THOMSON, Alexander Gregg

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 30

Stonehaven

Kincardineshire

19^th July 1819

My Lord,

I take the liberty of addressing you and have but one apology to make for so transgressing on your Lordship's goodness, namely the total want of means to support my wife & family.

At the death of my father I became possessed of a considerable property in the Island of Jamaica & this country, sufficient to carry on a mercantile business, great part of which I accordingly embarked in a large establishment in Glasgow & which I considered likely to increase my patrimony, but from unavoidable circumstances the House with which I connected myself stopt payment and this with some private engagements deprived me of everything I possessed in the world and my estate being put under sequestration I have for the space of the last two years been almost destitute of the means of subsistence.

Under these heavy misfortunes I have ventured to write to your Lordship and request any information you may think proper to give me regarding the terms I would be allowed to go out to His Majesty's Colony at the Cape of Good Hope now about to be established. My finances, my Lord, are but small indeed. I may say nothing but I am young and able and willing to work for my wife & family and I beg most humbly to state to your Lordship that any employment I could get in the Colony through your Lordship's interest I would most thankfully receive and ever consider myself bound to your Lordship under the strong obligations of duty and gratitude.

I further beg leave to mention that should your Lordship require any references regarding my character I am ready {obscured] so to some of the most respectable members of the House of Commons and should your Lordship be inclined to take my request under your kind consideration your favors will find me at the Post Office of this place or if my personal appearance is necessary I will attend your Lordship's orders & I have the honor to be

Your Lordship's humble servant

A.G. THOMSON

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 86

Stonehaven

Kincardineshire

14^th August 1819

My Lord,

I have to acknowledge receipt of your Lordship's letter of the 3^rd inst [containing?] copy of the printed circular specifying the conditions under which encouragement is held out to those persons desirous of emigrating to His Majesty's Colony at the Cape of Good Hope.

In consequence of which I now make offer to your Lordship to carry out from ten to fifteen able bodied individuals and to make the necessary deposit required by Government. The individuals shall consist of those well acquainted with the practice of agriculture as carried out in this part of Scotland, and part shall be mechanics of different descriptions such as masons, wrights &c. and I bind myself that they shall all be sober, well behaved and industrious individuals.

Your Lordship will confer an obligation by informing me if my personal appearance is necessary at your office and if it is your Lordship's intention to allow implements of husbandry to be carried out free of freight and if any other assistance is to be granted to settlers by Government than the free passage out to the Colony.

Any information on the subject which your Lordship thinks proper to trust me with so as to enable me to make a compleat agreement with my men will be thankfully received and I trust will excuse the liberty taken by

Your Lordship's most humble and obliged servant

A.G. THOMSON

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 121

Glasgow

25^th Sept 1819

My Lord

Enclosed I beg leave to hand you a list of the men I propose taking out to his Majesty's Colony at the Cape of Good Hope. I purpose leaving this tomorrow for London when I shall wait upon your Lordship and explain all my views and intentions re [obscured] the establishment, meantime I beg leave to assure your Lordship that I am ready to comply with all the rules laid down by Government in the printed circular and will make the necessary deposit to your Lordship upon my arrival in London. I have not put down my own name on the list but beg leave to mention that I am married and have one child aged ten months. My own age is 26. But it is not my intention to take out my wife and child at present.

Deferring other information till I see your Lordship I have the honor to remain

Your Lordship's most humble servant

A.G. THOMSON

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 125

Lincolns Inn Fields

October 2^nd 1819

Mr. Justice PARK has many apologies to make to Lord BATHURST for intruding upon his Lordship but he cannot refuse mentioning Mr. Alexander Gregg THOMPSON who is desirous of availing himself of the grant of Government to go to the Cape of Good Hope. Mr. Justice PARK is not himself acquainted with Mr. THOMPSON till now but he comes so strongly recommended to his notice by friends both in England and Scotland that he cannot resist presuming to give him this introduction to Lord BATHURST's attention.

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 138

Charing Cross, London

5^th October 1819

I called with a letter from Judge PARK to my Lord BATHURST and which I left with you. I am extremely anxious for a personal interview with you and will [meet?] you either in town or country at any time you may think proper to appoint. I am directed by Mr. HAY, My Lord MELVILLE's secretary, to say that if you wish any other introduction than Judge PARK's letter he will give me one for you. I can likewise get one from Mr. IRVING of Messrs. REID & IRVING. I shall be most happy to hear from you and will attend wherever you may appoint. Your favors will find me at Mr. RIGBY's, No.8 Charing Cross and I remain Sir

Your obliged and humble servant

A.G. THOMSON

PS As I have to return to Scotland I will feel obliged by an early communication

[Note in corner] Appoint him for tomorrow at 1

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 123

[Internal memo]

7 October 1819

Mr.THOMPSON

I have satisfied this gentleman that he has come too late. He has however set his mind on going to the Cape and he wishes to know whether he may be assured of receiving a grant of land on his arrival there provided he goes out at his own expence. The first person on his list is a capitalist to the amount of 10,000£. Mr. THOMPSON himself has but little. The two [obscured] people on the list have two hundred pounds each

PS

[Note from GOULBURN]

Let him have a recommendation to the Governor similar to that given previous to the new plan of emigration, recommending him for a grant of land

List of Men proposed to be taken out to the Cape of Good Hope by A.G. THOMSON