Bowker, Miles

Manor House So, Newton Wilton
July 13 1819

Honourable Sir
Finding by a paper handed to me yesterday by the Revd Wm
Boscawen that it is the intention of His Majestys Government to countenance
Emigration to the Cape & being for some time past determined with my family
to take that step, I have to beg you will do me the favor to inform what
encouragement can be given to a large family qualified by every practical
opperation to promote the improvement of land and the welfare of such an establishment & the time when the first opportunity will be given to proceed to the Colony
By constant application & industry in large concerns I have twice in my
life been worth fourteen thousand pounds or upwards & twice by necessary political arrangements had that sum nearly annihilated, presently upon a large farm
here where I can make a living, but cannot provide for a family of eight sons &
one daughter without reducing them to the lowest ranks in Society, which ill accords with the previous knowledge of being desended from the first. We are unanimous
in this resolution & though it is not our intention immediately to leave this situation yet we intend so to divide the family that whilst the one part is
here drawing the busness to such a conclusion as will enable us to settle our
concerns properly in this Country, the other part are ready to proceed in taking
such Steps as are found fittest to make an attempt to provide for the
Whole in a distant settlement

As we consider ourselves so far respected by evry class of our Neibors as to
be able to take out with us any number of able Husbandmen that we could
think could be well employed & with which our Parish is at this time sadly
over burthend, and as it is my Wish to keep a considerable Merino flock
which I have been long accustomd to which busness particularly the assorting & scouring
the Wool I have brought to a great perfection in the Spanish manner, I hope
that a grant of one Thousand Acres will not be considerd too much for
such an Undertaking, as this is even considerably less than I have been accustomd
to occupy for Many Years _
Originally largely concernd in Wholesale Merchantile & Manufacturing
Ingagements & well accustomed to general busness first in Northumberland, I
Would be proud to lend my assistance in any way to promote the General views
of His Majestys Ministers in this concern & if needed I could promptly satisfy them
of my ability & fitness for such employment. I have the Honour to be Honourable
Sir
Your obedient & very hbl Servent
Miles Bowker