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.

WHITE, Henry

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/46, 242

2 Draper's Place

Burton Crescent

London

July 21st 1819

Sir

Understanding that his Majesty's Government has appropriated the sum of £50,000 for the purpose of facilitating Emigration to, and colonizing that part of Africa immediately adjoining the Cape of Good Hope, I take the liberty of soliciting a prospectus of such Conditions for carrying the said Plan into execution, as relate to those destitute and unemployed Mechanics and Artizans who may wish to avail themselves of such opportunity.

It perhaps may be necessary to state that I am a young man of a respectable mechanical profession, and owing to the depression of trade, am destitute of employment, of money, and even of many necessaries. Thus situated, Sir, and seeing no speedy prospect of meeting with employment either at my own Trade, or in any other honest way, it is that I wish to be embarked for the Cape, where, by sobriety and exertion I may hope to obtain that support which (at the least) Nature requires, and which I am destined to feel the want of here.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient, humble servant

Henry WHITE

  • Hits: 5378