Wait, William

Grahams Town 24 July 1820
May it please your Excellency
Mr. Johnstone the Dr. Assit. Comd_
General has informed me that by order of your
Excellency the amt of my 2d. & 3d. Installment
which shall exceed that required for 27 able Individuals
is to be detained as the property of Mr. Thornhill.
Your Excellency is no doubt
justified in this order, supposing Mr. Thornhills
statement to be correct; but I know not the
shadow of claim he can have on any part of the money
advanced by myself, and paid by me as a deposit
to the Government in England ; I presume a plain
statement will satisfy your Excellency that Mr.
Thornhill can have none.
Mr. Thornhill originally attached
to my party, as well as Mr. Barker advanced
towards our deposit of 655 – the sum of 300
towards which 300 he afterwards received
of Mr. Barker about 140 _ thereby reducing his
own actual advance to something more than Mr.
Barkers advance _ my own actual advance being
the exact sum of 355_
At this period a disagreement between
Mr. Thornhill and myself rendered it impossible
that our connexion could continue _ and Mr. Smith
of the Colonial Office by orders of my Lord Bathurst,
desired me to make out a new list of my Settlers
to the exclusion of Mr. Thornhill. The following day

however Mr. Smith was directed by his Lordship
to endevour to make an arrangement between us
on board our ship the Zoroaster, and met us there
accordingly. Mr. Smith informed me that as Mr.
Thornhill had been at certain expences on account
of the concern, as well as trouble, and that as to reland
his goods would occasion a detention of the ship, my
Lord Bathurst wished that an arrangement might be
made, so that we might come out to the Colony each with
his distinct concern. Mr. Smith therefore after consulting
Mr. Thornhill how many men he would accept as a compensation
for his trouble & expence fixed upon the number
of fifteen, whom I allowed him _ the men having all
been procured at much trouble & expence by myself.
Mr. Smith then informed us that my Lord Bathurst was
determined that no seeds of discord should come out
to the colony, that all accounts between us must be
there finally closed; each of us considering Mr. Smiths
arrangement of allowing 15 men to Mr. Thornhill as
intended; assented that there was no demand one upon
the other, Mr. Thornhill assent being couched in these
remarkable, words All my demand upon mr. Wait now is,
that he shew me Gentlemanly conduct upon the
voyage – to which my reply was that mr. Thornhill
need be under no apprehension that I should forget
what was due to my own character.
mr. Smith then required of me the treasury
receipt for 655 _ to state the amount of deposit claimed
by each _ Mr. Thornhill was anxious to have Mr. Barker
deposit included in his amount as mr. Barker was
not on board, and in possession of the receipt given
individually by mr. Thornhill _ to this I did not object

mr. Thornhill engaging to pay Mr. Barker his
installments, as they became due. Mr. Thornhill
& mr. Barkers deposits were therefore united in
the sum stated of 300 and my deposit by Mr.
Smith was correctly stated in that of 355 _
Might I presume to suggest to your
Excellency the following queries to be put to Mr. Thornhill
Why did he not object to Mr. Smith filling up
the sum of 355 to be received by me, if my part
therefore could be claimed by him ?
How is it Mr. Thornhill has not stated the specific
sum he claims belonging to myself?
How is it the females & Children for whom I have
drawn daily entire rations making up the number of 37_
and for whom I have paid deposit, and am now
at considerable expence, are not included in the
portion of my deposit to be allowed to me ?
How is that Mr. Thornhill has asserted before
honorable Gentlemen that I received Mr. Barkers
deposit, in receiving my first installment on 355 _?
Had Mr. Thornhill conceived my part of my deposit
to have belonged to him, why has he not claimed it
of myself, which he has never yet done ?
Will mr. Thornhill make oath to the statement
by which your Excellency has been influenced to stop
the payment of part of my instalments?
To the above statement of facts on my part, I would
most willingly make Oath ; but doubt not that your
Excellency will see that the detention of my property
as directed will be not only unjust but attended
with fatal consequences to my immediate agricultural

pursuits, mentioned in my former petition to
your Excellency. I have the honor to remain
May it please your Excellency
Your most Obedt _
faithful
humble Servt.
William Wait

His Excellency
Mayor General Sir Rufane Donkin
Governor &c. &c. &c.