The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-01-29 00:00:00

ALDAN'', CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Th.. following letter, dated more than twnlve months
since, from Albany, at the Cape of Gtoil Hope, with.%
some circumstances hitherto kept hack. will yet be read
with interest. It gives a minute and melancholy account
lof the state of that despairing Colony. Nothing can be'
more afflicting than the situation of those who were in-
ducts! to emigrate to that dreadful settlement ; wietched-
ness and ruin have been the sad concomitants, and hun-
dreds have experienced unexampled misery. The letter is
genuine, and presents an affecting detail of the situation of
those who abandoned every thing in this country, to fling
themselves and their families on tiat distant and inhospi-
table shore. The Colonial Department must have been
dreadfully misinformed, or reckless of all results, when
those about it directed emigration to such a scene. Go-
vernment ought now to exert itself to afford the unhappy
survivors of the many miseries that followed, every pea&
ble relief.

• • • Albani, Cape of Good Hope, Dec. 18, 1022.
ilr nyan Fallon—pursuant to your request, I and you 4
brief abstract of such particulars respecting this settlement as may
guide your judgment in your proposed emigration. I an sorry it
is of such a character as must of necessity induce you to direct your
views to some other portion of the globe; but I cannot. consistently
with that friendship which we have mutually enterta'led so ninny
years, invite you hither, and sacrifice yimr welfare to the selfish de.
sire of your society, which would althea the greatest enjoyment
which I am capable of receiving.
The face of the country we inhabit continually intersected
by deep and wooded ravines, the channels of the rivers and streenwi,
anti the sites of the various settlements for the convenient proximity
to water, which is seldom to be found on the plains; the hills
formed by these ravines seldom attain a very considerable elevation,
and are frequently so abrupt or sterile as to lie entirely useless:
from this circumstance, and a frequent want of water, more than
half the settlement is absolutely a waste, and what is the subject of
regret, these situations often possess the finest scenery. The coon.
try in general is picturesque, pleasing, and in many instances most
beautiful; there are few large fats; the heights. and almost the
whole country, is covered with a specie: of mimosa, finely carpeted
with the most luxuriant grass, and in many places sprinkled with
clumps of elegant shrubs, which appear to More been planted by
the hand of art rather than that of nature. Water, however, the
great element of beauty in landscape, is niisera.Ay deficient. The
timber, of which there is great variety, both for use and erne-
ment, lies entirely in the ravines, generally difficult of access, which
renders this useful material expensive. Fire-wood plentiful, and
easily obtained. Water for domestic purposes and cattle is not so
scarce as was at first feared, but the upper districts are dreadfully
distressed by droughts; showers are more frequent in the vicinity
of sea, but at times we still are subject to long droughts. The r‘
vent, undeserving that title, and nothing more than a series of deep
pools, till they reach within 11l or 13 miles of their estuaries, a dis-
tance above which navigation is impossible: their mouths, with the
exception of the Kowie, believed inaccessible, either from the dan-
gers of the immediate roast, or shallowness of water on their bars,
which are all shifting (but few have any communication with Ole
ocean); none hay: been attempted but the Kowie, which was open.
ed in November 1821 ; but three ships have entered tip to the pre-
sent period ; it is only able to receive smell vessels, but said to be
capable of great improvement. The Gre-t Fish River has a line
basin for shipping, perfectly secure, but the state of its entrance is
unknown. The coast is dangerous, having no bays or other shel-
ter, • tremendous surf, and subject to sudden squalls without inti-
mation. Algna Bay, in the neighbouring district of Uitenhaagea,
the great maritime inlet to this part of the Colony, is insecure; but
almost the only approachable port on the whole coast, excepting
the Kuys'na, about 2:10 miles nearer the Cape. Climate, I have
no doubt, the healthiest in the world ; there are no seasoning sick-
nesses; rheumatism apparently the most prevalent complaint; fe-
vers unfrequent ; the vicissitudes of weather surprisingly great; I
have noticed a variation of 40 degrees temperature in 24 hours ; we
have seldom three days settled weather. Ileat great, cold of win-
ter also (1 cannot just now lay my hands on the medium tempers.
ture); thunder storms seldom occur, lightning very common;
winds violent and very unpleasant, especially the hot, which are al.
most intolerably oppressive, and destructive of vegetable prodder.
