The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-21 00:00:00

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
Sabjoined is a memorial presented to Sir Harry
Smith by the Board of Defence in Graham's Town,
together with his Excellency's reply. It was fol-
lowed by, another and more lengthy expression of
opinion, to which an exceedingly short answer was
returned, stating that the views of the Commander-
in-Chief remained unaltered
1. That the alarming nature of the intelligence
received from the upper frontier districts shows, in
their opinion, that ithe force now acting within the
colony is quite inadequate to the protection of the
lives and property of her Majesty's subjects.
" 2. That within the last six weeks the enemy has
swept off from the district of Somerset alone upwards
of 20,000 sheep, 3,000 head of cattle, and 300 horses ;
that since the commencement of the war 200 farm-
houses on the north-eastern border have been re-
duced to ashes, and that a large amount of bread,
corn, and other property has been wantonly de-
stroyed.
"3. That while the frontier colonists have become
prostrated by the harassing events of seven months'
hostilities, the enemy has received within the present
week large accession to his numbers by the deser-
tions of Hottentot servants, who up to this time had
remained faithful to their employers, and being at
the present moment in possession of more cattle than
before the war, is not likely to be subdued by famine.
" 4. That it is obvious that the enemy is rapidly ex-
tending his operations, while the frontier is receding
westwards, so that burgher camps and leagers, which
but a few weeks ago were regarded as occupying se-
cure positions, are now mere outposts : and these too
are, one by one, being abandoned, as too weak to re-
sist the tide of invasion.
"5. That the heretofore settled districts are over-
run by hordes of savage despoilers, before whom the
farmers are retreating ; and thus an immense tract of
territory, the but recent abode of industry, is relin-
quished to the undisputed possession of Kafirs and
rebel Hottentots.
"6. That while these extensive forays have sup-
plied the Safirs with abundance of food, the re-
sources of the colony are rapidly becoming crippled
and reduced; and that unless this be at once stayed,
the quentity of stock will shortly be unable to supply
the immediate wants of the inhabitants, who will
consequently become subjected to the severest privations,
while agricultural operations being altogether sus-
pended, distress must be increased, rather than dimi-
nished, as the season advances.
"7. It is the conviction of this board that the'
burghers of the frontier have been quite unable to
protect their own property, which has been already
carried off to the extent of several thousand pounds,
and, therefore, could not afford your Excellency that
personal co-operation in the field which seemed so
desirable, and which was so urgently prayed for.
Even the population of Graham's Town, so reduced
by contingents supplied for the field, for Govern-
ment escorts of stores to outposts, and by the
patrol duties of the Albany Rengers, the Farmers'
Club, and Fingoes is, is the absence of any garrison
force, regarded by all as unequal to its own defence.
The spontaneous and universal desertion of the
Kafir servants was a serious misfortune to the border
farmers, and being followed by the defection of the
Hottentots, the property of their employers could not
evi,:h safety be left to their sole care ; it hence became
impossible for men so circumstanced to leave their
homes, which at the moment of their departure might
have been assailed by, or surrendered to the foe, as
in too many iestances was actually the case.
" 8. That this board is not unmindful of your Ex-
cellency's expressed intention of maintaining the lie-
f-nee= forts as a basis of military operations ' but
they earnestly intreat your Excellency to take the
present helpless condition of the colony into your im-
mediate consideration.
" 9. That the establishment of certain burgher posts
by your Excellency's orders, in June last, was hailed
with gratitude, as a temporary relief; but since that
period those posts, so far as established, are found in-
sufficieut to protect their immediate localities, while
the country at large is without any adequate force to
resist the hostile inroad.
" 10. That recent occurrences in the Orange River
sovereignty seem to give indication of the spread there
of that combination among the coloured races from
which this province is now suffering. The board,
therefore, deem it of vital moment that the most
energetic me cures for the protection of the colony
should be taken, and that without a moment's delay.
They are of opinion that the time has arrived when
every ablebodied man throughout the colony should
be required, in the terms prescribed by law, to
enrol himself for the common defence; and that her
Majesty's Gavernment should be informed of the
urgent and absolute necessity of additional troops
being sent hither to avert the calamities which now
threaten to engulf the whole of the eastern province.
The danger which threatens the country is, in the
opinion of the board, imminent; but they confidently
trust, by the measures adopted by your Excellency,
and by God's help, that the present wicked rebellion
may be put down, and firm enduring peace be re-
stored to this distracted land.
" Graham's Town, July 19."

