Woodcock, Robert

Golders Green, Hendon /
July 1819 /
Sir /
It being my intention to make application /
to His Majesty’s Government for a grant of /
land at the Cape of Good Hope, and to take /
out a number of Settlers under my direction, /
I beg leave to Submit the following /
queries, which I hope may not be deemed /
impertinent & shall be very thankful /
for such information as I may be favoured /
with in reply. I am Sir /
Your mo. Ob. Hble serv\t/ /
Robert Woodcock /

_ Queries _ /
1st What form of application will be required /
by Government on the part of Settlers who may /
be desirous of emigrating to the Cape? _ /
2\d/ What accommodation will be afforded on /
the pas+sage to the Settlers generally _ Will the /
head of each little Colony & his family be entitled /
to a Cabin pas+sage or any different accommd\n/ /
from others? _ /
3\d/ Is it intended that emigrants shall be /
landed near the Spot upon which they are /
to be settled, or on the other hand, is it probable /
that they may have a journey to make by land /
_ If so _ to what distance, and at what expence? /
>
4\th/ As I understand from the best information /
of writers and others that there is much difference /
in the quality of land in the Colony & /that\ even /
in the same neighbourhood many barren and /
otherwise ineligable spots frequently occur/
I am disirous of information as to the Grants /
or allotments that are proposed to be made /
to Settlers, as for instance whether any choice /
as to local situation will be allowed them/
or whether they are expected to locate themselves /
on a certain allotment, whether adapted /
for profitable cultivation or otherwise _ the importance /
of /some\ information on this point induces /
me to entreat your kind attention to the Subject /
knowing as I do the anxiety /with\ which it /
is contemplated by many _ Fuel, water, fertility /
of soil, healthfulnes+s of location & facility /
of Communication with the Towns of the Colony /
are naturally most important considerations, /
and I therefore trust I may be excused for /
Saying so much respecting them ? _ /
5\th/ Will the Settlers be governed by the laws /
of England and in particular I request to be /
informed whither Trial by Juery is now /
established in the colony ? _ /
6\th/ By what authority are the colonial /
taxes levied, what may be their present amount /
and what limit if any to the liability /
of settlers to the expence of making & repairing roads? /
>
7\th/ Are there any Colonial /
Duties on the import or export of merchandise? /
8\th/ Will the head or director of each 10 or more /
Settlers be allowed to make his own terms with /
the persons he takes out, in respect to their /
division of the land, or will he on the contrary /
be confined to his equal proportion of only 100 acres ? _ /
9\th/ Will Government under any circumstances /
be induced to make somewhat /
larger grants to intelligent Settlers, than 100 /
Acres._ & how may such extension be obtained ? /
10\th/ If a proposal be made to Government /
and accepted, how soon afterwards would /
the Colonists /probably\ be sent out from England ? _ /
11\th/ Will Government accommodate the Settlers /
with Tents or any other mode of Shelter until /
they can erect Habitations for themselves ? /
or with any implements of Husbandry? /
12\th/ Is that part of the colony where the new /
Settlers are to be established near the Coast /
or navigable River & how supplied with the /
es+sential articles of Wood & Water ? /
13\th/ If a considerable number of Settlers should /
agree to emigrate together from Ireland, would /
Government send a ship to Cork or Waterford to take /
them out ? /

Born/Year: 
1782
Born/Place: 
London
Wrote from: 
London
Occupations: 
merchant
TNA reference: 
CO 48/46/227
Type ?: 
Autograph Informants
Rich or Plain: 
Rich Text