Rain very uncertain ; hardly any twilight. Seasons not to be de.
pended on ; our three years experience has found none alike. The
soil very poor, unlike that of America, which has to be levees* 4.1
a cultivable standard ; ours must be raised by greet labour mod'
expense, or will produce nothing; the sandy predominates, antis
considered the best, as more easily worked ; the clays useless, len.,
less irrigable (which is an advantage enjoyed but by a very few
places in the settlement), but thee highly fertile: • Dutch Boos
will not take a corn faun without a facility of flooding the land.
Clearing seldom if ever required. Agriculture grazing the chief
occupation of the Dutch, and the only certain mode of farming.
Cows to be had from 10 to 20 six dollars each ; the latter is the ge-
neral price in the settlement, the former at a considerable distance,
among the Boors ; they average 3001bs. but usually weigh much
heavier, some 6001bs. and upwards, of • kind much inferior to Eu-
ropean in sppcarance, and the quantity of milk yielded, the average
of which is two quarts at a time, it: very rare instances two
lons ; they will not give the milk without the calf drawing once or
twice during each operation—intractable, but improving io temper
by the management of Europies. Oxen by which all the labour,
is performed, from 20 to 30 rtx dollars Bich; average 11.00lbe. but
generally weigh 80011 n. : bulls 25 to *six dollars. Fatherland
cattle (bastard European, originally. Holland) high priced, and not
much superior ; oxen for daught inferior. Cows from 30 to 100
six dollars; bulls about the same; sheep, which do not at present
thrive in the settlement (goats not at all), cost three ris dollars
each, seldom weigh more than 481 be; although up the country,
where the feed is more adapted to them, they frequendy attain
alba. ; are difficult to keep, from the depredations of wolves and
Eenas, which are very numerous' ; meat equally good with
ropean. Poultry. thrive well (excepting ducks), but the
hawks, ike. conmit great havoc among the young broods.
Pigs also answer, but must be sty fed, it being too expensive to
fence cultivated land, and the woods affording no beech mast,
or other nutritious food. Horses are plentith but inferior, from
10 to 100 r. ds. and upwards, according to quality; fair tOr the
saddle, at 100 rats. procurable breeding mares, up the country,
from 40 to 70 r. ds. The wolves and panthers are terribly destruc-
tive to the young costs, and horses also, if the utmost care be not
taken. The horses do much work, yet are seldom fed on grain ;
the sickly season lasting several months every year, very fatal to
them ( a ). Tillage a very expensive and uncertain operation;
total failures, it is said, seldom occur; partial ours very frequent,
which is proved b) the fluctuating price of corn. Wheat particu-
larly uncertain ; its disease the rust, cause and nature of which
unknown ; seldom attacks till the corn is nearly fit for the sickle.
Our present year has witnessed a thirdgeneral failure of wheat,
only some persons having a crop, and die grain In these instances
is very inferior, and hardly worth the harvesting. A species called
the Rush Bengal, with a solid stem, of which there are only • few
acres in cultivation, appears to resist the disease, although not free
from its attack; gives • fine large grain, but said to make very its-
tenor flour ; seed of this kind very scarce. Barley hives a tolerable
return, Potatoes always inferior to European this year
_Produc-
tive, owing to an unusual quantity oh' rain having fallen when first
planted. Horticultural produce has to contend against a multitude
of enemies. Peas, cabbage, and all kinds of vegetables, have this
year been dreadfully destroyed by the catterpillar, fly, and grub
and even Indian corn, hitherto considered a certain crop, bas else
in most instances failed. In fact, the present has been the mo fatal
season ; from the depredations of the meat tribes, and the drought,
there is scarcely at this time a garden in existence. The other dis-
tricts of the Colony have fortunately been blest with • tolerable
harvest. Wheat, lately as high as 50 r.ds. per mold, of 180Ibs. is
reduced to2l r.da. To the few who have the means left to purchase,
this is a fortunate circumstance : what the majority are to do, Ood
knows ! It is suspected that this district will not grow corn; but
the uncertainty alone of reaping the fruits of our industry, is suf-
ficient to deter people frem perseverance. The vine does not ap.
pear to answer, the fruit always dropping off' before ripe: an un.
successful trial, for the past seven years, trade in the settlement, Is
adduced as proof against the possibility of its cultivation. The
plant itself grows luxuriantly. Tobacco grows well; but, like
every other vegetable production, is exposed to so many enemies,
as to preclude any attempt at its cultivation beyond domestic use.
