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.

HEATH, John Henry, 1827

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew, CO48/114, 305

[To Viscount GODERICH, Secretary of State for the Colonies May-September 1827]

The Petition of John Henry HEATH of Port Francis in the District of Albany, Attorney at Law and Notary Public

Humbly Sheweth

That your Petitioner was regularly articled to the profession of the Law to Mr. Matthew HEATH of No. 10 Kings Bench Walks, Temple – Enrolled as an Attorney of His Majesty's Court of Kings Bench at Westminster the 3rd July 1816 – and took out his Certificate of Practise for 1818.

In the latter end of 1819 your Petitioner was induced from the little business in his profession to embark for the Cape of Good Hope; and in 1825 was appointed by his Excellency the Governor to the situation of Clerk of Court to the Residency at Port Francis with permission to act at Notary Public within the jurisdiction of the Residence upon the small salary of £22-10-0 per annum.

That hearing of the great changes that were to be made in the Law department your Petitioner was induced to Petition his Honour the Lieutenant Governor for a Situation under the new regulations anticipated – hoping that his professional knowledge and his steady discharge of his present situation might prove him worthy of a place of more consequence and wherein his acquaintance of the Laws of England might render him a useful Servant of the Public.

That his Honour was pleased to return for answer “that he could not hold out any hopes of employment for him.”

Under these circumstances your Petitioner is induced to apply to your Lordship for your consideration, and that if any vacancy is left under the new regulations your Lordship [will] be pleased to appoint him to the same, [obscured] which by assiduity and attention he would hope to merit your Lordship's favour.

Your Petitioner humbly begs to refer your Lordship for his character and professional knowledge to Mr. FLEXNEY of Bedford Row, Grays Inn – Mr. Henry HEATH of No. 15 Seymour Place, Euston Square and Mr. Matthew HEATH of the Temple.

Humbly requesting your Lordship's consideration and favour

Your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray &c.

Signed: J. Henry HEATH

  • Hits: 6038