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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.

JONES, James re BIDDULPH, 1823

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew, CO48/67, 156

34 Duke Street

Manchester Square

March 25th 1824

Sir,

I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your note of yesterday and in reply beg leave to observe that I requested the favor of an interview, as I could wish by further explanation to do away with any unfavorable impression (should such exist) in your mind from the attack made upon me in so extraordinary a manner by Mr. BIDDULPH and further, since it is nearly two years since I had the honor of waiting upon you in Downing Street, to solicit your support that some favor may be shown to me, to compensate for the losses I sustained in giving up my staff appointment, and for the money I was obliged to expend when I accepted the command of the troops and the civil magistracy of Albany, Cape of Good Hope.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

James JONES

[Filed with copy of letter addressed to Major JONES, 34 Duke Street, Manchester Square]

Colonial Office

Downing Street

6th May 1822

Sir,

I am directed by Earl BATHURST to acknowledge receipt of your letter to his Lordship of the 16th instant representing the circumstances under which you were removed from the office of Landdrost of the District of Albany at the Cape of Good Hope & stating in effect that the appointment made by an officer administering for the time being the affairs of the Colonial Government were considered in the Colony of so permanent a character that you were induced, upon being nominated by Sir R. DONKIN to the office in question, to incur a heavy charge in the purchase of effects which you conceived necessary to maintain an establishment suitable to the situation. Whatever impressions may be entertained by the colonists to the permanency of an appointment made by an officer in the administration of affairs during the Governor's absence, it is a matter of regret to Earl BATHURST that you should have allowed yourself to be influenced by such considerations without reflecting that so far from an officer in the exercise of a temporary & delegated authority, having the power to confer permanent appointments, the Governor himself awaits the signification of the King's Pleasure before an appointment to any of the superior offices in the Colony is considered as definitely fixed & it appears by the tenour of Sir Rufane DONKIN's correspondence that he had great doubts of his nomination being confirmed. Had such an obvious course presented itself to your view you would not have made on this occasion any extensive disbursements under an idea that your appointment by Sir Rufane DONKIN would necessarily have been permanent & the instructions which were conveyed to him on this subject by Earl BATHURST would have shown that it was on public grounds only that his Lordship found himself precluded from recommending to His Majesty to confirm you in an office which appeared to his Lordship to require longer experience in the affairs of the Colony.

It remains only that I should express his Lordship's concern that you should have suffered pecuniary losses under circumstances in any way connected with the Public Service & to acquaint you that it is not possible for him to give directions that you should be reimbursed the sums you have expended, yet he will not forget the recommendation he has received in your behalf should an opportunity arise of giving you employment in the Public Service.

I am &c

(Signed) R. WILMOT

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