In fine, the capability of the settlement is only fur grazing, far
which it is most admirably calculated, by its fine pastures, and
the climate obviating the expense of collecting winter fodder : there
is a tolerable market for buttes and cheese. The situation of the
Dutch fanners, improperly ascribed to•indolence, is evieence that
the candy generally is unfit fur any ether purpose; for, aware
of the uncertainty of tillage, they *Om pomess a vegetable
garden, cultivate but little more wheat than sufficient for their
own subsistence, but graze almost incredibly large herds off
cattle and sheep. This particular branch, in our district, is
attended with great risk (amounting to almost a prohibition),
front the predatory visits of Caeca, who commit great deviate.
tions. (If late they have been particularly troublesome, and
scarcely a night passes in which they do not steal cattle. As they
remain unchecked, they are increaeing in boldness. Fortunately
they abstain from personal outrage ; but we file this will not be
• - been kiiied by them since
'his immediate moment
consequence of a co-
for the purpose of an

attack upon as. The Men dreadful alarm prevails) and many per
I-:
sons are preparing tor flight. The number of the barbarians is stated
: at 80,000, and the very small number gf troops we have on the
I frontier allows morn for serious dread. In truth we are not pro-
tected as we ought to he. The number of stragglers from them
is very great in the woods of the settlemetit. and these have even
the audacity to take cattle, and iron for making into spears, within
fire from the forts ! Many pair people, whose only dependence is
lon their herd of cattle, have been entirely ruined by their depreda-
tions.
Permission has been asked front the Governor (public as-
semblies being illegal) to convene a meeting of the emigrants, to
represent their (longer and distress frau the continued failures, and
to salt such assistance as may be requisite: I hope the result may
Ibe favourable. The Government arbitrary and not to be depended
upon (6), the Governor being under no control but consience, not
always sufficiently tender to repress vicious inclination. laws
unknown by their opera:ion in particular cases; but excepting in
proclamations none written exist. The Court of Circuit, which sits
once a year in each district, our supreme tribunal, emanating from
the Court of Justice, has always given great satisfaction ; its de.
visions are equitable and prompt, ha hearing patient, and its
members endeavour ail in their power to settle differences by arbi-
tration, in preference to deciding on them at the bench. l'ocortu-
nately only C 11.4.1 of importance ran came before them; money mat.
ten under 300 rd.., and the more trifling civil and criminal cases are
cognizable by the Provincial Court of Plemdrost (Chief 31ainetrate)
and Ilentroatien, which is defective is its constitution and too much
exposed to the influence of its President.(c) lots expenses very
high, litigation very common, and encouraged by those who bene-
fit by the trade. Public press under the most rigid censorship, and
none allowed but the official one at the Cape. Currency paper from
the value ef 3.1 to 1001., computed in wirers at par (id), skillings
(lid.), and viz-dollars Hate of exchange against the colony
asst now 180; has been lately 20,4 per cent., that is tosay, 1001 ster-
ling gwill realize 1..100 rix-dollnrs. The market of the settlement
badly supplied wilt European goods, inferior in quality, and exor-
bitantly priced ; from 100 to 300 per cent. profit very commonly
chanzed. • s • • • • •
The history of the settlement is that of the most sanguine expec-
tation, followed up by determined and persevering industry, cruelly
blasted by misfortunes over which we could exert no control : with
every promise of an ability to feed ourselves within a .hurt period'!
after our arrival, the greatest exertion was made, and in many in-
stances individuals the first season put into cultivation from thirty
to forty acres, which were entirely lost by the failure of 1820. Unde-
terred by this calamity, the succeeding year was witness to increased
efforts, to relieve us front dependence upon the Government, but
attended with the same unfortunate results ; and the third reason
(the present, 1822), with endeavours unrclaxed, we find ourselves
equally far removed from the possibility of subsisting ourselves,
and are thrown upon the uncertain resources of charity—a situation
at once wretched and degrading. The consequence of this conti-
nued disappointment, as might be expected, is the gradual deuce..
