Graham's Town Inabitants

To His Excellency the Eight Hon
General Lord Charles Henry Somerset.
Commander in chief, &c, &c, &c.
The Memorial of the undersigned
Inhabitants of Grahams Town, most humbly sheweth
That your Memorialists
came to this Colony as Settlers, in
different Parties.
In consequence of a recent Proclamation
your Memorialists are called upon
to take an Oath, to which they cannot
acquiesce.
Your Memorialists trust your
Excellency will not from this circumstance
consider them as disloyal Subjects, they
have carefully considered it, and are anxious
to testify their Loyalty in any way
which does not interfere with their personal
liberty, but they cannot divest themselves
of the idea that after taking that Oath
they are bound under the Martial Law
equally with any private in His Majestys
Regiments!
Your Memorialists beg leave to state
that they are ready to take the Oath of
Allegiance to enrol themselves as a Volunteer
Corps under the Command of any person
Your Excellency may think proper to appoint,
learn the exercise, and act when ever their
Services should be required.
Your Memorialists trust that this
open avowal of their sentiments, will remove
from Your Excellencys mind any unfavorable
impression, which a representation of their
non compliance with the Oath might occasion.
And Your Memorialist will as
in duty Bound ever pray.
Grahams Town
8th April 1823