The Express.
London, England, 1849-01-19 00:00:00

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

We have received Cape Town journals of the 22nd
of Nov., and papers from Graham's Town to the 11th
of the same month.

The question of transportation to this colony has
created a great stir there. On the 18th of Nov. a
large public meeting was held in Cape Town, at
which the following resolutions were unanimously
pawed
That from the vat intent of the *pigmy, the sparseness sl
it population, and the impossibility of maintaining an endued
pollee, exempt in very limited localities, the introductions'
man from Great Britain sad Ireland, capable of OM&
mitring crimes so heinous es to justify the high penalty
of transportation, would be inexpressibly dangerous to life
and ProfetrY:
That the introduction of men familiar with the viols and
crimes of the dangerous classes in European cities sod popu-
lous districts, sump the labourers and domestic servante of
this colony, would greatly retard their improvement, cheek
the formation of industrious habits, and utterly destroy the
sense of security end comfort of families.
That the auxtaus of convicted felons with the labeerias
population dim, and then with the colonists and colonial so-
Mety generally, would stamp disgrace and degradation ups.
the colosy, and deter emigrants of good character, whether
labourers, aseehanice, or capitalists, from selecting the Cape
Colony, us they are now doing, in preference to ethos' that
seem repossess more physical or commercial advantages he
their hum and the home of their children,
That the &wester end condition of the native tribes en
the burden et this colony, and its dependency at Natal as.
der the introduction of CriminAk• who not unfrequeatiy an
distinguished by talent and enterprise, as well as by depra-
vity, peculiarly dangerous.
That foe times and many other reasons, which it is not
deemed necemary to repast, 'memorialists adhere to the
determination expressed in 1842, in a petition to the Queen,
that they will not consent to the admission of convicts on
any terms or coaditiona whatever, and they pledge them-
selves now, as then, should any such be sent, not to employ
or receive ihem into their establishments. Memorialists, in
conclusion, regretfully pray, that no similar proposal may
ever again be. submitted to the people of this colony, or
any of its dependencies, by the British government.
That a copy of these resolutions be presented to his *zed.
Lissy the governor, and that a memorial founded upon them
be ddressed to Earl Grey, laid before the public for diger
tare, and transmitted through his ex
That the meeting has farther learna:ll4:ictg pain and dim-
defeation, that her Majesty's government have resolved,
whitest consulting the sentiments of the colonists, to traw
pert le the Cape, es a plan of detention and punishment, a
sesenia dans of erkeisab convicted of treason and felony le
Meisel; that*, loyal inhabitants feel that an injury has
been awe to them, by edema, their country, which sever
Maned Wise them grace and favour at her Majesty's leemis,
as a resepeade Ise erisainek of any description, amok leas
far desperate seem who instigated the lower orders of their
essutrymen to eels of unparalleled wickedness, and tame
psesesee is deemed inconsistent with the well being
of matey in the United Ms% agda' itself ; and that a
di:be forwarded to her Majesty, praying, in reepeettal
aided terms, that say order which may have bees
belied to that What, may be revoked, mad that bra
Mejesty will be pleased to relieve the minds of the people
el this colony from all apprehensions on that sabjeot
Adam and that a sagesa be presented to hie exeellessy
the governor, praying that, should giay of them cenviste
arrive before her Osman ma be knows, be will
mess them to be removed from on beard the transport direr.
es Nelehea Island, and there detained, without communka-
Ilea with the cAeny, as the convicts were in former times,
until her Majesty's government order their removal te seek
ether plan as they ere 81.
Memorials and petitions to the Queen and FarU
Grey, in accordance with these resolutions, were theft
carried. Resolutions and memorials to the same effect
were carried at a meeting, on the 13th of Nov., of
oommissionen and ward-masters of Cape Town.
From beyond the Orange River, the only intelli-
gence by last post is, that the Land Commission ma-
dune at work. The survey of sixteen farms is 'heady
completed. It is calculated that there will be about
300 in the district of Valsoh Rivier, besides a very
considerable tract of unoccupied land to be hereafter
appropriated. The quit-rents will average 21. 100.
Application for unoccupied ground are numerous.
Her Majesty's ships Seringepatem, Nimrod, Prod-
dent, Southampton, and Bapiegle were in Simon's
Bay at latest dates. The latter had just arrived from
the Mauritius. Her Majesty's brig Pilot had sailed
for Birgaporm