                         10

John PHILIPPS                        4

Catherine PHILIPPS                17

Charlotte PHILIPPS                 14

Sophia PHILIPPS                     12

Emma PHILIPPS                      6

Ann JOHN                                25

Mary OWEN                             20

Martha THOMAS                      18

Robert CURRIE  Surgeon           25

John RHENISH  Steward *         30

Catherine RHENISH                 30

William RHENISH                     11

John DAVIES Carpenter            38

William DAVIES                       13

John JONES  Miller                   21

John GITTINS  Gardener           23

Richard BUTLER  Labourer        19

William DAVIS Labourer           21

Mary DAVIS                             25

William PHILLIP Labourer         21

Ben JAMES Labourer                21

John DAVIS  Labourer               23

John JAMES Labourer               21

Thomas MATHIAS  Labourer     22

David PUGH Cooper                   23

David JAMES Labourer              18

John MACK  Labourer               19

Robert OWEN Labourer              23

James PROUT  Carpenter         23

Samuel WAREHAM Labourer     18

William ESMOND Labourer       18

 

*[Transcriber’s note: John RHENISH and family are not listed in Nash but appear in Hockly’s ‘Sory of the British Settlers of 1820’]           

 

Countess of MANSFIELD re Thomas PHILIPPS

 

356-361

[From Richard PENN enclosing letter from Countess of MANSFIELD]

30 October 1819

My Dear Sir,

            I forgot yesterday to tell you that Lord B's coffee and yours being in bags of a sizeable size I have written to the Treasury in your name requesting an order for their being loaded on payment of the duties.

            As Lady Mansfield most probably will not be deterred by what I have said from writing to you or Lord BATHURST, I take the liberty of sending her pompous note and a copy of my answer.

Your much obliged

RP

Richmond Hill

Thursday

 

The Countess of MANSFIELD presents her compliments to Mr. Rich’d PENN and is much obliged to him for the Printed Papers, and for the information he was so good as to send her that the Proposal made by Mr. T PHILIPPS of Milford to take 20 families to the Cape of Good Hope, according to the terms of the printed circular letter, has been accepted by Lord BATHURST.

A very intimate friend of Lady MANSFIELD’s has written to her mentioning Mr. T PHILIPPS’s having received a grant of land from Government and his intention of proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope (as soon as orders are issued) with his family and the settlers he takes out, and that he wishes to obtain letters of introduction particularly to Lord Charles SOMERSET the Governor which he thinks would forward his interests on arriving there. He has also heard that “some of the Gentlemen going out have been appointed Magistrates to the different Districts and his friend (who writes of such) is most anxious to obtain that appointment for him.”

Possibly under the recommendations which have induced Lord BATHURST to accept of the proposal of Mr. T PHILIPPS to take 20 families to the Cape his Lordship might not object to such helps in his instance, if these come within the regulations meant by the printed letter and Lady MANSFIELD will be much obliged to Mr. PENN if he will let her know how this is for the information of her friend?

 

[copy of reply]

Mr. R.P. presents his compliments to Lady M & has the honor to acquaint her Ladyship that she has been misinformed as to its being Lord B’s intention to make any appointments at the Cape of the nature alluded to in her note. Mr. P [PHILIPPS] will be duly furnished with a letter to the Governor but Mr. R P apprehends that Lord B would be unwilling to give any particular recommendation of Mr. P to Lord CS as it might perhaps obtain for him an undue preference over others with equal claims going out under the same circumstances. Any introduction which Lady M can procure for Mr. P from some other quarter might possibly be very serviceable able to him.

 

PHILIPS, A

 

141

August 18th 1819

Sir,

            I am informed you are in want of some able young men to go to the Cape of Good Hope, as we should like to embrace the opportunity Sir we should be glad to know what Terms we have to go upon. Please to direct post paid to No.15 Davies Street Grosvenor Sq

Sir, I am your humble servant

A. PHILIPS

 

A. PHILIPS        25

W. CLOSE        20

J. GARLICK       29

W. ROWE         23

G. SMITH          21

J. ROWE          21

 

PHILLIPS, Benjamin

 

54

Star Corner

Near Bermondsey Church

July 27 1819

Honourable Sir,

                        Wishing to take advantage of the generous offer of His Majesty’s Government by emigrating to the Cape of Good Hope, should be obliged by your information as to what I may expect of land and other particulars.

            I shall take a wife out with me but no family and also another person who has a wife and three children and whose name is Robert HALL. We are both by trade carpenters but understand farming.

I remain Hon Sir

Your much obliged humble servant

Benjamin PHILLIPS

 

71

Star Corner

Near Bermondsey Church

July 30 1819

Honourable Sir,

                        Hoping you will excuse the liberty I have taken in addressing you again upon the subject of emigration to the Cape of Good Hope but as I have expectations of raising by the sale of my property about 2 or 3 hundred pounds should wish to know if myself and the man I take with me should be able to pay our own expences over to the Cape whether his Majesty’s government would grant me 200 acres land upon arriving there. Hoping for your answer

I remain honourable Sir

Your obedient servant

B. PHILLIPS

 

PHILLIPS, George

 

No.10 Church Lane

White Chapell

Aug 11 1819

Sir,

            I shall feell particularly obliged if you will have the goodness to transmit me the necessary information relative to the new colony about to be established at the Cape of Good Hope.

I have the honor to be

Your obt hbl svt

Geo PHILLIPS

 

PHILLIPS, James

 

189

No.3 Tann St

Aldersgate St

3 Sept 1819

Cape of Good Hope Colonization

Sir,

            I have to apologise for troubling you, but understanding that a Mr. Thomas WILSON is officially employed by Government in collecting persons and sending in statements for the above purpose to your office and having seen a letter of his of which I beg to trouble you with a copy on the other side, and being desirous of avoiding the possibility of becoming a dupe to an artifice, I respectfully request to be informed if what he states is the fact, as the terms proposed by him are that £5 be paid the first week of the current month into his hands without any security for its proper appropriation, £5 in Octr & £5 the last week in the same month, which last sum is for the purchase of stores of him on landing at the colony.

            You will observe by his letter that it is necessary I should determine by the 8th inst and will therefore I trust excuse my pressing for an immediate answer.

I am Sir most respectfully

Your obed’t humble svt

Jas. PHILLIPS

 

190 [copy]

Bridge Cottage

Chelsea Water Works

3 Sep 1819

Sir,

            In conformity to the Government regulation for settling at the Cape of Good Hope your name has been duly entered to proceed under my direction and you are therefore required to pay your fitst deposit on or before the 8th inst otherwise you will be excluded the present opportunity. The vessel for your conveyance will be ready to sail in November.

I am Sir

Your obedient servant

(signed) Thos. WILSON

 

PHILLIPS, Joseph

 

59

At Mr. MARSDEN’s

Carpemter & Builder

Martha St

St.George in the East

July 29 1819

Sir,

            In consequence of the offer of His Majesty’s Government to give encouragement to persons desirous of setling in the Colony of the Cape I most respectfully offer myself to your notice as a candidate for the grant to be sent out under a person who may advance the sum required. I am 30 years of age, am a carpenter & wheelwright by trade, lately married no family. Should I be so fortunate as to become an object of your choise the most satisfactory referance can be given as to my ability & general caracter.

From Sir, your most obedient humble servant

Jos. PHILLIPS

 

PHILLIPS, Samuel

 

2

Regency Row

Lords Old Crickett Ground

New Road, Mary Le Bone

Hon’d Sir,

            Having seen in the news paper a proposal that any Purson taking out with them ten famileys to the Cape of Good Hope upon depositing 100£, Sir I can fulfill that part and make no dout of requiring the stated number of familey aving ad several offers to that efect But at the same time Sir should wish if not too trubelsum to know if after ariving at the Cape thar is any Privistion mad by Goverment to enhabel the familey to be privided for untill sutch times as they may be enhabled to pivide for them selves.

I remain hon’d Sir

You obedient humble sarvent

Samuel PHILLIPS

Carpenter

 

PHILLIPS, Thomas (CRAUSE’s Party)

 

10

15 Little Knight Rider Street

Doctors Commons

July 17 1819

 

Hon' Sir

In consequence of my trade being so bad I am unable to provide for the wants of a wife and family of

5 children. From this cause I am anxious to proceed as a settler to the Cape of G. Hope. The great advantages which that Colony possesses over any others for British skill and industry induces to believe that by removing to that settlement I shall be better enabled to provide for the future welfare of my family than according to my present circumstances by remaining in England. Should you deem my application worthy of relief and that I am a fit and proper person to participate in the beneficient and patriotic views of the Executive, a line or circular stating the particulars and what deposits will be acknowledged with the utmost respect of thankfullness by, Hon' Sir

Your Obt. Humble Servant

Thos PHILLIPS

 

37

15 L Knight Rider St

Drs Comms

July 23 1819

Hon' Sir,

I have had the honor of receiving a printed Circular from you relative to the new settlement about to be formed at the Cape of G. Hope. My circumstance will not permit me to derive any benefit from the plan proposed by Government upon a large scale. But I should be glad to be informed whether I may be allowed a passage for myself & family, depositing a sum of money according to the terms proposed in the Circular. If I may be permitted to proceed to the Colony & a free passage allowed I shall make my arrangements accordingly.

