Algoa Bay.
The Times, 1824-10-07T00:00:00

AVe annex an extract of a letter written bv one of the new settlers at Algoa Bay. 'There will be foitnd several inconsistencies,which we do not pretend to recolncile, in the writer's statements, but it is obvious that the prospects in that settlemenit, wilich proved so disastrous to these who first ventured thither, are materially improving. " Port Elizabetlh, Algoa Bay~ Jur;e 18, 1824. "'lVe are now becoming in some degree settled here, and the colony is so far improved, that none vhlo nlow CoMe out would incur any risk of encounitering the difficulties we met withl at first. 'The way is now paved, andt anv perEon with modera!e views anid a capital of five hun- ;red pounds would soon become independent. For labourers in particular. great advantages present themn- selves, andt thle people of that class alreadly here really feel thcmzselves of so mueh importance, that thev are, in ilemeanior at lcast, like the nobility of the country. Tlhouglh 1 pay them very high wages. I am compelled to use urgent entreaties to get any thing done,; and at this moment, so impsrtant a person is our cobbler, I can neither get a pair of shoes mendled for love nor money. The only draw- back on the labouring cla$s is the heat of the minddle of the day for about four moniths. The cautious Dtttch sleep in the midtlle of the dav, but the English labourers spend their timne in drinking, andl are, therefore, gene- rally incorrigible drunkardi. Printing is at present prohibited here ; but we expect that the next arrivals from England will bring out an order to remove that prohibitiom. Indeed, the obstacles to improvernent here are so temperary that they are hardly worth alludling to. Almost all the in- dividnailhere whoare in auhoritr -o. I-V -1 nf;-- -l veyaV rrom sagacious in wnat concernis the inanagement of an infant colony. You may take a specimen of their political sagacity. WVe have but one butchler inl Port Eliza- beth: another butcler applied to the Land-drost (a colonel) fbr permission to begin business, but this officer told him he did not see any occasioni for two butchers. The climnate here is better than at Cape-town, and for my own part I had rather settle my family in the country than in a large town. I shouldl do very well ind(eed, if I thouglht only of myself, anti not of making provision for rmv faintly, whom I long to have with me; but I tremble at the risk of placing thei here, until I have a home fit for their reception. I am, tlerefbre, straining every nerve to improve tht land I have got, and( to build a hotise. I have already enclosed rny land( at considerable cost, andl have built some small houses for the accommodlation of the workmen. I am now projecting the building a good house for myself, which. I hope to be able to accomplish for the small sum of 1.501. 1 have at present nothiing but out-goings, and have derived no benefit yet from the produce of my land. I do not expect to get produce from my garden till near September, and I have constantly one man at work, and have sometimes emploved several. Ciothes are ex- cessively dear. My flock of shioep and goats have greatly diminished, and we have not sufficient shelter for cattle in the rainy season, anid from this cause I lost lately three cows out of ten. You will say I have not managed badly to get on as I have. I have five hcrses, a chaise, and cart; but I have never had a ride6 in Tny chaise, although I brottglit it with Ine fiom Cape-town, for I can get io ser- vant to uait upon me. The necessaries of life, however, are extremely cheap. If you cannot get roast beaf in Eng- land, come here and you will have your surloin at two- pence per lb.; besides which yon will have grapes, peaches, nmelons, &c., and wine for about 3d. a bottle. 'We hope for a free trade here, and no military superintendence. We are all tiue John Bulls, and hope to have the Covent-gar- den election one day or other." .ABGOA BA 1'.