Carney, James

Tis a true Saying - He brought nothing into
this world, and we shall carry nothing hence
- Bishop Burnett sailed from England to
the Cape of Good Hope in the 1820 on board the
Ocean transport. we lay to at the Island of
Palma. where with others of the passengers
he went on shore. He borrowed Money of Mr Dixon
to purchase Wine & other Stores. and was unable to
repay the same until after our arrival in Table
Bay when He went on Shore and after a few Days
Returned in order to relieve his personal Clothing
which was held in trust by Capn Davis for his Cabin
accomodation, likewise his washer woman Mrs Daniels
expressed great uneasiness, previous to his going on Shore
his Clothing was all he possesed and that was not
over abundant: - A Bill of Exchange given on his
friend in England dicharged the above, and likewise
purchased some furniture & in Cape town for his
future comfort. in about two moths after he
reached the frontier where he obtained an extensive
grant of land; and Rented a farm of Mr Robt Hart
the rent of which he has as yet forgot to pay
he soon got a stock of cattle &c on Credit which
continues to the present time on the Same. He soon
contracted Debts with numerous individuals which
still remain unpaid. as he had two ways of paying
his Debts consiquntly some of his creditors were more
fortunate than others. the first was to
barter away to the one what he had obtained of
on Credit of the other, the Second was to Grossly
insult them on him applying for payment and then
threaten to put them in the tronk for insulting
a Gentleman. Unfortunate for me I sailed in the
same ship with him and by the end of the year
1820 he favoured me with orders which executed to
the amount of 400 RDs and upwards. and with
the exception of A Horse value 90. RDs I never
obtained any part in payment thereof. in the end
of Janl 1822 I ecserted on him for payment according
Promise, he not having any money proposed to me

to take some Stores as I had comenced building at
Bathurst that they would be as usefull as money,
to which I readily agreed the stores viz. Bin Sugar
wine & cape Brandy we agreed on as to price and
I was anxious to see then but he Said that they
were up the farm house at Some distance from
the pigeon house in which he then lived but that
& he was at the time Bussy but pledged his Honour
that they should be given to my order as soon as I
wuld Send a Conveyence for them I Returned to
Bathurst & Sent Mr Gunns waggon expressly
for them it Returned empty with the exeption
of a note Stating that Mr Burnet was not at home
that he had been disapointed & on his return would
not fail to inform me more particularly, it was
a Disapointment to me for I paid 18 RDs 6 Sh for Postage
of my letter. I summonsed him next before the
court of Heemraaden in order to recover the amount
of My Claim the first and Second Summonses he
did not attend to, but Mended on the third and
openly set the count at defiance as the Sum was
above their limits but Capn Somerset then
Deputy Landrost informed him that he as a magistrate
could act to the amount of 300 Rix when
he B.B. acknowledged the Bill Correct & promised
payment in one Month at the expiration of which
I attended but he was not prepared with any part thereof
the Landdrost there informed him at my request
that he would proceed against him; when we both
left the court Some time after Bishop Burnet
returned again and informed the Landrost that
he had arranged the matter with me & informed
him to Stop farther proceeding it was some time
before I was informed of this gross falsehood &
consequently had to request his attendance again when
he apeared and Stated his inability to pay at that
time, that his rescourses depended entirely on a
Familly in London and that he might have permittion
Soon and the Landrost out of compassion asked me to

Delay it a little longer. the Landdrost left the
frontier soon after and the Bussines Lay over untill
the Court of Circuit Sat at Bathurst in Octbr 1821
when I obtaind asertion against him B. B. for
the amount with costs soon after he was calld on
to comply with the different sentences given against
him at the Above mentiond Court of Circuit when he
made oath before the Landrost of Albany, that he
had made over and assigned all his property viz._
Stock. furniture Grant of land & Eff at Bathurst &c
to Messrs Ebden & Eaton Merchants of Cape town and
that he held a power of attorney to act here as their
agent under this protection he fraudulently made
away with almost all the posessed his Grant of Land
and Eff at Bathurst excepted. he was inserted in the
Cape Gazeetas insolvent. and what was more curious
his having debts to a large amount. and no property
yet he still declared that he was not insolvant
an investigation was made to try the value of the
Asignment given to Messrs Ebden & Eaton whin
it apeared that they were only Creditors in common
with the others and at the Circuit court held at
Grahams town in Nov 1824, it apeared that he
being a fraud that Justice would overtake him, had
given up his power of Attorney to Ebden & Eaton and
one was Passed to to Capn Campbell if it notwithStanding
he continued to Defraud his creditors _
I handed his Sentence given in
favour of me, over to the Sequestrators agent on
20th March 1822 & took out the requested executions
for recovery of the same which he promised to do
But did not perform. Such compassion shewn B. B.
became very oppressive to his creditors. and the want
of him and money only prevented me from entering
an action against the Sequestrator for not having
acted as the law directs in such cases.
notwithstanding this turbulant man who endevoured
to Set at Defiance every Civil authority in this

Colony Complains of their oppression if I mistake
not had he been guilty of the Same acts in England
her Laws would have required the last satisfaction
he is capable of making and I hope should any
gratuity be given him) that it will be appropeatied
to the purposes of liquidating his Debts in this
Colony

Jas Carney