I am Hon' Sir with the utmost Respect

Your Obt. Sert

T PHILLIPS

 

69

15 L Knight Rider St, Drs Comms

[Received 30 July 1819]

Hon Sir,

            I beg leave to apply to you for further information concerning the intended Settlement about to be formed at Algoa Bay. I will engage 10 persons or familys agreable to the conditions specified in the Circular. But I should be glad to be informed of a few particulars as under -

Will the Settlers be permitted to carry out whatever they conceive necessary free of Port Charges, of Customs or other Duties

[Margin note from GOULBURN: a reasonable amount of tonnage will be allowed but not exemption from Duties]

As the victualling ceases immediately upon leaving the ship, are there any means of provisions in ready supply at the Cape or adjacent settlements

[Margin note from GOULBURN: there are the means]

Is the country intended for location in the interior & will it be necessary to provide any land carriage -

Will any implements of Agriculture be provided by Government –

[Margin note from GOULBURN: may be purchased by settler]

Will there be any temporary covering for the Settlers such as tents & be furnished by Government

[Margin note from GOULBURN: No]

An answer to this stating further particulars and permission to proceed will Most Humbly Oblige

Your Obt Servant

Thos PHILLIPS

 

82

15 Little Knight Rider St

Doctors Commons

[Received 4 August 1819]

Hon' Sir,

I beg leave to solicit your notice to my letter of the 29th ultimo requesting permission to proceed to the Cape with 10 persons according to the conditions of the circular. An answer to that letter as early as possible will be of importance, the interval before the transport sails being requisite for the necessary arrangements.

I am Hon'ble Sir

Your Most Obt.Servant

Thos PHILLIPS

 

104

15 Little Knight Rider St

Doctors Commons

[Received August 9th 1819]

Hon' Sir

I have received a letter from you stating that my proposals were under consideration. Not having rec'd an answer since the 5th Aug’t I am quite anxious for the ultimatum. I have 10 persons ready & willing to proceed as Settlers. It is my intention to conform in every respect to the first Circular issued by Government. All that I request is permission to participate in the beneficient views of Government. An early answer will oblige as the persons & myself who are desirous of proceeding to the Cape, are quite in a state of suspense.

I am Sir Your Most Obt. Servant

Thos PHILLIPS

 

PHILPS, Rev. Robert

 

326

Ashbrittle

Near Wellington

Somerset

Oct 22nd 1819

My Lord,

            Having some thought of emigrating to the Cape with Mrs. PHILPS and a young family of five children and being advised to write to you as Sec’y for the Colonial Department, I have therefore taken the liberty of addressing your Lordship upon the subject.

            The necessary particulars relative to a settlement at the Cape I have not seen, excepting a mere outline in a provincial paper, and consequently I am unable to form any just or reasonable opinion as to the advantages likely to accrue from an enterprize of the kind. The colony is at present I presume in its infant state with regard to English settlers - & how far appointmts in respect to chaplians of the Established Church may be required, I am also  at a loss to conjecture. Will your Lordship have the goodness to inform me whether there are any appointmts of the kind and also whether there are any vacant chaplaincies?

            What salary if any is allotted by Government? Whether there are any such appointmts existing; and the channel thro’ wch an application is to be made? Probably the appointment of persons duly qualified & approved of as chaplains they rest solely with yourself, if so, in that case, I would prevail upon some of my friends to recommend me to your Lordship’s notice.

            My present salary as stipendiary curate amounts to only £70 per annum, far too little to support myself & family with that becoming decency wch such a profession requires in England. Should your Lordship deign to favor me with a reply to the above queries I should consider myself highly flattered by such a mark of condescension.

I have the honor to be my Lord

Your Lordship’s most obed’t humble serv’t

Rev’d Rob’t G. PHILPS

 

PHIPPS, Joseph James

 

86

August 5th 1819

Sir,

            I would not intrude on your valuable time but hearing that government has kindly consented to persons becoming settlers in the Cape of Good Hope I am a young man and wish to go my age is 18 years and 2 months if you will be kind to answer (stating the particulars) you will oblige

Your humble servant

Joseph James PHIPPS

Please to address to me at the St. Lukes Head

King Street Grosvenor Square

 

PIGOT, George

 

76

Chievely

near Newbury, Berks.

Aug 1st 1819

My Lord,

            As it is my wish to embark some property in this cultivation of an estate at the Cape of Good Hope, I beg to offer myself for your consideration, to undertake the charge of a body of immigrants desirous of settling there. From my habits and rank in life, (having been in the army thirty years, during which time I had an opportunity of informing myself of the different systems of agriculture in various climates, and from my having been a practical farmer fifteen years, in Staffordshire and Berkshire) I feel myself qualified to undertake the enterprise, as well as to render myself useful to the Government, in any way they may think fit to employ me. I do not mention this with a view of emoluments, salary is no object, but I am aware a person of education would feel very awkwardly situated as an emigrant without some authority under Government.

Should my first proposition meet your approbation, you will oblige me by a communication, and should you be able to place me in any situation where I am under myself useful, and at the same time respected by the settler, you will very much oblige.

Your most obed’t very humble serv’t

Geo PIGOT

 

PS. not having the honor of being known to your Lordship, I beg to refer to the members for the counties of Stafford and Berks, or should there be any security required on my part I can procure it.

 

103

Chievely

Newbury, Berks.

Aug 7th 1819

Sir,

In answer to yours of the 5th, I beg to inform you that it is my wish to take out to the Cape 20 or 30 families, or more if I can get them. You will oblige me by informing me if a few Carpenters and Blacksmiths will be allowed to go with the settlers, and in which proportion.  I shall likewise be thankful if you will inform me on what scale other persons have offered to take with settlers, and what ranks in life or business they are in, as I can form a much better judgment what to do when I know what others do.

I am Sir,

Your most obed’t very humble serv’t

Geo PIGOT

 

PS. will any tonnage be allowed to carry out implements of husbandry and to what extent.

 

116

Chievely

Newbury, Berks.

Aug 11th 1819

Sir,

I have been favored with your printed letter of the 9th in answer to which I beg to state I perfectly understand the terms of the circular letter and agree to them, and your last communication is perfectly satisfactory, we being allowed to carry out a moderate supply of agricultural implements.  I feel confident of procuring twenty families to accompany me, and perhaps more, if I may afterward make an augmentation, as the time fast approaches for the transport sailing. I should feel obliged by as early a communication as possible if I am permitted to go, and I trust from my qualifications, and length of service in the Army, I shall be acceptable. Should it be necessary I will wait on you in town, and make my deposit immediately on your reply.

I have the honour to be Sir,

Your most obed’t serv’t

Geo PIGOT

 

162

Chievely

Newbury, Berks.

Aug 24th 1819

Sir,

On the other side is the list of persons desirous of going with me to the new settlement at the Cape of Good Hope, and whom I engage to carry out, and support in conformity with the wishes of His Majesty’s Government. As I am prepared in every respect, I hope I shall be allowed to go with the first division.

I have the honour to be Sir,

Your most obed’t humble serv’t

Geo PIGOT

 

A current list of the persons desirous of going to the Cape of Good Hope with Mr. George PIGOT of Chievely in the county of Berks.

 

 

 

Women

Children above 14 years

Children under 14 years

1

George PIGOT

 

2

 

2

Wm COMLEY

Wife

1

1

3

John POVEY

Wife

1

1

4

Wm. GIBBS

Wife

 

5

5

Henry BROOKS

Wife

1

3

6

Joseph WINTIN

Wife

2

 

7

John GRUNDY

Wife

1

2

8

John POVEY Junior

Wife

 

 

9

Henry SMITH

Wife

 

 

10

Wm WARNARD

Wife

 

 

11

John WARNARD

Single

 

 

12

Ben DARLING

do

 

 

13

John PEWZEY

do

 

 

14

Thos. TAYLOR

do

 

 

15

George PIPER

do

 

 

16

Morris PIPER

do

 

 

17

Wm. HOLDEN

do

 

 

18

Thos. HOBSON

do

 

 

19

James HISCOCK

do

 

 

20

Wm. DANIELS

Wife

 

 

 

Total Men - 20  Women - 10  Children above fourteen years - 8  Children under fourteen years - 12

 

164

Chievely

Near Newbury, Berks.

Aug 27th 1819

Sir,

As it is possible my address may not have been clearly stated in my last communication, I take the liberty of enclosing it as above, and I shall take it as a particular favour, to be allowed to proceed with the first division of settlers to the Cape of Good Hope.

I have the honour to be Sir,

Your most obed’t humble serv’t

Geo PIGOT

 

169

[to Charles DUNDASS, MP for Berkshire 1794-1832]

Chievely

Nr Newbury, Berks.

Tuesday 31st Aug 27th

Dear DUNDASS,

You of course know Government are taking out settlers free of expense to the Cape of Good Hope, there are at least 50,000 have offered to go, and that money granted by Parliament will not take out more than 5,000, it therefore becomes a matter [of] favor to get leave to be of the party.  I have sent in my name with 20 labourers, 10 women & 22 children, and you will oblige me very much by writing to Lord BATHURST to request myself and party may go by the first division, as we are all ready. 

You know ours is a very populous village and the poor rates very high, it is therefore the wish of all the Parish, that I may succeed in my application, all this you may state, and I conceive Government can have no objection personally to me as I have always been an agriculturist and from my rank in life should suppose that I must more than come within the description of persons they will be able to select.  Should you think it advisable, you may mention my service in the Army, 30 years, and that I am ready to take any command of a militia, or any other force, that it may be found necessary to form in the new settlement to protect them against the Caffirs.  I see by the paper of today that none of the applicants have as yet received answers, therefore if you will have the goodness to write by this night’s post, it will be sure to be in time, should I go, I will see you before I quit old England forever, believe me.

Yours very sincerely & truly

Geo PIGOT

 

205

Chievely, Newbury, Berks

Sep 10th 1819

Sir,

I hope I shall not be considered troublesome, but as it is about a fortnight since I sent in my list of persons desirous of emigrating with me to the Cape of Good Hope, which list you were kind enough to say was under consideration, and as the poor people are very anxious to know Earl BATHURST’s determination wishing to settle many of their family concerns before they go, you will oblige me by a communication.  I am well aware of the difficulty of selection when there are so many applicants, but I hope and trust my rank in life and length of service in the Army will insure my being considered eligible for the undertaking, more particularly so as the Parish (of Chievely) from which I have selected most of the persons to accompany me is over burdened with poor, and who are literally in a starving state.

