Graham's Town Inabitants
To His Excellency the Eight Hon /
General Lord Charles Henry Somerset. /
Commander in chief, 7+c, 7+c, 7+c. /
The Memorial of the undersigned /
Inhabitants of Grahams Town, most humbly sheweth /
That your Memorialists /
came to this Colony as Settlers, in /
different Parties. /
In consequence of a recent Proclama=tion /
your Memorialists are called upon /
to take an Oath, to which they cannot /
acquiesce. /
Your Memorialists trust your /
Excellency will not from this circumstance /
consider them as disloyal Subjects, they /
have carefully considered it, and are anx=ious /
to testify their Loyalty in any way /
which does not interfere with their personal /
liberty, but they cannot divest themselves /
of the idea that after taking that Oath /
they are bound under the Martial Law /
equally with any private in His Majestys /
Regiments! /
Your Memorialists beg leave to state /
that they are ready to take the Oath of /
Allegiance to enrol themselves as a Volunteer /
Corps under the Command of any person /
Your Excellency may think proper to appoint, /
learn the exercise, and act when ever their /
Services should be required. /
Your Memorialists trust that this /
open avowal of their sentiments, will remove /
from Your Excellency's mind any unfavorable /
impres+sion, which a representation of their /
non compliance with the Oath might occasion. /
And Your Memorialist will as /
in duty Bound ever pray. /
Grahams Town /
8th April 1823/