Ingram, John

To His Excellency Sir Rufane
Donkin K: C: B: Acting Governor, of the
Cape of Good Hope
The Memorial of John
Ingram humbly showeth. that your
Memorialest having used every possable
exertion in his Power, with his People
to cultivate the Lands alloted to him
he humbly submits his case to your Excellencys
humain consideration.
In the fist place he is
most fully convinced from experience the
Lands alloted to him are by no means
fit for Cultivation, from the total want
of Water and being highly impregnated with
Salt Petre. and most humbly Prays
your Excellency to have him removed
from thence; and grant him such compensation
as may apear to your Excellency your
Memorialist may be entitled to. but should
it Please your Excellency to continue him
there, which he should most deeply regret

as he is convinced a worse Place he could
not be removed to; he Prays your
Excellency will be Pleased to take
into your consideration the propriety
of removing the People from Klaine
Vally and granting that Land to him
as it was orrignaly orders to be given
to your Memorialest. in case W Parker
Party did not come up there. as I
under stood from the Deputy Landrost
he could provide, small Places for
almost all the remaining Settlers
which were up there. in case it meet
your Excellencies approbation. as there
never was a Place worse calculated
for division amongist so meany Persons
there being but one small stream of Water
and should the Person at the top of
the Vally require to irigate those at
the lower Part must be destitute of
Water. and that the Deputy Landrost
may be orderd to allow me to graize
my Cattle on such unoccupeyed Land

of the Government as may be in his
jurisdiction. that your Excellency will
be pleased to name what rent it is
expected your Memorialest should Pay
for the same. as in case he had to Pay
a Twentyeth Part. of what the Government
Comited themselves to, the most consider
it better to abandon it altogeather. and
therefore feels most ancious on this head.
at the same time as the Lands in Question
are not cultivatable, that your Excellency
may be Pleased to employ the Men
the better Part of whom are artificers)
on some Publick Works at Clanwilliam
or elsewhere. as such an opportunity may
never occur again. in geting Works done
which are absolutely necessary, should the
Settlers remain there. or that I may be allowed
to discharge at least one
half of my Men. without endangering
my title to the lands. as under the
circumstances of not having arable land;
their services now become of no use and
consequently a very heavy burthen and
expense to your Memorialest as well as

to Government at present in feeding them
as such men would have no trouble
in finding employment with other
farmers. but your Memorialest is
fearful least it might be made to
militate against his title at a future
day. and that the same may be
considered a Grazing Farm.
Your Memorialist cannot conclude
this without availing himself of this
opportunity for observing that the kind,
humaine, generous and holy interest
which appears in every branch of your
Excellencies Government. deserves not
only mine but meany other most
greatful and heartfelt thanks.
Your Memorialest
will as in duty bound
Pray
J. Ingram
No 27
Castle St.
Novr 9th 1820