Willson, Thomas

Bridge Cottage, Chelsea Water Works.
20 August 1819.
My Lord,
I have the honor to acknowledge your
Lordships Circular of the 14th Instant, and trust I shall not be deemed
Importunate in addressing you again upon the subject of the proposed
Settlement at the Cape of Good Hope, as it is very essential for me in making
the necessary arrangements of Funds to ascertain distinctly, if the Settlers are
to be located at Algoa as I understand) by Government, or if they are to
proceed overland at their own expence?
On arriving at the Cape that is I conceive
Cape Town) I am to receive back, the deposit made in England, by three
Instalments, and be enabled to purchase stores of the Government agent at prime cost. Will your Lordship do me the honor to state if that agent may be Instructed
to receive Bills in payment for the same at limited dates? It will be
obvious to your Lordship that for the better management of the requisite Funds
for carrying into effect the views of an Infantile Settlement, whose first

Expenditure must be very considerable, and without any proportionate
return! some such arrangement will be highly needful and I therefore
hope you will excuse the suggestion.
I am at liberty to enter into such
stipulations with the persons proceeding to the Cape under my direction
as I may judge proper, Government making the grant of land at the rate of one hundred acres per family) to me Individually, as my security
for the fulfilment of the agreement which these persons enter into with me,
and for the responsibility and anxiety which naturally attends the undertaking
of such direction? Will your Lordship be pleased to intimate that I am
correct in forming this conclusion?
I should ill discharge my duty both
to your Lordship, and to these Individuals, were I to omit stating
their regret in ascertaining the total want of dwellings at the place
of Settlement; which, together with the Intelligence recently I fear
and mischievously published, if not exaggerated, by Journalists,
respecting the disturbed state of the Country by the Incursions of the Caffres

will I am afraid operate extensively in damping the ardour for emigration
notwithstanding the powerful Impetus which is to be found in the Land of promise.
It is doubtless to be presumed that
the next advices will enable Government to counteract the pernicious
effects of their publications; and to allay the prejudices which they have
engendered, I hope that I have successfully urged the ample protection
for British Subjects which is always to be found in the wisdom, and
promptitude of His Majestys Government in providing the necessary
means of defence and future security: and if, Canvass Covering
may be afforded by His Excellency the Governor, as a loan to the
Settlers, for a Temporary resource until suitable dwellings
can be erected, I flatter myself that these prejudices will soon
cease to exist, which I fear may otherwise deter many respectable
Individuals, whom I most value as practical Men, from uniting
with me in carrying into effect, extensive Improvements in the Country.
I have the honor to be
Your Lordships
most devoted humble Servant
Thos. Willson
The Right Honble
Earl Bathurst
&c &c &c.