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

pre 1820 Settler Correspondence before emigration

ALL the 1819 correspondence from CO48/41 through CO48/46 has been transcribed whether or not the writers emigrated to the Cape. Those written by people who did become settlers, as listed in "The Settler Handbook" by M.D. Nash (Chameleon Press 1987), are labelled 1820 Settler and the names of actual settlers in the text appear in red.

MEALIN, William

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 432

No.16 Palace Street

Pimlico

Wednesday July 21st 1819

My Lord,

Unwilling to intrude on your very valuable time permit me with the deepest respect briefly to solicit your Lordship will condescend to honor me with an answer to the following question.

After a service in the Army of nearly twenty years and in various parts of the globe, I quitted it to settle as a surgeon at Bruxelles, a short time previous to the Battle of Waterloo, on which occasion however my best exertions were not wanting. My plans not realizing hopes I had nourished, and as misfortunes seldom come singly, I find the struggle to maintain (with that respect which they have always been entitled) my family and I am anxious to know my Lord if the plans for colonizing the Cape would embrace any offer I could make.

If your Lordship will be pleased to direct any particulars on this head to be communicated to me I shall feel the deepest sense of gratitude for the condescension & beg to subscribe myself, my Lord

Your Lordship's very respectful & most obed't serv't

William MEALIN

Surgeon

Army Hospital [Corps]

Note from GOULBURN across foot of page:

Not at present aware that it will be in any degree necessary to avail himself of the many offers made by medical persons to proceed to the Cape in an official capacity. No objection known to his proceeding as a common settler.

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