thin or the settlement (d), which has been decreasing since the first
failure of 1820, and is now, from the danger of Cairn incursions,
superadded to the existing evils, rapidly dissolving; many are set-
tling in the neighbouring districts, and several who have the means
left returning home; considerably more than half have left their
farms, or (as the cant term expresses it) dis-located themselvta. To
the labouring classes these calamities are not so ruinous, as they
possess a never-failing capital in their mechanical knowledge,
which is well paid in this colony, and, but for a most absurd re-
strictive policy hitherto employed, intended to keep the settlers'
within this district, these might have succeeded well in the other
provinces. Such as were allowed the privilege of exit have done
remarkably well ; but it is the small capitalist who suffers the most
deeply. The man of education (and there are many of such em-
barked in this unfortunate adventure) whom acuteness of feeling or
physical imbecility prevents from descending to the office of a daily
I ibourer, with an increasing family dependent on his support,
tied to this unproductive soil, with every prospect of comfort and,
competency exchanged for the bitterness of poverty and unavailing
regret, expectation for the future has ceased to be indulged, and
we are obliged to come to the distressing decision—that success,
the greatest we can ever attain, is inevitably limited to the mere
ability of procuring a precarious subsistence, and that even by the
most painful and unremitting industry and attention, as the diffi-
culties we have to encounter are chiefly of such a nature as to re-
quire die interference of Omnipotence itrelf to obviate them.
These may be stated as an inability to raise subsistence (r): from
the uncertainty of Seasons, frequency of disease in wheat, high
price of labour (3s. to Is. per day).(f ) and the number of enemies
with which vegetable and other productions have to contend,(g)
insecurity of life and property by Csiffre incursions, and the im-
possibility of establishing commercial relations, foreign or domes-
tic, from the state of coasts, physical inability of inland naviga-
tion, and the want of a borne consumption.(h) As a permanent
comedy to the misfortunes which we have suffered, removal (s) to
sonic other genial climate can alone be applied; but, with nue
mama dissipated by the great expense of unsuccessful tillage and
improvements on our farms (for of course we had every thing to
create in the wilderness in which we were placed), we in vain look
(Omani to such an escape from the numerous evils which threaten
us here. The ability even of transporting, and much less of esta
blishing, ourselves in another colony no ffinger exists, and we are
condemned, if unassisted, to perpetual exile. That the home Go-
vernment will cause an inquiry into our distressing situation, we
sincerely hope, and that we shall no longer be neglected in the
manner we have been since skis /ate acting Governor left the
culony.(k) • • • • • •
December 19, Ilt2.
I have this moment received yours of 2d October, 1821 (No. 6.)
iaelloslog a team to the law Mr. L.—. lko what way shall 1
thank you fur the very handsome manner in which you introduced
me I I can only ascribe it to that disinterested friendship which
you feel for me, but aunt allow myself to deserve so much com-
mendation. I regret it is too late; especially as I am unable to
send you some insects, seeds, and a few trifling menientos of re.
gard, 1 have had packed up, and determined to send by a Lieut.
C— whom his Colonel (N—) will not allow to leave. 1
shall lake some opportunity of transmitting them, if such

(b) The history of the official abandonment of Bathurst and Fre
dericksburgh are sufficient evidences ; and where a Deputy I.land.
rost Is able to shut a merchant's store, and prevent his selling a sin-
gle article, for impertimerser, until that merchant (an Englishman;
shall bare made an abject apology, that place cannot possess a free.
or just government.
(c) That of Albany consists of a hurdvoost secretary (law inter-
preter), district clerk, and one Dutch hemvaad ; of Englishmen
five heinraaden, two of whom (the most efficient) have been dig.
missed without even an inquiry, and, after serving gratuitonrlv
ever since the establishment of the settlement. The result of such
conduct to men of education and gentlemen, will be to render the
office degradatory, and beneath the acceptance .1 men of inde.
pendence.
(di What can be the situation of a settlement, when nearly a ma.
jority of the adventurers are insolvent, instead of improving in
their circumstances?

(e) The spontaneous resources of the country few. Fish, though
plentiful on the mut, scarce in the rivers ; game, though nu-
merous, very difficult to procure ; and indigenous fruits rare, and
not good, with one or two exceptions.
(1) The Dutch being permitted the employment of slam, from
which we are humanely, although not, perhaps. wisely interdicted,
can afford to raise and sell their produce as to effectually exclude us
from the tuarkcts ; besides monopolizing the Hottentots, whose
wages are not above 12 to 3.) r. ds. annually, who are withheld or
unwilling to engage to Europeans. An instance of the consequence
of this advantage which they 'maven over us is just told me, of a
farmer on the Zondag Hirer, about 33 miles from Algol Bay, and
80 from this district, offering barley, on his pltee, at 24 r. els.
per mold ! We could never attempt it at this rate.