I have the honour to be Sir,

Your most obed’t humble serv’t

Geo PIGOT

 

298

Chievely

Oct 11th 1819

Sir,

I herewith send the list of persons proceeding under my direction to the Cape of Good Hope.  The square at the top I was at a loss to know how to fill up,  have therefore put the number of able bodied men or families specified in the list.

I have the honour to be Sir,

Your most obed’t humble serv’t

Geo PIGOT

 

386

11 Percy Street

Nov 19th 1819

Sir,

I fear I must have misunderstood an answer Mr. PENN gave me to a question wether if any of my party of settlers declined going, I may substitute others, provided they were of the same age and occupation.  The case has occurred in my party more than once, and as I am given to understand by Capt YOUNG at Deptford that he cannot permit persons of another name to be substituted without your direction, I have to request as a favour that I may be permitted to correct my list, it being entirely a misconception on my part and I should be obliged to leave behind me my two Carpenters, which would entirely destroy the success of my undertaking.

I have the honour to be Sir,

Your most obed’t humble serv’t

Geo PIGOT

 

429

Northampton Transport

Downs

Dec 25th 1819

Sir,

As I have been informed Mr PARKER has succeeded in his application for his party of settlers to be located on the Knysna instead of Algoa Bay, and as the former is the place of all others where I should like to have my grant of lands, I take the liberty of requesting the favour of Earl BATHURST’s permission and orders for myself and party to proceed to that port.

I have the honour to be Sir,

Your most obed’t humble serv’t

Geo PIGOT

 

PIMLOTT, Charles

 

108

No. 5 New Compton St

Near St. Giles Church

 [Received August 9th 1819]

Sir,

            In consequence of having heard that it is the intention of Government to establish a Colony at the Cape of Good Hope of our countrymen, as such I would wish to enrole my name amongst those going to the aforesaid place.

I am your most ob’t hbl servant

Charles PIMLOTT

Aged 24 yrs

Trade: Plasterer & Bricklayer

 

PINK, Edmund

 

411

4 Queens Way

Walworth

30th November 1819

Sir

I take the liberty of writing to you to name my intention of proceeding to the Cape of Good Hope, with the idea of settling there, and have taken my passage on a Merchant Ship which I expect will sail in the course of a week.

Putting myself on the same footing with other Settlers I do not know whether I am making a just claim, in asking for the grant of 100 acres of land, having the means of cultivating same.  If the claim is a just one, and the grant allowed, will you have the goodness to put me in the right way of receiving the proper documents, to show to the Governor on my arrival at the Cape.

I am a young man by profession a surveyor about the age of 24, entirely dependant on my own exertions.

I have the honor, to remain

Your most obedt. humble servant

Edmund PINK

 

[Note from GOULBURN on the reverse]

Acquaint him that on application to the Governor he will receive such a grant or his means of cultivation may appear to entitle him to.

 

PIRIE, Robert

 

153

No. 12 Turnmill St.

Clerkenwell

London

August 23, 1819

Sir,

Having got the given number of persons to emigrate as settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, we wish to be informed with the particulars of your proposals as soon as convenient that we may send a list of the names.

Sir I remain your most obedient humble servt.

Robert PIRIE

 

228

No.12 Turnmill Street

Clerkenwell

20 Sept 1819

My Lord,

            I have enclosed a list of fourteen able bodied industrious sober men with eight women and sixteen children desirous of emigrating and are willing to the conditions proposed in the circular, for each of whom I am ready to make the deposit required, and am likewise possessed of sufficient capital to carry into effect the intentions of His Majesty’s Government. An early answer my Lord would be esteemed a great favor as it would allow more time to the parties to make the necessary arrangements before embarkation. I am my Lord

Your Lordship’s most obedient and very humble serv’t

Robert PIRIE

 

[enclosed return misfiled filed under R]

 

638

 

Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers

Robert PIRIE

Baker aged 35

No.12 Turnmill St, Clerkenwell

Mary PIRIE the wife of Robert PIRIE aged 24

Marg’t PIRIE daughter of Robert PIRIE aged 11 years

 

Names of the Settlers

Profession or Trade

Age

Names of the Women

Age

Male Children

Age

Female Children

Age

Theo’s GYFFORD

Stationer & Gardener

33

Ann GYFFORD

24

 

 

 

 

Wm. KIDSON

Agriculturalist & Wool Stapler

35

Ann KIDSON

30

Two

3/3m

3

11/7/1½

John CARTER

Agriculturalist

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas HUDSON

Butcher

40

 

 

 

 

 

 

John WHYBREW

Gardener

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert HORN

Plumber

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geo. RATHBONE

Carpenter

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jas. RATHBONE

Carpenter

22

Sus’h RATHBONE

22

 

 

One

1 yr

John WILLIAMS

Carpenter

37

Anne WILLIAMS

35

 

 

 

 

Thomas FODEN

Shoemaker

40

Mary FODEN

36

 

 

Two

13/5

Charles J. LUCAS

Oil Man & Agriculturalist

29

Sarah LUCAS

27

One

3

One

3m

Thos. NELSON

Agriculturalist

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dan’l HANCKS

Bricklayer

35

Esther HANCKS

34

Three

12/5/2

Two

10/8m

Rob’t TOLLER

Wheelwright

43

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

248

1st Oct. 1819

12 Turnmill Street

Clerkenwell

Sir,

I have received your answer to my proposal to emigrate to the Cape & am sorry to find it not accepted. I beg Sir you will to me the favour to inform me if a few individuals proposing the means of paying their own passage & of establishing themselves, will be permitted by Government to emigrate and if they will have granted to them the same privileges in respect to the quantity of land &c.as those whose proposals are accepted.

I am Sir Your most obt. Servt.

Robt. PIRIE

 

[written on reverse by GOULBURN] Mr. PIRIE wishes to go at his own expence.

 

PITCHER, William

 

394

Odcombe

Near Yeovil

29 November 1819

My Lord,

            In consequence of hearing Government has it in contemplation of forming a settlement on the S.W. [sic] Coast of Africa somewhere about Algoa Bay. It induced me to address Lord SIDMOUTH requesting to be made acquainted with the allowance (if any) made by Government to Persons disposed to emigrate there. Last evening I received his Lordship’s answer thro’ Mr. HOBHOUSE referring me to your Lordship as the Head of the Colonial Department.

            You will therefore highly oblige me if you will so far condescend to favour me with the particulars. The land there I hear and indeed from what I have read in Dampier’s Voyages Around the World and who was well acquainted with the nature of soils and was a native of the adjoining Parish, is wonderfully productive and similar to this, which produces as fine (if not superior) flax and hemp to any in the Kingdom.

            It is therefore my Lord in the event of your answer probable that others as well as myself may be disposed to introduce the growth of this article into that part of the globe. Your Lordship’s condescension will oblige

Your very humble servant

William PITCHER

 

PITT, W.M.

 

288

Oct 3 1819

My Dear Sir,

                        You will very much oblige me if you will have the goodness to ask for me a permission for a gentleman and his wife to go out as settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, which I am told is now permitted. The person for whom I am anxious to obtain this favour is well connected and will be able to procure some assistance from friends – of course he must have some imprudence to answer for or he would not be seeking such an object. In many respects your honour he is much an object of compassion. It is a case in which I feel very much interested indeed. If there are any printed instructions which can give me information as to the steps necessary to be taken in case the permission is granted will you be so good as to inclose one to me.

Believe me always

Very truly yours

W.M. PITT

At Henry SYMONS Esq

Hanford nr Blandford

 

PIZEY, Edward

 

324

65 Brunswick St

Stamford St

Blackfriars Road

Oct 21st 1819

My Lord,

            I take the liberty of addressing your Lordship upon the subject of a conversation which took place on Tuesday between Mr. WILLSON of Bridge Cottage, Chelsea Water Works and myself.

            I must in the first place inform your Lordship that I observed an advertisement in one of the morning papers last week for a Minister of Religion to proceed with a Party of Emigrants to South Africa and having a desire to go thither I offered myself as a candidate for the truly important office.

            In consequence of my application I received a letter from Mr. W. requesting an interview and when I called upon that Gentleman he appeared to give me the preference to all the other applicants, owing to my readiness to undertake the Instruction of Youth (in which I have had much experience both in the Classical and in the Commercial Departments) in addition to the Duties of the Ministerial Office, but he at the same time expressed his fears that an objection would be made by your Lordship relative to the Solemnization of Matrimony, as I am a Dissenter from the Established Church.

            It is of course quite needless for me to enter into a detail of the Principles upon which I ground my Dissent from that church of which my parents were members and of which I was educated as a Minister. Suffice it to say that my religious opinions strictly coincide with those of the Denomination of Independent Dissenters, which doubtless are well known to your Lordship.

            My motive for addressing your Lordship now is merely to ascertain if such an objection really exists in your Lordship’s mind, as if it does not I shall have some further conversation with Mr. WILLSON upon the subject in question.

            Requesting an answer as soon as is consistent with your Lordship’s convenience, I beg to subscribe myself with due respect, my Lord

Your Lordship’s most obed’t humble serv’t

Edw. PIZEY

 

[note from GOULBURN on reverse]

Lord B cannot in the circumstances which he has stated consider him an eligible man to accompany the settlers in question as a religious minister.

