Holditch, Robert

Sir // /
In quitting Cape Town I go as+sured that /
the Colonial Government will not allow a /
Medical man regularly educated and Member /
of the College of Surgeons in London be /
preceded by a gentleman who only accompanied /
M\r/ Parker’s party as their Apothecary and has /
not the least pretensions to Surgery./
M\r/ John Addy came out in the Fanny /
Transport with Mes+s\rs/ Ingrams, Butlers 7+ Sennet’s Parties /
and on their arrival in Saldanha Bay he applied /
to M\r./ Parker and M\r/ Stoll to be permitted to join /
7+ go to Clan William with M\r/ Ingram who has /
agreed to give him during 12 Months board /
and Lodging for the Medical /care\ of his Men _ /
To my great surprise on my arrival in Clan /
William, M\r./ Bargh had introduced M\r./ Addy /
as a Surgeon and permitted him to live at /
his table whilst I, my wife 7_ two Children have /
ever since been under the neces+sity of residing /
in a Miserable Hottentot’s Hut without Practice /
or Friends _ It is true when I as+sert I have /
been under the neces+sity of disposing with /
the major part of the furniture I brought out /
_ Ellis Esq\r/ /
>
with me for a Subsistence. /
Doctor Hus+sey. is satisfied that my Testimonials /
entitle me to Practice in the Colony as a Surgeon /
and after having received His Excellency’s determination /
as to my destination I mean to apply for a licence /
to practice as such. _ /
On closing this letter I quit Cape Town for Clan /
William whither I hope to reach in time to join /
the Waggons about to proceed for Saldanha Bay /
and throwing myself on the just decision of /
His Excellency Sir R. Donkin 7+ asking pardon for /
having taken up so much of your valuable time /
I remain /
Sir/
Your obedient and very /
humble Servant /
Robert Holditch /
M\r/ Brath’s /
21 HierGrath /
10\[th]/ Augt 1820 /