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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.

SMALL, Rev. James

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 903

Kincaldrum

Aug 30th 1819

My Lord,

Having seen in the public paper the proposal of Government for establishing a colony in the Cape of Good Hope and being desirous to settle in that country I beg leave to sollicit your Lordship's patronage. I am by profession a clergyman of the Established Church of Scotland and can produce unexceptionable references of moral character and qualifications, and if encouraged by your Lordship to emigrate to the Cape propose to do everything in my power to promote the best interests of religion and morality among the settlers. I can officiate either as a Minister of the Gospel or a teacher of youth or both, the latter of which in that newly settled colony would not perhaps be the least useful. As I have not been successful in this country I earnestly implore your Lordship's patronage and assure your Lordship that if I receive it I shall endeavour in every respect to promote the interest of Government in the colony. I beg to inform your Lordship that I am encouraged to make this application by the advice of the Chancellor of the Exchequer with whom I corresponded on the subject. My address is the Rev'd James SMALL, Kincaldrum, Forfar. Hoping for your Lordship's favorable answer, I am my Lord with the highest esteem and respect

Your Lordship's very obedient humble servant

James SMALL

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 1100

68 Lower East Smithfield

Dec 9th 1819

My Lord,

I am a Minister of the Church of Scotland and wish to go out to the Cape of Good Hope to officiate as a Clergyman to the Scotch settlers there. I have not been so fortunate as to meet with them as yet, so that it has not been in my power to get a hundred families to subscribe for me as their Minister, but I expect to do this in the Cape. May it please your Lordship to grant me a passage out

I am with the highest esteem

Your Lordship's obed't serv't

James SMALL

 

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National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 1116

No.68 Lower East Smithfield

Dec 17 1819

My Lord,

I am sorry that your Lordship misunderstood my intention when I last wrote you. I merely want a passage to the Cape as an Emigrant. May it therefore please your Lordship to give instructions to the Navy Board to grant me a passage in one of the Government Transports now fitting out for the purpose of taking out emigrants. Having resided a considerable time in London my finances are much reduced. I hope therefore that your Lordship will compassionate the condition of a Scotch Clergyman in this state and in doing so you will confer on me a distinguished favor. My intention is to promote the best interests of religion and morality and to incubate and support as far as is in my power the interests of the British Government among the settlers.

I have received principal recommendations to the Cape and on arrival to go there but am unable to pay the heavy sum which the owners of merchant vessels require. I therefore most earnestly solicit your Lordship's favorable answer and am with the most profound respect and the highest esteem, my Lord

Your Lordship's very obed't humble serv't

James SMALL

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