Deal Party

The humble Memorial of the Deal /
Party /
Sheweth /
That your Memorialists having /
received a grant from your Excellency /
of the three small Islands in Algoa Bay /
known as St. Croux Islands, for the span /
of three years from January last, /
for the purpose of taking Seals 7+c. /
Your Memorialists were not a /
little surprised to find on the twelfth /
day of the present month, a Cutter /
called George the fourth commanded by /
a Captain Alexander, and manned with /
a crew of about eighteen men, come into /
the Bay and immediately launch two Boats /
for the purpose of taking Seals, from the /
said Islands granted to your Memorialists /
That your Memorialists as soon as /
they saw the said Boats land their men /
immediately Remonstrated and informed /
the party so landed that they the /
>
Deal Party, held a grant of the said /
Islands from your Excellency, for three /
years, and that it was an act of Aggres+sion /
on the part of Capt\n/ Alexander to take Seals /
on the Islands which the Deal party /
firstly considered as exclusively belonging /
to them. /
That the said Capt\n/ Alexander in reply /
to such Remonstrance stated that he had his /
licence from a Superior Power, And was /
determined to make his Voyage and take Seals /
wherever he could catch them and if we /
your Memorialists opposed him by driving /
the Seals from the Islands, he would annoy /
us in like manner and prevent our taking /
them. /
That your Memorialists finding themselves /
thus situated were compelled to desist from /
opposing the said Captain Alexander and his /
party,lest the Seals should be frightened /
away. And your Memorialists have been /
oblidged to enter into terms with the said /
Cap\tn./ Alexander, lest by opposing him it /
would have been the means of your Memo=rialists /
entirely loosing the present Sealing /
Season, /
>
That your Memorialists having learnt from /
the said Capt\n./ Alexander, that more Ves+sels /
are expected in the Bay for the purpose /
of taking Seals, are much alarmed lest /
their sealing should be destroyed by which /
your Memorialists hoped to get a livelihood /
Your Memorialists therefore humbly beg /
that your Excellency will be Graciously pleased /
to grant them protection, from any farther /
attempts to deprive them of the bounty of /
your Excellency. /
And your Memorialists feeling grateful /
for the Favours already received from /
your Excellency, as in duty bound will /
ever pray 7+c /
Signed for 7+ in behalf of the Deal /
party this 23\rd./ Day of Dec\r./ 1823 /
Charles Gurney /
To the R\t./ Hon\ble./ Lord C Somerset /
Governor 7+c 7+c 7+c /
Cape Town /