The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-12-23 00:00:00

CAPE OF (MOD HOPE.

IThe following report hak been transmitted by
Ceptain Fairfax 'Moresby, C.B. of his- Majesty's
ship Menai. to his Excellency She acting Governor
" Remarks o• the Rivers and Coast between Cape Recife
sod the Wash of the K.ioltahaeao t with a ralte,der tle-
ocriatiou of Port Wiflebetb, Algae Say. aosther►r Africa.
" Cape Recife is situated in latitude of 34.02. S.
long. '25. 39. E. of Greeowicb. It Is a low rocky
'mild; the breakers extend one-mile and a half into
the sea. The coast from this point runs N. 32.'.V.
four miles to Beacon or Rocky Point ; off this Point
lies a bed of rocks, but. sufficient water for ships to
pass within a small datogrrous rock, over which the
pia breaks in had weather, bearing from Beacon's
Point W. N. by compass, and Cape Recife
S. tW. This rock iv a small pinnacle ; we fee.
qmently tried to heave the liotiarpott the top, bat
never had less than 30 fret. She. of large homage
should therefore Rive Ileacon's Point a good birth,
in aporoaching Port Eli,. sloth.
" From Beacon's or Rocky Point, to the land-
iug-place at blarkliam'a Cove, is N.W. by N. by
compass, nearly three miles ; sand-hills, covered
with hush. Immedi,itely over Markham's Cove is
Fort Frederick, at present the only laud-mark by
which a stranger is guided to the anchorage, and
this from many positions is tint easily distiogniahed ;
but a pyramid. about to be erected as a private
memorial, half a mile to the south-east of Fort
Frederick, will Aloud conspicuous to ships approach-
ing the hoof.
" Front Niarkham'a Cove to Fera►a's River is
N. 13. E. by compass, nearly four milts ; between
this point and Beacon's Point may be considered
the anchorage of Port Elizabeth; the water deep-
ens gradually from the shore ; the bottom is hard
sand, in which the anchors hold well. Where
merchant ships have generally widwed, the ground
is not so clear as further out, arising from ... me.
tams anchors that hzve been left; but should Port
Elizabeth ever become a place of commercial con-
sequence. chain-moorings, or even anchors of a
1-irger size, with chain-cables, should be laid down
for those ships that wish to approach near the
shore, for the purpose of loading or unloading.
The expertise would not be very great, and a small
tax for such an accommodatio.s would be cheer-
fully paid.
" 1 du t.ot make this remark from the insecu-
rity of the hay, for I consider it at all boars equal
to Table Bay, and fur six months very far its su-
perior.
" His Majesty's ship Menai lay off Port Eliza.
beth from the 291 h of April until the 45th ofJuise,
1820. During that period there were only two
days we could not cominumcate with the shore ;
with a S.E. wit d a swelled sea rolled to, but never
any high breaking sea. Ships have, from time to
time, rode during the whole year in this bay, and
some of his Majesty's ships have rode out the
heaviest south-east gales that have been known.
" Had I my choice of trusting ray ship for the
year round to Torbay, in England, Palermo Bay,
in Sicily, Table Buy. or Algot Bay, I should, with-
out lir:Oration. prefer the anchorage off Port Eliza-
beth, Algoa Bay.
" Front the Ist of April to the tat of September,
the wind scarce -ever blows from the south-east ;
and, calculating upon the average number of days
that ships can communicate and carry on their COM•
rnercial occupations, Port Elizabeth infinitely sur-
passes Table Bay.
" In pro if of what I have said, not a single ac-
cident happeued in landing the settlers from Eng-
land (•rho amounted to 1,020 men, 1107 women.
and 2,032 children), from the period of their
arrival, in the middle of April, to the day of our
departure. the 25th of June. It its true, that
two small coasters were wrecked last year. on the
same day: but if their loss is attributed to the
right cause, it will be rather to their want of good
tackle, than the force of wind ; even from these
vessels not a man perished.
" No ship should anchor nearer the shire until the
bay is cleared of suchurs than ti fathom., with-
out they have chitin cables; thus, in considering'
Port Elizabeth a sale anchorage, it may naturally
be looked forward to as a point to where the cor-t•
nig trade of the colony can be carried to au exten-
sive scale. Between Port Elizabeth and Table
Bay the anchorages are numerous. and there are
few masters of coasting vessels in England, Hol-
land, or France, whu have not hourly more
dinigers to encounter, mid more difficulties to sur-
mount than the trade front Port Elizabeth to

Table Bay. i
" As the export port to the Isle or France, &e.
Port Elizabeth is admirably situated ; and as it
place of refreshment d unlit; the winter months. few
seamen would risk their ships in Table Bay. ur en-
counter the delay in heating up to Simon's Ely 1
With a north-west wind, *hot Port Elizabeth al-
fords much tamer access. and articles of rtfresli•
urea at • more moderate price.
" The bay abounds in lisle, and this will he soon
one of its most important exports. Fresh- wstEr
there is abundance of; at the expense of a few '
hundred rix-dollars it might be carried to the beach
in a stream. vatic:testily strong to water any num-
ber of ehips.
" The thermometer. during our stay at Put 1
Elizabeth. at noon. vsned from 66 to 59. The 1
nights were cool, the morning air fresh and nom.
grinding. High water at full and change, 3h.
40 ra. Tide floes about As feet.
to F ' River is closed at the month by a
i
1 bank of sand. except at spring tides. and is not
worth notice ; from hence to the mouth of the
1 Zwaitkops, is N.E. by E. half E. ; two miles to
the shore, sanity and Hat. The surf rolls in much
' higher with every sort of weather, than at Port Eh-
zabei il.
" The Zwartkops. In lat. 33. 51. 24. S. long.
25. 43. 30. E. is a river of the first cousequeuce. if
Port Elisilseth should coalition to flourish. From
the accompanying survey of it, the capacity of its
water is evident ; and L have little doubt, that