 

PLOWMAN, J

 

133

King Street, Kensington

Aug, 16th, 1819

To His Majestys Secretary of State for the Foreign Department

 

Hon.’rd Sir

            I am emboldened to address these few lines to you respecting the proposed Emigration to the Cape of Good Hope, and I have taken the liberty to enclose Captain PARKER’s note, having wrote to his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent on the subject.  I am a native of Kensington and have been for the space of thirty years a Carpenter & Builder during which period I have used the greatest diligence to attention to business but am ultimately unsuccessful in it.  My family consists of my wife a daughter & two sons, the elder of whom is endeavouring to get forward as a Carpenter in Kensington and the second, until the conclusion of the Peace, had been brought up as Midshipman in his Majesty’s navy, when, his service being no longer required, he became burthensome to me at a time when my domestic concerns, from a number of untoward circumstances were getting into a dire state. However, I afterwards endeavoured to equip him out for South America, whence he was shortly after under the necessity of returning, thus unfortunately he became again burthensome to me and this at a period when my affairs were in a worse state than before.  I thank God, however, that about ten months ago he was appointed Midshipman to his Majesty’s ship the Ramillies. The object, however, of intruding on your Honor as this is, that as it has ever been my earnest Desire to be an useful and active member of society to solicit your kind patronage in obtaining an appointment for me as a Superintendant in the Building department  in the proposed Emegration to the Cape of Good Hope.

From my former experience in concerns of this kind, I may presume to say that I might be found to be successful to the Colony, as I have been engaged in Building in all its branches almost from my infancy.  Should your Honor condescend to favour me with an interview I might, perhaps be able to explain matters more fully to your satisfaction, whatever may be the result of this application, I shall remain your Honor’s most devoted and humble ser’t.

J PLOWMAN

 

POLLOCK, William

 

41

13 Canon Street

Glasgow

26 July 1819

My Lord,

            I William POLLOCK beg most humbly to solicit your Lordship would be graciously pleased to give such directions & instructions as enable me with my wife & family (three sons one daughter from 5 to 13 years) to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope there to remain upon whatever grant of land may be allotted by his Majesty’s authority. I beg to state that for the greatest part of my lifetime have been employed in agriculture but that I have not the means of going upon my own expence as all I can raise at most would be £5:0:0 after I sell all we are possessed of. Trusting your Lordship will be graciously pleased as in duty bound will ever pray

William POLLOCK

 

PONTON, Archibald

 

157

London

24th Augt 1819

My Lord

I take the liberty of intruding myself on your Lordships notice, for the purpose of obtaining permission to convey twelve persons with their families to the intended settlement at the Cape of Good Hope.

By the printed circular I am aware of what is necessary to meet the views of Government, but as these persons reside in and about Glasgow, it would be requisite to know whether transports sailed from Greenock or not.

Being totally unacquainted with the forms necessary for applications of this sort, I beg your Lordship will excuse this attempt.  My address is at Messrs [BRALLS] & LAM, Lombard Street.

I am My Lord

Your obt hble st

Archibald S. PONTON

 

197

London

4th Sept 1819

My Lord

I again take the liberty of submitting to your Lordships consideration, a detailed statement received this morning from Glasgow, of the families, with a certificate of their consent to become settlers at the Cape of Good Hope.

The number with myself (heads of families) is fourteen and the total forty six. In compliance with your Lordships desire, I beg leave to say I am perfectly ready to conform to all the conditions of His Majesty's Government.  And should security be necessary I have the consent of Messrs [BRALLS] & LAM, India Merchants, to name them as such.

Allow me to remain

Your Lordships Most Obt Hble St

Archibald S PONTON

 

Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers:

Archibald S PONTON, Fair Complexion, 5 ft 8 1/2 ins, 25 years of age

 

Names of the Settlers

Profession or Trade

Age

Names of the Women

Age

Male Children

Age

Female Children

Age

Fergus McLEMONT

Wright

45

Jean OGILVIE

34

Fergus

13

Catherine

10

 

 

 

 

 

John

6

Harriet

4

 

 

 

 

 

William

3

Isobel

1

John GALBRAITH

Labourer

48

Mary GORDON

48

John

17

Mary

17

 

 

 

 

 

James

13

Lillie

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margret

9

William GALBRAITH

Labourer

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peter DAVIE

Baker

30

Isobel GRAHAM

29

John

9

Mary

5

 

 

 

 

 

William

3

Isobel

1

James BURNS

Smith

30

Janet [STIRRET]

31

James

1

Agnes

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margret

3

Daniel MCPHERSON

Ploughman

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

John CUMMING

Ploughman

37

Jean [NIBB]

28

William

1

Jean

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margret

2

Benjamin BAIRD

Ploughman

23

Anna MURDOCH

22

 

 

 

 

Daniel MCFARLANE

Ploughman

40

Mary CAMPBELL

30

Duncan

9

Margret

1

 

 

 

 

 

John

6

 

 

Hugh GUTHRIE

Ploughman

26

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donald CAMPBELL

Labourer

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

James [McMUTRIE]

Labourer

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

William ADAMS

Labourer

22

Maria MCDONALD

20

 

 

 

 

 

We do hereby put ourselves under the care and direction of Mr Archibald S. PONTON for the purpose of cultivating the lands that may be assigned him at the Cape of Good Hope and that none of us are infirm or incapable of work.

 

Signed this first day of September one thousand eight hundred and nineteen years before

David MACBRAYNE, Manufacturer, Glasgow

William ADAM, merchant, Glasgow

 

The above have all signed except Donald CAMPBELL who has given his full consent but is working nine miles out in the country and has not come in time to sign this but I pledge my honour that he will go - he is uncommonly fond of it.

William ADAM, 1st Sept 1819

 

224

London

[received September 15, 1819]

Sir

Unwilling as I feel to engage the attention of one whose thoughts are devoted as yours must be to the service of the State and especially to engage them to a stranger will I am afraid argue presumption on my part.  But to one entering on an enterprise that decides his future life, no small share of anxiety must be his lot. Acting then under this impression, I earnestly solicit an excuse for the following lines.

Should my proposals of emigration as tendered to his Excellency Earl BATHURST be so fortunate as to succeed.  The month of November being named for the sailing of the Transports, and my settlers living in a distant part of the country, the time alloted for making the necessary arrangements in this country for our comfort in the colony will be very limited - besides the expence of living here in expectation, is I daresay you are well aware far from being trifling.  These considerations are strong enough without bringing others forward to exhaust your patience.

And I should ardently hope they will interest you so far, as to urge the proceedings to a speedy conclusion.  In doing which, I shall consider myself

Your Obedt Hble St

Archibald S. PONTON

 

320

London

16th Oct 1819

My Lord

Whatever may be the cause of delay by Government in the choice of individuals to conduct an emigrating party to Southern Africa, it is at once cruel and highly impolitic that to an application of nearly two months standing an answer setting the matter at rest has not been given, it is not for me to dictate to those who ought, and I presume do know but about those matters; but certainly a plan might have been adopted, that when capital and experience were united a speedy decision should have taken place.

It is allowed by all, that those persons who emigrate have generally a greater portion of enterprise in their characters than their neighbours.  Now to such of that disposition, what can be more torturing than delays, or tantalising than suspense. 

I have already been in the country, but not far into the interior of it, the Caffres I must confess are not pleasant neighbours, nor will they ever be until a more strict, and better system of justice is established in the colony, more particularly the inland provinces. The un-offending slave driven to extremity by the barbarous cruelties of the boor, endeavours to escape, when that is accomplished to a human being sunk in ignorance, what is more delightful than revenge, they direct the [obscured] of the predatory Caffre alike stimulated by recent atrocities, as a thirst for plunder, and thus not only the wretches who are the [owner] but others are involved in the common ruin.

But again the Caffres are neither possessed of superior cunning, bravery, or intrepidity, to other nations in a barbarous state. Now My Lord it is my opinion that when land is granted, that well repays the labour bestowed on it, and when the parties are engaged as in the present instance, on the most liberal terms, put arms into their hands, and they will fight with much more bravery and determination, than some of the troops stationed in Cape Town at the time of my visit, not that I mean to impeach their valour, but they seem tired of the service and anxious for any change.

These my Lord are not subjects that I have heard or read of, but what have come under my own observation, and although my language by some people might be thought strong or even offensive, yet I should humbly hope your Lordships usual candour and determination will protect me from any idea of that in your own mind.

I should also beg your Lordships consideration to the following, that this delay prevents me from entering on other pursuits, although possessed of a little property yet I have very few friends, and may well say dependent on my own exertions to get on in this world.  My case is not harder than that of my workmen, who have families to maintain, some of whom have no work, & others are prevented from engaging through their previous engagements with me.

Begging your Lordships excuse for thus trespassing on your patience.

Allow me to remain

Your Devot’d Hble Srt

Archibald S. PONTON

 

POOLE, W.F.

 

102

17 Bedford Place

Commercial Road

Mile End Town

August 5th 1819

Sir,

            Having a wish to emigrate to the Continent of the Cape and having called at the office I was informed I was to write to you for particulars. Your oblidging me with a circular to that effect will oblidge

Your most ob’t svt

W.F. POOLE

 

POPHAM, Richard

 

19

Somerset Coffee House, Strand

July 20th 1819

Sir,

            Wishing to obtain every information possible relative to the encouragement about to be given to families going as settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, I called at the Colonial Department and was informed whatever I wish to state must be by letter addressed to you. It was my intention previous to my seeing your circular to have went to upper Canada, but it struck me that if my means could reach the plan laid down for the Cape it would be more advantag[eous]. Men I could procure in almost any number in the County of Cork, my native place, therefore should wish to be informed if any vessel taking out settlers would be likely to touch at Cork, as the expence of conveying men to this City, or Liverpool, would be very heavy. Having arrived at the Cape, the probable expences attending ten families, say one man, one woman & one child on an average, till the ground with every industry attended to would be capable of maintaining them, taking care that necessary clothing should be provided for three years. Of what nature is the farmed, plain or wood land, what security for the men you take out of them doing their duty and not making off into other parts of the country, the probable expences of laboring ten hours for the people and one for the manager. One hundred acres is to be allowed for each family, is it intended that the whole of this should be given to each or only a certain proportion after a given time, as it strikes me that without looking forward at a future period to an independence for themselves they would not be induced to emigrate, at same time the manager would be left with but a small proportion of land after heavy expences if the whole one hundred acres was intended for each.