(g) To enumerate nll the enemies with which we have to con.
tend. would outnumber the plagues of Pharaoh, and yet 1 must
mention a few

Cattle—Caffres and panthers.
Sheep--Improper pastures, the rot, wolf. and panther.
Goats—The same enemies as above, and will not live with us.
florses--Wolves, hyenas. sickly season.
Iniit—The monkey and insect tribe.
Wheat—The rust.
Barley—llot winds, which destroy every species of grain in a
few hours. This the most certain crop in the colony.
Horticultural produce—Grub, caterpillar, locust, &c. &c. Ike.
drought, and deluge. •

Potattwe —l'orcupine, hare, buck.
In shrill, lemiir and capital is squandered uselessly.
(It) We can produce nothing that any other district dots not,
while they can produce what we are unable to do; our pastures are
the only superiority we can claim, and they are of no avail.
(i) Perhaps a loan of caale, if proper and permanent protection
was given, followed up by the most strenuous endeavours to im-
prove the Kowie navigation (which would require a considerable
expenditure), would yet arrest our progress to absolute failure ;
but assistance of that nature must be prompt, discriminative, and
certain ; the least insecurity would be destructive of any hopes of
the future. Should removal, however, be considered the hest, as it
is certainly the surest means, only a limited number can claim its
relief ; the labouring and mechanical classes were never better
and the majority would not leave the colony : they might easily and
advantageously be dispersed among the colonial provinces, where
there is a want of European artisans.
(k) Sir R. S. I hmkin twice visited the settlement (in 1820.21),
and, on both occasions, evinced the must cordial disposition to the
welfare of the en ;grant s, genelow.ly increasing the grants of land,
redressing grievances, and establishing salmary regulations fur our
advantage. The present Governor arrived in Beceniber, 1821 ; be
has never seen the settlement, and immediately on his arrival struck
a blow it the existence of Fredericksburgh, by withdrawing its mi-
litary protection, which ultimately produced its abandonment, and
to which is universally attributed the present depredations of the
exilic., as that place, so far in advance, kept them in check—
transferred the drostdy from the new and bccutiful town of Rath-
non, after many persons had purchased anti built on their lots, on
the faith (the distinct engagement of Government), that it should
remain the chief town of the district : and—but it is uncle's, if not
dangerous, to enumerate further—one praise must no: bc denied
even to him ; he proclaimed a loan to distressed agriculturists, in
consequence of the failures, of 200.000 r. dn., which was entirely
absorbed by. the IMlch—turn with the accuniulation of past tears
of success, inheriting the knowledge and wealth of their progenitors ;
while settlers, without one successful cum, without any means of
recovering their losses, did not rec.-ice one stivcr of this generous
assistance: ! i It is, perhaps, proper, nav, just, at the same time
the above remarks are made, to notice the assistance we have re-
ceived since the period of cur debarkation ; we were furnished wi:h
tents and rations (flour, lb. per man, tloz. women, 4oz. children ;
meat, I Ob. per man, for women, lib. for children), urder the
understOndirg that we were to pay for them at some future period ;
and assisted by the loan of waggons for our transport to the settle-
ment, a distance of 120 miles--an expense and journey which we
never contemplated, but which the home government most gene-
rously remitted. At Bathurst a store was established for the supply
of implements, &c. at a moderate price, which is still open, but re-
quiring a fresh supply of the uwat essential articles.

should offer, but dare not pat you to expense faroudi Bari
you received my N0..10, with a view of Grahatit'a Tows ? I regret
having no large paper, to prevent my making din; a doable letter.
We are all in uncertainty about the Clan moveamab. I hare
len. away part of my pods to Bathurst; wed take Mrs to lie
in there. an it would be distressing to have her here if day *auki
come down as they threaten. They increase M their dspredatioer
around us, and I every morning expect to ate my cattle Rona. We
really have cause for very serous alarm. I ion in a dreadful state
of incertitude as to what i • best td do, but think I shall try and get
a farm in the next district of Ilitenlmagen, where 1 shall have no
improvements to make, and expect to pay a rent of 300 ell-dollar/
per year. My cattle and self will be safe.