REPLY.
"King William's Town, July 22.
"Gentlemen,—Your memoir' of the 19th inst.
reached me yesterday.
2. I have al ways thought that any regular force
at my disposal, which could be given for the interior
defence of the frontier, would be inadequate for the
purpose, although I ordered there every available
reinforcement. My proclamations of the 25th of De-
cember and 33 of February last, the general disre-
gard of which has led to the misfortunes therein
predicted, were issued such being my impression.
Had the Levy en masse which I called forth been
readily afforded affairs at this moment within the
colony would not wear their present disastrous aspect
from marauders. lam aware that there is now much
difficulty in the farmers on the immediate frontier
turning out, owing to the desertion of their servants;
but h.'s is not the case on what may be termed the
second line ; and I expect much from a commando
now in the field under Mr. Cole, the Civil Commis-
sioner of Albert.
"3. It is indeei melancholy to observe the awful
state of the country, on which you so truly comment.
Major-General Somerset is now detached into the
colony from the immediate frontier, and his 'Frontier
Orders' of the 13th inst. show that he is ably exert-
ing himself to meet the evil.
" 4. However much I admire the conduct of the
Albany Rangers—and I have every reason to do so—
I cannot admit that the inhabitants of Graham's
Town have done as much as might have been ex-
pected to contribute towards the general defence, and
I ground such an assertion upon their noble conduct
in 1835.

"5. Your comments upon the defection of the Hot-
tentots are most just. Lamentable is that defection,
and equally unexpected by me as by yourselves. It
has cramped my movements and protracted the dura-
tion of the war, which would otherwise have ere this
been brought to a conclusion.
"6. I am but too well aware, gentlemen, of the
helpless condition of many of the inhabitants of the
colony. No one can more regret it than myself; and
I feel additional pain because I know that the greater
part of the evils which have assailed them might have
been averted. Had the burghers at once turned out
at the commencement of hostilities, we should not
have
now to depore all that you so truly and lamentably
describe. In 1842 I proposed to the colony an im-
rovement and modification of the system called the
'commando system,' which it most unthinkingly
op-
posed. Had the force contemplated by that improvi
system been at my disposal, the state of affairs would
have been indeed far differentosb from what it now is
within the colonial border.
" 7. The course I have pursuedlsw in British Kafraria
is the correct one. Had
theerved from a persever-
ance in it, however awfullymarauding parties
have recently carried ou theirrudsr.edations, there
would then have been a general the colony
of the whole of the Kafir tribes. In
it war that
must be attempted which carries withn
sped of the greatest general benefit to the whonlep. pro
n 8, I posted the division of the troops under
Major-General Somerset at Fort Hare, as
a second
line for interior defence, and for the burghers to rally
round. Mejor-General Somerset has moved this
division, with my sanction, into the most disturbed
distric's, and this most active and enterprising officer
has my authority to establish posts of burghers at
every prominent point best calculated to repel banditti.
"9. You are of opinion that the time has now
arrived when every ablebodied man should be requird
to turn out. I think this time arrived seven months
ages and I accordingly then called upon them by my
proclamation to what was the result ?
to do so. But
of posts,
burghers will turn out for the occupa-
tionfeed their horses, and
are aware that 1 ration them and
" 10. Two tauasnaldtheir services are important.
know, returned to the' of the Hottentot levies, as you
of further reinforcementsilr homes.
:) from England, and
I am in daily expec-
tationon their arrival, if ihrapeneral Somerset's opera-
tions should not have the desired effect, and if
the present demeanour of the
Kafirs, which from the
ai
recent and combined successes
pondenc
Kafraria is decidedly that of des
against them in British
don citiinue!,
I may be enabled to make a more extey,
tended tion of the force under my command spoilt-
" 11. I have thus entered into .thitssubject with
you, gentlemen, with a desire to show that,
citizan I sympathise in the present calamity,t while
"a
mcnder•ia-Chief I am exerting myself to these Ct
t T-
to restore tranquillity.—l have the honour to 113 le 11
,3, utmost
" H. G. SMITH. 1
" The Gentlemen forming the Board of
Defence, Graham's Town."

PORTSMOUTH CCT . 20.—Her Majesty's steamer
Birkenhead, Cape of Good Hope; John Graham, Har-
tlepool for Malta, leaky. Off Port, Upland, Bremen from
New Orleans.