            Should I wish to take out families at my own expence from what Port I thought proper, would I be allowed the average expence it may cost the Government conveying them, on my arrival out, or in the proportion as the deposit for each family is repaid, observing all the rules & regulations the same as if I went in a ship provided by Government, as in such case I should feel it more respectable, and altho’ my means are not equal to a great undertaking, yet I feel a pride and a wish to go out a little independent, being of respectable connections both here and in Ireland.

            I am now about fifty two years of age of a good constitution and well used to the tropical climates, having followed my relative to Buenos Ayres after the capture of that place, between which place and other parts of South America I continued for some years. I have two sons whom I should take with me accustomed to agriculture & for the last six years I have followed it myself so that I should hope to derive some advantage from my experience in that way. If any other information that you think may forward my views that you could give I shall be greatly obliged. I ask pardon for being so proli[f]ic? but the undertaking to me would be of much moment, I trust will plead for me

I am most respect’y Sir

Your mo. Hbl.

Rd. POPHAM

 

PS Since writing I again looked at the circular and find the grant of land is to be made to the person taking out the families.

 

61

Somerset Coffee House

29 July 1819

Sir,

            I had the honor of addressing you a short time since on the subject of the settlement about to be formed at the Cape of Good Hope. I then requested to be informed if it was probable any of the transports going outward would touch at any of the ports in Ireland, as it would be attended with a very heavy expence bringing people from thence to be put on board here. I also wished to be informed whether after a given time the families I take out may expect each a small proportion of land, as without having something more than merely employment I should fear it would be difficult to procure a sufficient number of families of regular good habits to accompany a person undertaking such an establishment. It would also be necessary to know what the probable expence may be maintaining ten families say to average each a man, wife & two children over and above the deposit of ten pounds for each to be refunded after arriving out – the nature of the soil &c and what other information you may think useful. I have since learned that the necessary arrangement is not finally made and that the plan of the settlement is not as yet matured.

            You will greatly oblige me when matters are decided on if you will favor me with the particulars, as I not only require the information for myself but for others who only wait to decide on their offering themselves when the plans are more fully understood. As I shall leave this on Sunday you will please any information you may think proper to give me, to address me at Bandon Co.Cork, from which place I shall collect those families who wish to accompany me. 

I have the honor to be Sir

Your mo obt svt

Rd. POPHAM

 

PS It is natural for people in even so humble a situation, when leaving their homes for a foreign climate, to look forward to a little independence in the course of their lives.

 

[note from GOULBURN at foot]

If settlers from Ireland offer in sufficient numbers & are accepted they will be conveyed from an Irish port. The principal settler may allot to his people any proportion of land he pleases.

 

PORCAS. Thomas

 

8

30 Walbrook

14 July 1819

Sir,

            In consequence of having the Chancellor of the Exchequer remark as to persons wishing to go to the Cape of Good Hope I beg leave to state to you that I should have no objection provided I saw my prospects any way beneficial. I was the person who supplied Government with the compound Horse Forrage for the use of Cavalry thro’ serving in Spain & Portugal. But circumstances was my ruin. I am known to Sir Henry TORRENS & I dare say would speak for my interest.

            I have a wife and six small children and myself out of employment. I have also a friend of mine that would have no objection to go should there be a chance of his doing well. He has a wife & five children. His name is William LIFFORD formerly a very respectable ropemaker in Shadwell.

Your answer will ever oblige

Yours respectfully to command

Thomas PORCAS

 

PORTER, Edward

 

171

Sept 1st 1819

My Lord,

            I request your Lordship will have the goodness to inform me whether it is proposed by His Majesty’s Government to send out a Schoolmaster with the persons emigrating to the Cape of Good Hope. If such is their intention I beg leave to offer my services and to state my pretensions. I am 31 years of age, have a wife % five children & we are all healthy. I have been regularly brought up to the profession by my father, the Rev. E. PORTER, who for more than 20 years kept a Boarding School for Young Gentlemen at Highgate in this County, with whom I lived as his assistant till he died in the year 1812. I continued his school in the same village for 4 years, and have for the last 3 years kept a school at No.8 Beech St Barbican, which I still conduct. Having lived in the country nearly all my days I am practically acquainted with Horticulture and understand a little of Farming. I can refer your Lordship for my character to R.L.STORKS Esq, 5 Highbury Place, Islington or to John SMITH Esq and Dr. DUNCAN of Highgate. An early answer will very greatly oblige, my Lord

Your Lordship’s most obed’t humble serv’t

Edward PORTER

 

POTE, Charles (brother of Robert POTE)

 

313

25 Bayham Street

Camden Town

Thursday Oct 4th 1819

My Lord,

            Having it in contemplation to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope upon the terms proposed by Government and being informed that by application to your Lordship I might obtain a copy of the circular containing these terms, I beg to inform your Lordship that such copy with any other information it is proper to communicate would much oblige, my Lord

Your Lordhip’s most obedient servant

Chas. POTE

 

POTTS, John

 

57

27 New Compton Street

Near St.Giles Church

[Received 29 July 1819]

Sir,

            In consequence of having seen the account of Government sending out settlers to the Cape of Good Hope I would wish to offer my service as willing to go out if you will give me the nessisary information, by trade a smith, wife & 1 child aged 39

I remain your &c

Hum serv’t

John POTTS

 

POULTNEY, James

 

25

14 Primrose Street

Bishopgate

London

July 22nd 1819

Sir,

            I am informed by the public paper that Government have offered their assistance on certain conditions to those who choose to emigrate to the Cape of Good Hope. I beg to offer myself with nine other persons each answerable to the terms proposed. And on receipt of your reply to this will if it meets your approbation forward one hundred pounds and present each person if required. Humbly waiting your pleasure

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most humble serv’t

James POULTNEY

 

POWELL, James

 

88

No.1 Castle Green

Bristol

August 5th 1819

Sir,

            Understanding that there is a number of persons who will be permitted to go to the Cape of Good Hope i have taken the liberty to solicit permition to go if it should meet your approbation – i am by trade a smith and have a knowledge of iron work in general  - i have tools and some money suficient for a small establishment. My age is 32 years wifes age 32 years one child 8 years one do. 5 years & do. 3 years & do. 1 year all in perfect health. Carracter will bear the strictest investigation in morals or workmanship. Can attend in london if required. An answer from you Sir will be considered a great favour by your humble servant

James POWELL

 

PS I am acquainted with every thing in iron or brass used in Printing

 

POWELL, John Kynaston, MP for Shropshire

 

303

Hardwick

Ellesmere

Oct 11 1819

Dear Sir,

            I had the honor some time since of addressing you in favor of Edward Webb WILSON to recommend him to your notice & that he might have permission to go out in a proper manner to the Cape of Good Hope: of which letter you were kind enough to take an early favorable notice & Mr. WILSON & I were much obliged by it. As he has in consequence engaged Persons to go out with him & has regularly sent in names to your office: But since that he has not been so fortunate as to hear from you again on the subject.

            Allow me to request the further favor of you to give him the necessary papers to hasten his departure. I beg leave to repeat that he (Mr. WILSON) is extremely well qualified in every respect for the proper cultivation of a new colony – as I have already experienced your favorable notice of him  ?? my personal note to my Lord BATHURST, unless to that [subject?]

            The continuance of your favor to Mr. WILSON will [be] esteemed a very high & additional obligation conferred on myself and I assure you on my honor that I would not mention his name to you if I were not perfectly satisfied that he would do ample credit to any patronage that he may [be] honored with.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obed’t & faithful st.

John Kynaston POWELL

 

[note from GOULBURN at foot of page]

Has this Mr. WILSON’s offer been accepted or what is the state of it

Clerk’s reply: Mr.WILSON’s proposal is not forthcoming: when he came here with this letter he said that it had been delivered about the beginning of October

 

334

[to John Kynaston POWELL]

Downing Street

Oct 20th 1819

Dear Sir,

            I have had the honor of receiving your letter of the 11th inst in favor of Mr. Edward Webb WILSON who is desirous of proceeding as a settler to the Cape of Good Hope. Immediately upon the receipt of it I caused reference to be made to the accepted proposals and regret to find that a person of the name of Thomas WILSON has been accepted under the idea of his being the person to whom you had given a recommendation and that there is no trace of any regular proposal made by the gentleman in whom you take an interest. As I am unable to discover Mr. WILSON’s address in London I take the liberty of requesting that you would have the goodness either to inform me of his direction in order that I may enter into communication with him or to direct him to transmit his proposal to me with as little delay as possible when I will pay every attention in my power to his wishes.

            I am extremely sorry for the mistake of which I have been guilty and which has given you the trouble of a further correspondence on the subject and have the honor to subscribe myself, dear Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Henry GOULBURN

 

328

[note at top: Accept]

Hardwick

Ellesmere

Oct 23 1819

Dear Sir,

            I cannot but think myself highly obliged by your letter of the 20th inst relative to Mr. Edward Webb WILSON & the mistake that had arisen in your office. I write to him by the post & send him a note to deliver to you as instructed & I shall feel very very grateful for your attention to his Petition. He resides No.9 Old Broad Street in the City.

Accept my best thanks & I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obed’t & obliged humble serv’t

John Kynaston POWELL

 

330

[note attached to Edward Webb WILSON’s proposal]

Hardwick

Ellesmere

Oct 23 1819

 

Dear Sir,

            The gentleman who has the honor of delivering this to your office is the man Mr. Edward Webb WILSON about whom you wrote me a letter sent on the 20th inst to which by the post of today I have sent you an answer. I grieve to give you so much trouble.

