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.

JUDGE, Edward, 1824

National Archives, Kew, CO48/67, 162

29 Albemarle Street

29 November 1824

Sir,

I hope I do not presume too far in addressing you on the subject of the classical school about to be established by Government at the Cape of Good Hope. Having been appointed to the management of it, I have naturally felt anxious for its success & been led to consider what things will be necessary to obtain it. It will be at once obvious that the first requisite will be books; & those too, of a peculiar class, which may be easily met with where schools abound, but would be unsaleable, & consequently not to be procured, where no schools were established. As no place of instruction exists either at the Cape or within several thousand miles of it, necessity will require that such books as are requisite for the success of the school should be sent thither either by me or some other party; especially as every account I receive from the Cape leads me to suppose that the establishment will find immediate [obscured]. To commence a common school, even in the country, where there is every facility of procuring books, I am informed that a [stock] costing not less than £50 is required; & one amounting to £200 would therefore appear to be not too large to begin an establishment like that at the Cape, where there is no such facility, & where the books must be imported from England. There are other expences which I must incur upon my departure, but which are neither so great nor so essential to the welfare of the school that they alone would have induced me to [trouble] the Government respecting them.

For these reasons, Sir, I hope I shall not be considered as taking too great a liberty in petitioning either that £200 may be granted to me for the purpose of procuring books, stationery &c for the use of the school or that they may be sent upon the credit of the Government; &, for my other expences, that one quarter's salary £150 may be advanced to me before I leave England.

I have the honor to be Sir

Your most obedient & grateful humble servant

Edward JUDGE

  • Hits: 5250