Skip to main content
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.

EDYE, William Mills, 1831

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives CO48/145, 308

 

13 Tavistock Street
Covent Garden
London
26th Jan'y 1831
Sir,
I take the earliest opportunity to report myself as having arrived in London from the Cape of Good Hope on the 25th instant, on leave of absence for six months bearing date the 25th October 1830 granted to me by His Excellency the Governor, Sir G. Lowry COLE, but as my voyage has been unusually long (three months) and the time remaining being too limited to enable me to settle my affairs and return to the Colony, I have the honor most respectfully to request you will lay before the Secretary of State my application for an extension of leave for six months from the period at which my present leave expires, founded upon the certificate of His Excellency expressing his consent to such an arrangement, which I have the honor to enclose.
I have the honor to be, Sir
Your very obedient servant
Wm. Mills EDYE
Second Clerk in the Master's Office of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope.

 

[enclosed]
These are to certify that I have granted leave of absence from the Colony for the term of six months to mr. W.M. EDYE to return to Europe on his private affairs – that Mr. EDYE holds the situation of Second Clerk in the office of the master of the Supreme Court with a salary of one hundred and fifty pounds Sterling per annum – and that, should it appear that the urgency of his affairs requires a prolongation of leave, I have no objection to the same being granted to him, as arrangements have been made for having the duties of his office performed during his absence without inconvenience or additional expense to the public service.
Cape of Good Hope, 25th October 1830
G. Lowry COLE

 

London
2 February 1831
Sir,
I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo containing a refusal on the part of His Majesty's Secretary of State Viscount GODERICH to my application for six months extension of the leave of absence granted me by His Excellency Sir G. Lowry COLE. Perhaps his Lordship was unacquainted with the urgent business which called me home. I am an only Son; my Mother and Sisters are in a great measure dependant on the Rents due from an Estate in the West Indies over which my Grandfather's Executors hold a first mortgage – these rents have of late been very irregularly paid and my Mother and her family very much distressed in consequence – the object of my coming to England was to endeavour if possible by my exertions to induce the Executors to perform their duty by foreclosing the mortgage and to prevent expensive legal proceedings. I beg leave respectfully to solicit in consideration of the heavy expense I have been at in coming to this Country that His Majesty's Secretary of State may be pleased to grant me two months prolongation of my former leave. Should His Lordship see nothing in my case to merit this indulgence I shall not lose an instant in obeying His Order for an immediate embarkation for the Cape.
I have the honor to be, Sir
Your very obedient servant
Wm. Mills EDYE
Second Clerk in the Master's Office of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope.

[note written across corner of letter as guide to reply]
Those employed in various departments of Govt to expect that the Sec'y of State will consent to give any prolongation of leave of absence

 

London
26th March 1831
Sir,
I have the honor most respectfully to request you will be pleased to inform His Majesty's Secretary of State Viscount GODERICH that I have, in conformity with your letter conveying me His Lordship's permission to remain in this Country until the 1st April, engaged my passage in the Eliza jane, which is the first vessel sailing from this Port to the Cape of Good Hope after the expiration of my leave of absence.
I have the honor to be, Sir
Your very obedient servant
Wm. Mills EDYE
Second Clerk in the Master's Office of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope.

  • Hits: 4924