I am my dear Sir with great respect

Your most obed’t serv’t

John Kynaston POWELL

 

Name and Description of the Person taking out the Settlers:

Edward Webb WILSON of London

Public Notary

9 Old Broad Street, near the Exchange

 

Names of the Settlers

Profession or Trade

Age

Names of the Women

Age

Male Children

Age

Female Children

Age

John SMITH

Mattress maker

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

John FOWLER

Labouring Farmer

34

Elizabeth

24

Philip

3

Elizabeth

Jesse ALLARD

Labouring Farmer

30

Mary

29

 

 

Mary/Elizabeth

2/3mo

James PACOLLE

Surgeon

30

Jemima

29

James/Henry

2/1

 

 

Seeba MEHRTENS

Willow Cutter

25

Mary Ann

25

 

 

 

 

Edward HANGER

Carpenter

29

Sophia

26

 

 

Caroline

6

Henry VOKINS

Shoemaker

37

Mary [sic]*

36

 

 

Mary

16

Robert STODDARD

White Smith

25

Mary Ann

25

Robert

 

 

Thomas LEWIS

Labouring Smith

31

Lydia

30

Thomas

2

 

 

Samuel COLE

Working Goldsmith

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Transcriber’s Note: See Correspondence for Edward Webb WILSON in CO48/46. Henry VOKINS eventually emigrated in BAILIE’s Party. Nash lists his wife’s name as Lucy]

 

POWER, D

 

78

Sloane Square

Chelsea

Aug 2 1819

My Lord,

            As I believe the only remaining servant of the late civil establishment of the Isle of Bourbon unprovided for by some reappointment I venture with every consideration of respect to appeal to your Lordship’s favourable attention. It is now two years and some months since Mr. WILBERFORCE and the late Colonel McMAHON did me the honor of making an application to your Lordship on my behalf on the vacancy created in the civil establishment of the Mauritius by the death of Mr. O’BRIEN, the Surveyor of the Crown Lands. The succession was filled before the receipt of their letter by your Lordship; and solicitous to avoid the appearance of importunity I have not since trespassed on your Lordship’s notice. It has however been communicated to me that the Collector of Customs at Port Louis has tendered his resignation; and as for three years previously to my appointment by your Lordship to the Collector at Bourbon I discharged the offices of Deputy Secretary & Collector of sequestration duties & Surveyor of Crown Lands at the Mauritius; I hope without any imputation of presumption to be allowed to recall the circumstances to your Lordship’s consideration.

            I beg also with pleasure to state that the alienation which unhappily subsisted between His Excellency Governor FARQUHAR and myself has been succeeded by feelings of a much more gratifying description and that I have his authority to add “such alienation has been superseded by the return of those soul mates of cordiality and esteem, which for such a length of time had prevailed in our intercourse.”  Such a change in the relation in which I stood when I formerly applied to your Lordship has encouraged me to hope for a favourable answer to my present application. I urge no claim, because I know no such pledge was held out to the servants appointed in the conquered islands. But when all my fellow servants have been considered, and when I reflect that five years of my life in the most laborious offices were spent under a tropical sun, and that my return to Europe with a numerous family was at the expence of my pecuniary acquisitions, I do indulge the hope that your Lordship will not make me a solitary exception to that liberality which has been meted out to others, and pardon me when I add that your Lordship, though unwilling to give any promise, had been pleased to express to Colonel McMAHON your inclination not to overlook my humble services.

            Should circumstances however render it inexpedient to transfer me to the establishment of the Mauritius, I beg to be considered at the disposal of your Lordship in any part of the British dominions. I had the good fortune of being made acquainted with the views of Sir Hope Popham when he contemplated the project of an extended colonization at the Cape of Good Hope. I have been at that settlement on public duty during the Government of Sir John Craddock, and though not locally acquainted with the district of Algoa Bay I have traversed considerable tracts of that territory particularly in the vicinity of Saldanha. My habits of life, my particular study since I left the University have been directed to the subject of colonization and as in the event of being thus employed I should remove my large family I think I might pledge myself to an [increasing] and anxious solicitude to discharge the trust with integrity & efficiency.

            I commit myself to your Lordship’s liberal consideration with a persuasion that whatever may be the answer it will be dictated by a sense of public duty.

I have the honor to remain with sincere respect

Yr Lordship’s most devoted & very humble servant

D. POWER

Late Collector of Customs, Isle of Bourbon          

 

PRANGNELL, Isaac

 

56

July 28 1819

Honored Sir,

                        I wish to go to the Cape of Good hope, by trade a smith no familey. By name Isaac PRANGNELL age 25 lives at No.11 Eagel Corte, Sent Johns Lane Clarkenwell

I am your humbled servent

Isaac PRANGNELL                   

 

PREECE, Thomas

 

417

No.10 Lumber Court

Seven Dials

3 Dec 1819

My Lord,

            I have taken the liberty of writing to your Lordship on the subject of immigrating to the Cape of Good Hope & should feel greatly obliged by your informing me whither the colony is to be landed at Cape Town or at Algoa Bay in order that I may form an opinion regarding what implements should be taken out from here. I would likewise wish to ask whither or not it would be requisite to apply to you for a grant of land or to the Landrost at the Colony, but the most particular question I wish to ask is this. We are a small Party brought up to Agricultural Pursuits but having but a small capital should be glad to know if Government would grant us a free passage over with the others that are going, if not whither a passage would be granted to us by depositing £10 pounds for each family in the hands of Government and whither that money would be returned to us (as to a single individual taking out a number) by installments as specified in your circular, as also the latest time ships will sail the favour of an immediate answer will greatly oblige

Your Lordship’s most obed’t humble serv’t

Thos. PREECE

 

PRESTON, Thomas

 

254

No.49 Francis Street

Newington

Surrey

4 October 1810

Sir,

            Having some friends who I expect will advance me about £500 I should be desirous of availing myself of the present opportunity afforded by Government of settling at the Cape of Good Hope.

            I am now forty six years of age and have till within these few years been engaged in a very extensive concern in the Lead Trade, which I was obligated to relinquish through the unfavourable result of some mercantile speculations.

            In addition to the experience of more than thirty years active employment in commercial pursuits, a constant thirst after knowledge and information and a particular attachment to all the mechanical arts together with the application of science to the practice and improvement of whatever may be useful for the concerns of life – have rendered me perhaps rather peculiarly fitted for an undertaking of this description.

            May I request therefore to have a copy of the conditions upon which the applicants will be permitted to settle, together with such further explanatory information for the due regulation of their proceeding as is permitted to be given.

I am with great respect Sir

Your most obed’t humble servant

Thomas PRESTON

 

PRICE, J

 

124

Froxfield

Near Humgerford

Wilts

12 Aug 1819

Hon. Sir,

            Having observed an advertisement in the Reading Mercury respecting persons emigrating to the Cap of Good Hope under the directions and management of the British Government, I beg leave to offer my services to the said Hon’ble Government with several others in this parish, very respectable persons who are desirous of emigrating to the place above allude to. I have been in HM Service in the capacity of Captain’s Clerk but unfortunately peace came & thus discharged. John FRANCIS is a mechanic and very ingenious, Wm. KENT is a farmer and a very industrious man has a wife & one child and others I could mention who are willing to go on the above occasion but as I am unacquainted with your place adopted I would thank you to acquaint me & you will oblige

Your most obed’t serv;t

J. PRICE

 

PS Please to inform me [if] persons going are provided with a house and other common necessaries and other particulars if you will be pleased to inform me at present as all others very anxious to go

 

PRICE, Thomas Green

 

173

Rose Cottage

Little Birch

Near Hereford

Sept 1st 1819

My Lord,

            Having seen in the public papers a grant of £50,000 made by Government for the purpose of enabling HM Government to assist unfortunate agriculturalists & unemployed labourers who may be desirous to remove to the Cape of Good Hope, I beg leave to state it is my wish to avail myself of the opportunity to go there, and to take with me ten able bodied men, labourers in husbandry – I recently occupied an extensive farm under the Gov’r of Guys Hospital in the Parish of Callow Co. of Hereford, which (from many unavoidable misfortunes & through having become responsible for a large sum of money for a person who soon afterwards became insolvent) I was obliged to give up, and all I possessed was sold by auction under a deed of assignment for the benefit of creditors; I subsequently turned land measurer, having a knowledge of that profession, and wrote a small treatise on the depressed state of agriculture which went through 3 editions & paid me 30£. I next wrote a book entitled the Speculator, the object of which was to endeavour with the profits arising from the sales to procure a situation & enable me to follow any business whereby I may support by honest industry my wife & infant family; the second edition of this work is now in the press; it has been approved by many distinguished noblemen & gentlemen, amongst the no. His Grace the Duke of BEDFORD, the Earl of MANVERS, Viscount DUDLEY & WARD, Lord SOMERS, the Right Hon’ble Sir B. BLOOMFIELD, the Hon’ble W.B. GREY, the Bishop of Durham, the Bishop of Glocester, The Bishop of Hereford, R.B. COOPER Esq MP, R. PRICE Esq MP, A.R. DOTTIN Esq MP and many others of weight & importance who came forward with that promptitude which is the distinguishing characteristic of genuine English benevolence & liberally contributed towards its avowed object; by these means I have accumulated upwards of 100£, I should therefore be enabled to pay the deposit for myself & 10 others, whom I have spoken to and who are willing to accompany me, but I humbly conceive that 11 men with 100£ or 150£ capital would be inadequate to the task of bringing into cultivation 1000 acres of waste land without receiving considerable assistance from Government, this assistance I perceive is promised in the speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but he does not state to what extent – he also says that the soil is suited to the production of most sorts of culinary & leguminous plants, which last I conceive relates chiefly to pulse (that is spring crops) or what we have [obscured] grain, such as oats, barley, pease &c, but I should wish to be informed whether the soil is capable of bearing a crop of wheat and the nr. of bushells per acre when brought into a regular & good state of cultivation, and also what degree of assistance we should receive when actually located upon the land.

