Star.
London, England, 1830-02-04 00:00:00

JOBBING AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

It is to be hoped that the amorous Parliamentary friend. of
Lord-Charles Somerset will be able to explain the grounds of his
conduct towards the Colonists of the Came of Good Hope, alluded
to in the following extract from The &oath .affercen Conuisercial Ad-
vertiser. of Sept. 30 :—" It is
,singular (says the Cape Journalist.)
that the publicaden of every successive document relative to the
affairs of this Colony throws these two respectable Noblemen
(Lord listbunt and Lord Charles Somerset) on their defence with
regard to money matters." What does this mean?
"We are frootrred with copious Retracts from the Report of
the Commissioners of Inquiry upon the Trade of the Cape of Good
Hope,' (cc. The Report is dated at Dburitio. 3d October 16Y6.
and is signed by Messrs. Mom Colebrook*, and Blair. Tieir re-
commendations in behalf of the Cape trade are of the most liberal
character, and on the Tea Quesiest their views are exactly the sane
as those expressed by the Colonists themselves at the late Public
Meeting in Cape Town. They observe that the restrictions by
which the Company's monopoly of the China trade is guarded
have bon carried to their utmost extent by the Officers of
Customs at the Cape, and their effect upon the price of tea
has been Injuriously iris by the middling and lower classes of the po-
/Motion. amongst Whom the tonsomption of tea of ordinary quality
has become very general. The price at which it has been usually
sold at public auction LW sot been subject to much variation ; and
according to the terms of the arrangement made between his Ma-
jesty's Government and the Directors of the Rast India Company,
in the year 1606, ought sot to have eueeded an advance of 6 per
cent. on the cost, freight and charges. From se account which
was 'unlashed to the fright,
by a gentleman who is
very conversant in the China trade, and with the mode in
which it is conducted by the Company, it would appeu that
the waits realised in the sales of tea by their agent at the Cape
have greatly exceeded that rate. Mr. PiYap, Who, we suppose, is
the gentleman here alluded to, laid a similar statement beton the
meeting. from which it appeared that, besides a fair trading profit.
the Company annually take away from the culuoy no less a non
than 100,000 rim-dollars. Hew such a flagrant violation of the
agreement made with his Majesty's Goveruoieut cosh' so tong
escape the notice of the Colonial Government here, or of the Colo-
nial Mee in lhowniogastrem, who me bound is bower end by
their oath of office to protect the colonists against such Imposi-
tions, would have heat a very fair subject of inquiry far the
Com-
miniaoere. Were they isnot-eat of the fact, or had they private
reasons for their acquiescence? Were they under any peculiar ob-
ligations to the Company, by which their mouths were stopped,
and their hands tied ? The supposition places them In a very dig-
nified attitude, and she ii‘ing.isalouhtleirs wetly indebted to.th,eru
for supporting the honour of his Crown in places beyond sea! It
might almost belmagined that the sealliovemiaaty of theampire
had been embezzled by this Company ; for whenever their avarice
clashes with the rights and interests of his Majesty's subjects, the
latter are invariably sacrificed, and lb 4, too, io the teeth. f solemn
treaties and agreements.
" The Commissioners very justly Awn* with terse the inittry
which the Colonists have suffered from a departure from the terms
of the 'seesaw' of 1606, rood wale that they wee INK aware of any
corresponding advantage which the Colony has derived front the
mode in which the supply has been made which shouldaassous-
mend • continuance cf the monopol. to which other places withila
the limits of the Charter are not subject. We could wish that Lord
Charles Sainereest. who held the Gotterunieut of this Colony tor
twelve years, wt the salary of ten thousand pounds, and per-
quiaites, would enable his friends to explain the mysterious silence
be observed during that period, while the ; hinder of his subjects
was going on alt ibis simians rate under his eye. Lord liathurat's
frienM„aiso, might do worse than devote halt an hour to his vindi-
cation. It is singular that the publication of every successive docu-
ment, relative to the affairs of this Colony. throws these two 're-
spectable Nubknirs ur their defence a ith regard to money
.Illktivra• DWI -their -errors arise twin a lofty contempt nt this
world's goods, from indolence er Vom incapacity, the subject
could nut have so lung escaped indolence,
ashoiiisersionavf a Legislative
Assembly."