Skip to main content
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.

EONARD, B.H.

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 11

Rowe's Hotel

No. 33 Coventry Street

Friday 16 July 1819

Sir

Should I prove informal in in [sic] my mode of addressing you I beg that you will not attribute it to any want of proper respect but solely to my being unacquainted with the customary forms of applying to official gentlemen.

By the reports in the public papers I am led to believe that Government have it in contemplation to establish a colony on the coast of Africa near to the cape of good hope. I take then the liberty that you will communicate to me as soon as your convenience will permit and with as much precision as possible the site chosen for the contemplated colony, the conditions on which government will make grants of land and further permit me to say that if it shall be made worth my while by a good grant that I will undertake to colonize it with my countrymen from the North west of Ireland. To my county member Mr E. S. C[ISPRE] I am well known and as I contributed not a little to assist the Earl of Selkirk in 1812 to establish his colony at Red River in British North America I venture to consider and hope I am well-qualified for the undertaking I have in view.

Awaiting your reply I have the honor to be your very [assured] humble servant

B. H. EONARD

  • Hits: 6034