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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.

SMITH, J.C.

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 837

Albion Street

Rotherhithe, London

[received Aug 10, 1819]

My Lord

I beg to inform you on the 6th inst I waited at your office in Downing Street in order to be informed the particulars and conditions of the emigration to the Cape of Good hope; but not being satisfactory the information I received; I beg to state to your Lordship I have in contemplation with ten respectable families to become emigrants whom wishes to be regularly informed the conditions, the privileges, and the part of the country where such settlers will be fix'd, whether covered with wood or otherwise &c &c &c in order that such articles may be provided as will be most usefull to clear the land for cultivation, with all and every information necessary for our guidance if granted to become settlers in the above colony.

At the same time I beg your Lordship will grant me an interview, I am an old commander of a ship and have been a resident at the Cape of good hope upwards of five years.

I have the honor to be

Your Lordship's most obedient & humble servant

J. C. SMITH

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