Hayhurst, Richard

Grahams Town 30. Aug\t/ 1824 /
May it please your Excellency /
To permit me to lay before you a statement /
relative to the present state of my affairs, Your Memo=rielist /
brought to this Country Five hundred Pounds Ster=ling /
but which from unforseen los+ses and other /
misfortunes such as Servants wages expence of living /
7+c 7+c has now dwindled away almost to nothing /
and being obliged to drive my own Waggon for a living /
First year I cultivated eight Acres of Land at a very great /
expense it being covered with Thorn Trees, sowed it /
with wheat the Crops of which looked promising but /
Alas+s all those pleasing prospects and every day seemed /
to rye with the rust for destruction till the whole /
was consumed as by an invisible cause. I lost two Cows /
and upwards of some hundred sheep and goats by distemper /
Second year I cultivated about twenty Acres and am sorry /
to say tho the crops looked very promising and forward=ing/
for Harvest yet the same cause as hertofore /
brought all to destruction my Garden swept away /
with the Flood my House much damaged lost /
three of my best Cows and the Bullocks by Deaths /
likewise four Mares and one horse foal a year old and /
one Mare foal when bring them down the Country /
Third year only eight Acres in cultivation the crops of which /
shared the same fate lost eight of my Bullocks from M\r/ /
Coopers place taken along with his by the Kaffers /
Fourth year had eight Acres in cultivation consisting of Barby /
Indian Corn and Potatoes 7+c all of which was destroyed /
by the Floods whole land swept away my House much /
damaged the Garden Fruit Trees Vegetables 7+c 7+c all /
washed down the Current lost eleven Bullocks two /
of which were destroyed by wild Dogs or Wolves at mid /
day, three by death the rest cannot say wether taken /
by Kaffers or strayed away /
>
Your Memorielist humbly prayeth you to take the /
circumstances into consideration and should you feel /
disirous to befriend him he most humbly prayeth you /
will favour him with the loan of one thousand Dollars /
at Interest and which if granted it is his intention /
to lay it out in breeding Cattle waiting your answer /
I am your Excellencys most obedient /
And humble Servent /
Richard Hayhurst /