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From: Sue Mackay <>
Subject: [SOUTH-AFRICA-EASTERN-CAPE] Settler Correspondence - William PARKERPart 5
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 11:44:58 +0100 (BST)


Transcribed by Alan Keightley from CO48/45 at the
National Archives in Kew, London

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
PARKERs 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 PARKERs 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 superintendant 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 superintendance, 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




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