My age is 29 and the age of none of those who are willing to accompany me does not exceed 35 & should we meet with a due share of encouragement it is highly probable much good would result from our united labours. For the truth of what I have asserted & for character &c I beg leave to refer to R. PRICE Esq MP Foxley, Hereford, Mr. WREN-HOSKYNS Esq one of HM Justices of the Peace, [Strickstening?] Hereford & the Rev D. PULZER also one of HM Justices of the Peace Longhope Glocester, which latter gentleman has known me from my infancy. Beging the favor of an answer I subscribe myself with the greatest respect, my Lord

Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant

Thomas Green PRICE

 

210

Rose Cottage

Little Birch

Near Hereford

12th Sept 1819

Sir,

            I beg leave to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 3rd inst and in reply I beg to state it is with regret I decline the opportunity afforded me of going to the Cape of Good Hope – conceiving my pecuniary resources, viz 200£ to be insufficient to secure the permanent success of the undertaking. I am Sir with the greatest respect

Your most obedient humble servant

Thomas Green PRICE

 

[Transcriber’s Note: Found on a Herefordshire Family History Website:

In 1818, Thomas Green PRICE published “The Speculator: A Narrative” – printed & sold by W.H. & J. Parker, Minerva Office, Broad Street, Hereford – sold, also, by Baldwin, Craddock, & Joy, and A.K. Newman & Co. London; Roberts, Ross; Thackway, Ledbury; Burlton, Leominster; and all other Booksellers. Some months ago, I saw a copy of “The Speculator: A Narrative” upon which someone had written “This unfortunate man put an end to his existence at Lugwardine, near Hereford February 1822”. The Hereford Journal of 18 February 1822 provided a little more information:

“On Wednesday, Mr. PRICE, late of Twyford, in this county, and residing at Lugwardine, in a fit of despondence, put a period to his existence, by hanging himself. He has left a wife and four children totally destitute.”

 

PRICE, W.M.

 

65

No.11 John St.

Trafalgar Sq.

Stepney

July 29 1819

Sir,

            Having it in contemplation to settle at the Cape of Good Hope & calling at my Lord BATHURST’s office for information, particularly as to the local situation of [the] proposed new town, I was directed to apply by letter. I shall feel particularly obliged Sir if you will favour me with the name of that part of the coast where the new settlement is intended with its latitude & longitude also if any particular & what encouragement if any is held out to officers who have served in a Militart Capacity.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obed’t humble serv’t

W.M. PRICE

Late Capt. Adjt. Local Mil.

 

PRINGLE, Thomas

 

236

Salisbury Street

Edinburgh

September 22 1819

Sir,

            I beg leave to enclose a Petition to Earl BATHURST a copy of which I lately transmitted to the Colonial Office through the hands of Mr SCOTT of Abbotsford, - and I now take the liberty (as authorised by that gentleman and by Mr.CROKER of the Admiralty), to address you on the subject of it.

Understanding that it is the intention of His Majesty’s Government in forming the present settlement to give preference to those possessed of some small Capital, & can at the same time be recommended for steadiness, enterprise & agricultural skill, I humbly venture to claim for my friends some consideration on each of these points. In addition to what is specified in the inclosed petition, I may confidently say that my father and brothers (who form four of the party) are allowed to be as good farmers as any in the county of Roxburgh, and should it be considered of any importance, they are ready to produce the most respectable certificates in regard to this and the other qualifications above mentioned.

Mr Walter SCOTT, to whom I have the honour to be known, informed me that he has mentioned something of my own individual situation and wishes to Mr. CROKER who he says will communicate with you on the subject.  To the candid explanations therefore of that illustrious friend I beg, Sir, respectfully to refer you in regard to myself in the belief that they will have infinitely more weight than anything I could personally presume to urge.

I will not further intrude upon your time - except to add that it will exceedingly oblige me if you will be so good as inform me as soon as your conveniency will permit, whether I may hope for success in this double application – for my friends & for myself – if accepted, at what period we may expect to embark – and whether one of my brothers who is now in the United States (but who is anxious to join me at the Cape) may be permitted to rank in the allotment of land as one of my party?

I have the honour to be Sir

With the highest respect

Your obedient  Servt.

Tho. PRINGLE

 

238

 

The Petition of Thomas PRINGLE, residing at No. 24 Salisbury Street Edinburgh, humbly sheweth,

 

That the petitioner is desirous to avail himself of the generosity of His majesty’s Government in sending out settlers to the Cape of Good Hope : That he is ready to carry with him a party of at least ten able bodied men, seven of whom (being the petitioner’s own relatives) have been bred to farming in the South of Scotland, & can muster among them about five hundred pounds sterling of capital: That the rest of the party will consist of a joiner, a blacksmith, a gardener, & perhaps two or three ploughmen, with women and children within the specified proportion: And that the petitioner and his party pledge themselves to fulfil all the other points prescribed in the official circulars, and to conform themselves to the general regulations that Government may find expedient.

May it therefore please your Lordship graciously to attend to this petition, - to afford the party a free passage to the Colony and to grant them such a settlement there as may be most advantageous for their individual benefit and for the general welfare – and the Petitioner will ever pray etc.

Tho. PRINGLE

 

275

Edinburgh, 24 Salisbury Street,

October. 5. 1819

Sir,

            Since I had the honour of addressing my former letter to you two individuals of my acquaintance have applied to be included in my party for the Cape in the event of a favourable answer to my petition.  They are young men of most respectable connection & good character & can be highly recommended – one of them, Mr. Charles SYDSERFF, is a nephew of the late Baron HEPBURN, and related to Lord DALHOUSIE – the other is a brother of the rector of the High School of Edinburgh.  They can raise between them about £1000 of capital, and propose to carry out six or seven ploughmen and artificers.  With this accession our number would be increased to seventeen or eighteen men, & our total capital to about £1500 sterling.  If letters of recommendation are required from them or the rest of the party, they can be provided in a few days.  If you approve of it I shall be happy to have them joined to our party, but in this as in other matters I wish to be regulated by your advice.

I am particularly anxious to be honoured with an early reply from the Colonial office – with  copies of the approved notices -  the period and place of embarkation specified – and such other information as may be thought competent – in the event of a favourable reception to our application.

May I venture humbly to hope for your favourable consideration to my request - & to solicit respectfully the honour of your attention to my personal wishes so far as agreeable to the views of Government.

Mr SCOTT, whom I had the pleasure of seeing at Abbotsford a few days ago, told me that he understood it would be in the spring before any of the emigrants to Algoa Bay would sail but I presume he has been mistaken as I have just met with some leaders of a party from Glasgow whose application has been accepted and who have got notice to be in readiness by the middle of next month.  Information on this point would be exceedingly acceptable to myself & friends.

Hoping that you will have the goodness to excuse the liberty I have taken of again addressing you.  I have the honour to remain with the highest respect Sir

Your obedient servant

Thos. PRINGLE

 

322

Edinburh 24 Salisbury Street

Oct. 18.1829.

Sir,

 

I have had the honour to receive your official letter dated 11th October informing me that my application to take twelve able bodied settlers out to the Cape has been accepted – and also your note of the 15th about the Returns.  I beg leave to express my respectful acknowledgements for your attention, so have only to add that the returns for my party shall be forwarded with the least possible delay – but having to procure exact lists of some of the families at a distance in the Country a few days must necessarily intervene before it be in my power to transmit.  I believe they will be completely ready in four or five days at the latest.

I have the honour to be,

With the highest respect Sir

Your obt. Svt.

Tho. PRINGLE

 

343

Edinburgh, Oct.25 1819

Sir,

            I return the lists of the party proceeding with me to the Cape of Good Hope filled up according to your directions.  The name of my brother Alexander, who is to join us at the Cape form America, is however not put in the list, as I did not know whether in his peculiar case any land could be allotted for him or any deposit required.  If this indulgence can be granted, his age is 25 and like his brothers he was bred an agriculturist.

            In regard to Miss Janet BROWN my wife’s sister (whose name is inserted last in the list) I beg to say that she goes out as a companion to my wife - but if her passage must be paid she will not go out at present.

            If my own profession is to be inserted I may be styled Clerk, or Agriculturist as seems expedient.

            Begging your excuse for troubling you with such matters, and requesting as a particular favour any information that can be given respecting the time of embarkation.  I have the honour to remain,

With high respect Sir,

Your Obd. Svt.

Thos PRINGLE.

 

392

London, 43 Princess Street, Soho

Nov 27 1819

Sir,

            Your letter of the 12th inst. reached me the day before I left Edinburgh, but having previously remitted the deposit money for my party to Mr HILL agreeably to your directions, I thought it unnecessary to trouble you with any further correspondence on the subject until I reached London.  I am advised by a letter from Edinburgh today that Mr. HILL has acknowledged the receipt of the £150.

            Permit me now, Sir, through the hands of Mr. CROKER, respectfully to solicit your favourable attention to my personal application for employment under the Colonial Government at the Cape.  Mr. Walter SCOTT has already through the medium of his friend Mr. CROKER been so good as make you somewhat acquainted with my wishes and qualifications.  I find it difficult at present, from my imperfect acquaintance with the civil arrangements of that Colony, to express myself more definitely on the subject.  I will only venture to add that I am anxious to be usefully employed, and if any respectable situation (of whatever description might be found most suitable & expedient) could be obtained for me in the Colony or in the new settlement where I might more agreeably reside among my relations, a very moderate income would satisfy my wishes.  All I am very ambitious about obtaining is a secure competence for my family dependant only on my own exertions and the approbation of Government.  My pretensions are not lofty, indeed I can neither boast of scientific knowledge nor of much experience in affairs –- I may only venture to lay claim to some little literary experience, and (what is perhaps of more importance in the present case) to habits of attention and accuracy formed during ten years employment upon the Public Records under the superintendence of Mr. THOMSON the Deputy Clerk Register of Scotland, & in the management of a newspaper and magazine for more than two years. I think it right to state however that I have hitherto had little or no practice in figures or accounts and cannot therefore pretend to any great expertness  in matters where they are the principal requisites.  For the rest, I understand French and Latin and am at present acquiring some knowledge of the Dutch language.

