Willson, Thomas

Cape Town. 9 May 1820.

I feel sensibly obliged by your
polite favor of Yesterday, my only motive in a pecuniary arrangement
here is to protect myself from actual loss, as far as I possibly can, that I
may thereby be enabled to give more extensive aid to the Settlers under
my direction ; I would therefore propose as I shall have occasion to
negotiate Bills upon my Banker Sir John Perring & Co London) to
lodge the first Instalment together with the Spanish Dollars which
I have on board at the Bank of this Town, and take a Letter of Credit
to the Commissariat at Algoa Bay for the amount, so that I may
receive as specified by Earl Bathurst the average rate of Exchange and
be enabled to give my drafts on landing, to the Settlers to lay in such
Stores as they may stand in need of thus keeping a check upon Ebriety
and insuring a provident appropriation of their funds .
I have also to submit to you, whether
I am not Entitled to draw the ships provisions as regards the rations
which the Settlers, from the Sickness and other causes, have not been able
or had occasion to draw during the passage?
I feel flattered and thankful for the
Interest you are pleased to take in dissipating my fears with
regard to the Turbulent, and am perfectly aware that at the old
Establishments , such offices as I named must be filled up: it is at
the new Towns or Villages that will naturally arise from such
an increase of population, that I had hoped to have your consideration
and

and your favor, Sir, on that point would call forth my lasting Gratitude.
From the best information which I have
been able to collect as to the existing state of the district in which we
are to be located, I am very sure that precautionary measures, as
to some wholesome regulations in the local management of my
party; and for our Self defence demands my serious attention!
I would therefore beg leave to submit to His Excellency the Governor
the propriety of enrolling the Settlers as Volunteer Corps, upon their
own resources? And I shall feel greatly obliged Sir, if you will
have the goodnesss to inform me, whether you will do me the honor
of a Letter to His Excellency and to the Landrost of the District, that
I may have the advantage of Introduction, in the hope of being Invested
with a Commission for that purpose ?
Your Condescension in favor of
Mrs. Willson and my Children will ever have my most grateful
acknowledgements, and we beg leave to unite our best thanks.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your much obliged and
very humble Servant
Thos. Willson
Colonel Bird
Secy for Colonial Affairs
&c .&c …&c .