Deal Party

The humble Memorial of the Deal
Party
Sheweth
That your Memorialists having
received a grant from your Excellency
of the three small Islands in Algoa Bay
known as St. Croux Islands, for the span
of three years from January last,
for the purpose of taking Seals &c.
Your Memorialists were not a
little surprised to find on the twelfth
day of the present month, a Cutter
called George the fourth commanded by
a Captain Alexander, and manned with
a crew of about eighteen men, come into
the Bay and immediately launch two Boats
for the purpose of taking Seals, from the
said Islands granted to your Memorialists
That your Memorialists as soon as
they saw the said Boats land their men
immediately Remonstrated and informed
the party so landed that they the

Deal Party, held a grant of the said
Islands from your Excellency, for three
years, and that it was an act of Aggression
on the part of Captn Alexander to take Seals
on the Islands which the Deal party
firstly considered as exclusively belonging
to them.
That the said Captn Alexander in reply
to such Remonstrance stated that he had his
licence from a Superior Power, And was
determined to make his Voyage and take Seals
wherever he could catch them and if we
your Memorialists opposed him by driving
the Seals from the Islands, he would annoy
us in like manner and prevent our taking
them.
That your Memorialists finding themselves
thus situated were compelled to desist from
opposing the said Captain Alexander and his
party,lest the Seals should be frightened
away. And your Memorialists have been
oblidged to enter into terms with the said
Captn. Alexander, lest by opposing him it
would have been the means of your Memorialists
entirely loosing the present Sealing
Season,

That your Memorialists having learnt from
the said Captn. Alexander, that more Vessels
are expected in the Bay for the purpose
of taking Seals, are much alarmed lest
their sealing should be destroyed by which
your Memorialists hoped to get a livelihood
Your Memorialists therefore humbly beg
that your Excellency will be Graciously pleased
to grant them protection, from any farther
attempts to deprive them of the bounty of
your Excellency.
And your Memorialists feeling grateful
for the Favours already received from
your Excellency, as in duty bound will
ever pray &c
Signed for & in behalf of the Deal
party this 23rd. Day of Decr. 1823
Charles Gurney
To the Rt. Honble. Lord C Somerset
Governor &c &c &c
Cape Town