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GSSA
The 1820 Settler Correspondence
 as preserved in the National Archives, Kew
 and edited by Sue Mackay

Correspondence 1821 to 1837.

Here only letters by known settlers or their families, or letters of great relevance to the 1820 settlers, have been transcribed, whereas ALL the 1819 correspondence was transcribed (see CO48/41 through CO48/46) whether or not the writers emigrated to the Cape.

Unless otherwise stated letters were written to either the Secretary of State for the Colonies or his deputy.The original correspondence is filed in order of receipt. Here it has been placed in alphabetical order according to the surname of the writer, with letters by the same writer in chronological order, for ease of reading. Original spelling has been maintained. Reference numbers, where given, refer to printed page numbers stamped on the letters and will enable visitors to the National Archives to locate the letter more easily.

ADAMS, Thomas Price, 1833

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/152, 175

 

Graham's Town
Southern Africa
19th April 1833

My Lord,
         Having made the Receipts and Expenditure and means of this Colony part of my Study these last five years, I beg leave to hand you the annexed statement made from my Knowledge of the transactions of the Ordnance Department of this Town.
During the year 1831 I wrote in the Office – I beg leave to submit for your consideration that the Ordnance and Engineer Establishment is an unnecessary expense on this Frontier – that the few Stores of the Ordnance might be under the charge of the Commissariats and one Clerk sufficient – that the Engineer Establishment is not wanted as all they do is to whitewash Barracks, mend Forms, Tables & Bedsteads, which work might be done by contractors and a saving effected by doing away with their Establishment of £2448:10 per annum less the expense of the Commissariat Clerk substituted in the room of them – not best that! Had I the means of judging of this latter Establishment as I have had of the others (and from what my eyes daily behold) I should find the Commissariats would not require an additional Clerk!!
   These sentiments may appear in contradiction to my application in November 1831 to be made a Clerk in the Ordnance Department! But it is since that period that I have examined and reflected on the abovementioned unnecessary Expenditure.
   I beg leave further to remark that it is not unlikely that the same unnecessary expenditure exists in all our Colonies.

Abstract of Ordnance and Treasury expenditure for the purpose of overlooking the Barracks, making Forms, Tables, Tubs &c, repairing Iron Bedsteads, mending Windows &c 1830 & 1831 each year.

Pay the Deputy Ordnance Storekeeper, Clerk Office Keeper and Storehouseman   £630:12
Pay to Engineer Office's Clerks, Office Keeper and Military doing no Military Duty £1357:17:6
Barrack Masters and 4 Sergeants, about   £460       
  £2448:00

                                                         
                                                                                                                                         
[the last page of this letter is not legible]

 

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