            These I am aware are but humble qualifications, but if, such as they are, they might be turned to any account in the service of the Colony, I should feel honoured and obliged by being put in the way of employment.

            I feel the more anxious on this point because my personal infirmity and want of capital prevent me from engaging in the cultivation of land or other common occupations with the same advantages as the friends and relatives who accompany me to Africa.  I therefore take the liberty once more, Sir, earnestly to request your favourable consideration, & to solicit the important favour of your influence in regard to it.

It may be proper to add that none of the party except myself and my wife have come up to London. The rest await your further direction in Edinburgh. It has lately been reported that a vessel is to be sent round to Greenock – to take on board the Scotch settlers -- as such an arrangement would be an important advantage to my friends they would feel greatly obliged by being informed through me whether this report is correct – and if so, about what time they must hold themselves in readiness to embark.

Again begging your indulgence for all this trouble

I remain with the highest respect Sir,

Your obliged and odbt servt

Tho. PRINGLE

 

[Note from GOULBURN]

Acquaint him how far the arrangements made for the conveyance of the Settlers admit of them being embarked at Greenwich & add that the number of applications for Colonial situations are so extremely numerous that Ld B cannot hold out any expectation of a compliance with that part of his request.

 

PROBERT, Benjamin

 

376

56 Pennyfields

Poplar

September 9th 1819

Sir,

            The writer hereof is going a settler to the Cape of Good Hope haveing made inprovements on several nautical instruments wishis for an order from the Secretary of States office to saile with some captain to the Cape who is an expert navigator and a judge of instruments in general where the write and the captain may have an opertunity to prove the instruments in question thinks they will be of importance to communaty at large.

First instrument is an iron binnacle

Second is a portable diping needle that will show the depresion of the magnetis needle by whitch latitude may be known

Thirdly two artifical horizons one for ship and one for quadrant.

I will atend if directed to explain the perticulars. I am your humble servant

Benjamin PROBERT

 

[letter filed under R as Benjamin ROBERT]

660

56 Penny Fields

Poplar

November 25th 1819

Sir,

            I wrote to the Colonial Office about a month ago desiring an interview with the Secretary of the Colonial Department or his secretary to show an Iron Binnacle with Compass of a new invention the writer hereof believes will be of a national importance. The reason why I wrote is this, I am going to the Colony at the Cape of good hope and wishing for an oportunity of seeing it tryd and proveing it myself if my request is met with aprobation I could be oblidged for an order to go in the ship that is to convey the Party No.40, my reason for this request is that the gentleman I am going with has but small brigs for conveyance, the oportunity of proveing will not be so favourable in a brig of two or three hundred tons as in one larger and an order from Government to try it will be attended to with punctuality.

            You will Sir see that in my first letter there is two more instruments mentioned for trial, a horizon for quadrant and dipping needle – that may be used in a ship by night as well as by day, thinks it will be of very great utility to [comminity?] sloops.

Your humble servant

Benjamin PROBERT

 

[Note from GOULBURN]

Is this man an accepted settler? If so I do not see how he can be separated from his party & he must be told that it is now too late to alter the arrangements]

 

PROCTOR, William and John

 

90

No.18 Charles Street

Hampstead Road

[received Aug 5th 1819]

Sir,

            Haveing understood that you are about to assist the Emmigration of Familys to the Cape of Good Hope, we the undersigned names are 3 familys who in consequence of the scarcety of trade are not able to procure a sufficient maintenance for our familys and would be willing to earn our liveing as peaceable subjects under the protection of our own Government wether in England or in any other country.

            We are three young men about the age of 22 and 23 &c and the oldest with 2 children another with one and the other none. We are by trade 2 carpenters and one smith, our names are William and John PROCTOR, two brothers and James BAMFORD brother-in-law to same

Yours very respectfully

 

PURDIE, Edward

 

114

August 10th, 1819

Sir

Wishing to avail myself as well as my Sons of the advantages and Encouragement held out by Government to Familys wishing to Emegrate to Foreign Parts under the Protection of Great Britain and as the Cape of good Hope seems to offer some prospect of living, I wish If there should be any printed Official Documents in your office to be delivered Gratis to those whose necessitys compell them to abandon their Native Soil the under signed would feel himself obliged & would be glad should Mr BROOKSBANK return by bearer an answer or at his Leisure write one directed to Edward PURDIE Senior, Sturr Court Little Compton Soho.  No 12 should there be no such a thing as a Printed document or be so good to tell him how a family not possessed of one shillings and six pence can obtain particulars before they embark on so long and dangerous a voyage.

I Remain Sir with Respect

Ob’t hbl svt

Edward PURDIE Senior

 

131

Sturr Court

No. 12 Little Compton Street

Soho

Monday, Aug 15th, 1819

Sir

I have to acknowledge the favor of your Printed Document respecting the settlers proceeding to the Cape being the head of my Family, and without any means of support but what I receive from the parish for the maintanance of myself wife and three children by her which amounts to an allowance of six shillings a week, I have to request to have the name and direction of those responsible people which have engaged to take out settlers to who I may apply it to them for to be supported till such time the transports are ready to sail as we are all very short and in want of Necessarys.  Your immediate answer will greatly oblige.

Edward PURDIE Senior

 

PURDON, George

 

311

Portumna

Co. Galway

Oct 18 1819

My Lord,

            I presume to address your Lordship relative to the Emigration to South Africa that is at this moment contemplated by his Majesty's government and to state to you that I am a Surgeon in the Half Pay Establishment, who would willingly emigrate with any Colony to South Africa having the sanction of his Majesty's government and suitable encouragement thereto.

            Ill health, from an accident that occurred to me, from the upsetting of a boat in the River Tagus, going to a transport to return to England, from the Peninsula in May 1813, obliged me, eventually, to retire on Half Pay in 1814. Having gradually established my health in my native air and judging that such a climate as South Africa, would best tend to a continuance of my health, connecting with it an active life, I presumed on addressing your Lordship.

            For my professional character, and conduct as an officer in the Service, I beg to refer to Major General WALLACE late Lt. Col. Of the 88th Infantry under whose command I was assistant surgeon seven years near five of which was in Spain and Portugal; I also beg to refer to Sir James McGREGOR, the Director General of Hospitals.

            I am further induced to state to your Lordship that I have seen in the publick papers that a Mr. Wm. PARKER of Cork is about to proceed, to colonize a point of the coast of S. Africa contiguous to the Cape, under the protection of his Majesty's government, and that he is, at this moment, arranging in London such a proceeding with the intention of forming a Military Establishment for the protection of the Colony. This circumstance, your Lordship is best acquainted with, and it will be known to you whether government would sanction a Military Medical Officer, on Half Pay that offers himself for such a service.

            I beg to submit this circumstance to your Lordship's consideration and have the honor tobe

Your Lordship's obedient servant

George PURDON

Surgeon HP 32nd Foot

 

PURDON, John

 

126

Willow Street, Saint Leonard, Shoreditch No 9

[Received Aug. 13 1819]                            

Sir.

            I humbly beg you would let me have a serclor letter shoing the extent of the grant to Settlers to the Cape of Good Hope as I would wish to Embrace the opportunity of going to the above place with the Permition of Government. I have in my young days been brought up to the Farmarn busness But I have served my King and Country for upwards of 20 years and Chefley in a hot Climit I served as soldier and Serjent the aforesaid period and I have a wife and 4 children all under 12 years of age.

Sir

Your humble and obedt

Servant John PURDON

 

PURVIS, Francis

 

341

[address cut off in image]

25th October 1819

Sir

            I have the honour to address you to request your having the goodness to lay this before Lord BATHURST that he may be graciously pleased to give me a grant of land at the Cape of Good Hope in lieu of the one I was promised at New South Wales in 1815 and for which I was recommended by Mr. ARBUTHNOT. I beg leave to state that I can procure a passage in a vessel now loading for the cape of Good Hope and request you will have the goodness to inform me what means will I be required to produce for the cultivation of the said grant before that it will be given me. Should it be necessary I beg leave to refer you (as to my character) to Major General Sir Henry TORRENS, Military Secretary to His Royal Highness the Commander in Chief and to the Secretaries of the Admiralty and Transport Boards.

            I trust you will excuse the liberty I take in thus addressing you and have the honour to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Francis PURVIS

 

PUTNAM, William

 

137

31 Princes Street

Soho

August 18th 1819

My Lord,

            In addressing your Lordship upon the subject of the intended colony near to the Cape of Good Hope I must beg leave most solemnly to declare that it is not done from any idle curiosity but from an ardent wish to embark in it, and therefore it would be highly necessary to have every information which may be consistent, in the present occasion, for His Majesty’s ministers to give, to a particular class of His Majesty’s subjects, namely officers on half pay, of which I am one – a Lieutenant of HM late 101st Regt of Foot and well used to tropical climates, having served with that regiment in Jamaica, and likewise having been in the Honourable East India Company’s service previous to that period, and consequently not an altogether stranger to its effects on Europeans; and at the same time I do myself the honor of enquiring whether in the event of my being permitted to go there, as in the case of obtaining His Majesty’s most gracious leave of absence, I might not be allowed to (to render the greater chance of success) draw a certain part of my half pay in advance by which means I might be enabled to take out such articles as I am aware must be wanted for an infant state. Being of active habits and partial to a foreign climate I feel every chance of succeeding, and in the event of a vacancy occurring in any of the various situations held out for the better government of the Colony I trust that my attention to the interest of His Majesty’s service would at some period introduce me to the notice of my superiors there. Should it at the same time be necessary for me to produce any testimonials from my late Commanding Officer, I can, and trust highly satisfactory. I must again take the liberty of troubling your Lordship that in the case of embarking with the colonists no exertion shall be wanting to render every assistance to His Majesty’s commissioners there: in so doing with the highest respect I beg leave to subscribe myself

Your Lordship’s most obed’t & very humble serv’t

Wm. PUTNAM