for at present not only the Americans, but even the Agents for Persons on the Continent have an equal right to, and do frequently purchase up Government Bills, by which means the Funds that might be sent to the relief of distressed Individuals in England are often diverted into foreign Channels. Your Memorialists therefore request you will be pleased to direct that all Persons tendering for Bills in future Shall mention in their Tender or Tenders the Person or Persons at home to whom they wish to remit, in whose names the Bills must be made out, by which means they will not be negociable until their arrival in England. Memorialists are far from expecting or wishing Your Excellency to continue this System, but hope You will be pleased to keep it in force until the present distresses are partially relieved, and Memorialists as in duty bound will pray. (Signed) HAMILTON ROSS ALEXR. GRAY ROBERT SWAN STEPHEN TWYCROSS JR. R. MCNAUGHTON R. JOHNSON JOHN HOETS R. PHILIPS R. STONE R. WRANKMORE W. P. ROPER ROBERT STUART JAS. KELLY WATTS & SMITH JOHN BECK R. DUNCAN. [Copy.] Letter from the LANDDROSTS STOCKENSTROM and CUYLER to LIEUTENANT GENERAL GREY. RIET RIVER, August 23rd 1811. SIR,--We have the honor of informing your Excellency that we have this day met here for the purpose of deliberating upon the arrangements necessary to be made in pursuance of Your Excellency's letter to Major Cuyler, under date the 18th of July, and having maturely considered the situation of our two Districts and their Inhabitants, from the knowledge we have of the Caffres we feel ourselves under the obligation of respectfully requesting to be permitted to submit our ideas to Your Excellency. Your Excellency's letter subjects the execution of the plan of marching a Commando against the Caffres to very great restrictions, insomuch that it is almost impossible to act according to the spirit of the Instructions laid down in that letter, for the Caffres, like the wild beasts, will never commence hostilities unless certain of having the superiority by seeing the possibility of surrounding a part of the Commando when it would be too late for the Inhabitants to defend themselves. It is well known that no Caffre Chief will make his appearance when a large force of armed Inhabitants shows itself near his kraal, or he must previously have obtained good information from some of his people as to the object of the visit. Until then he conceals himself in the bushes. We therefore respectfully beg leave to suggest the following plan: That a Commando consisting of about six hundred inhabitants be assembled and marched in three divisions to a point of concentration. That, however, as perhaps not sufficient can be placed in the different Field Commandants and Field cornets, owing to the jealousy, discord, and desire of revenge which subsists among them, an active military officer be placed at the head of each division, as a measure which would possibly be more prudent than leaving them entirely to themselves. The military now stationed in the two districts might be posted in a line at the places of those Inhabitants who live upon the frontier, in order to turn such Caffres as might endeavour to get round into the rear of the Commando to do mischief and in order also to be at hand to afford assistance in case of need. With a view to execute the plan with success and without the loss of much blood, either to the Inhabitants or Caffres, we should propose that in the first place an attempt be made to secure Sjambie's person and retain him in custody as a Hostage until all the Caffres shall be driven beyond the Boundaries, after which we should propose his being delivered over to Gyka to be dealt with as Gyka may think proper, they being both of the same Family and Sjambe having deserted from Gyka about 12 years ago to the Zuurveld, where he still is. Previous however to making ourselves masters of Sjambe's person every disposition being made for the undertaking, we might communicate to Gyka our intention, as we have no reason to doubt but he will do his best to prevent all the Caffres belonging to the kraals near him from going to the aid of the Zuurveld Caffres. We might also further state to Gyka that Government will acknowledge him as the only Chief of the Caffres, and that therefore every Caffre who shall hereafter enter the Colony without some token from him shall be shot, and that in like manner no Inhabitant shall be permitted to enter his boundaries without a due authority from Government. The taking of Sjambie prisoner ought to be effected by a small number of from 12 or 20 Inhabitants, as we should never succeed in getting him into our power were it to be attempted with a larger force, without considerable slaughter among the Caffres, which would in that case amount to pretty nearly the same as a general attack. In the event of the attempt to take Sjambie prisoner failing, we hope that confidence enough will be reposed in us to enable us to act as circumstances may seem to require, and we take this opportunity of assuring Your Excellency that no more Caffres shall be shot than will be found absolutely requisite to the attainment of the desired end of exterminating them from the Zuurveld and driving them back into their own country, in order by that means to secure peace and tranquillity to the unfortunate Inhabitants of these two districts. We are perfectly convinced that the driving out of the Caffres, unless they feel that what we do is meant in good earnest, would be attended with little or no advantage, so that it is absolutely necessary some few examples should be made of such as prove themselves the worst, and most ready to oppose us. This once executed with determination upon those who are known offenders would eventually be productive of advantage. Should these our suggestions meet with Your Excellency's concurrence, we trust Your Excellency will be pleased to grant us a certain military control over the Inhabitants when assembled and authorise us to inflict corporal punishment on such as may have deserved it, as an example to others; without this we are afraid we should find great difficulty in maintaining good order among them. We lastly beg to be favored with a decisive answer from Your Excellency at as early a moment as possible, as the season for carrying this plan into execution without prejudice to the Inhabitants is now drawing fast to a close. We have etc. Return of Troops serving at the Cape of Good Hope on the Officers of all ranks at the Regimental Head Quarters or on Detached Duty at the Station 146 Sergeants, Trumpeters, Drummers, and Rank and File: Royal Artillery Gunner Drivers Royal Engineers 21st Light Dragoons 83rd Foot 93rd Foot Cape Regiment 41 [Original.] Letter from MAJOR LYSTER to LIEUTENANT GENERAL GREY. GRAAFF REINET, August 26th 1811. SIR, I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that on the 23rd inst. Mr. Stockenstrom and myself had an interview with Major Cuyler at the Riet river, where, after mature consideration, they concurred in opinion that it would not be advisable in the first instance to assemble the military force of the two Districts in a body, but when the Commando was in readiness to act, then to establish a line of posts from Baviaans river, where I at present have a Company, to the banks of the Great Fish river in Bruintjes Hoogte, posting detachments near the different passes thro' which the Kaffers generally enter the Colony. Major Cuyler informs me that the force he has at Uitenhage will not be more than sufficient to guard the Drostdy and its vicinity. I shall therefore leave it at his disposal, and shall myself, when the Commando is embodied, move forward with the company at Melk River, and the one stationed here, to occupy the several posts on the frontier, placing myself in a central position, so as to be able to assemble the whole detachment at the shortest notice, should circumstances render such a measure necessary. Altho' Graaff Reinet is the only place in the District where the interior economy of the Detachment can be properly conducted, yet I trust you will approve of my removing to the advanced posts for such time as the Commando will be actively employed. I have etc. (Signed) T. LYSTER, Major Cape Regt. [Original.] Memorial of the REVEREND DR. HALLORAN. To His Royal Highness the Prince of the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, &c., &c. The Memorial of the Reverend Laurence Halloran, Doctor of Divinity, late Chaplain to His Majesty's forces at the Cape of Good Hope, &c., &c., respectfully setteth forth |