Shepherd et.al

Sir
We beg leave most respectfully on
behalf of ourselves and others of the Settlers
who will not from distance be able to affix
their signatures, to lay before you the reduced
state of our stock of every description of Grain
& corn to solicit your interference with
His Excellency the Governor to grant us the
relief required, or such other as may be
deemed advisable.
We beg to premise, that when the
Official return of our last years Produce
was acquired from us by the field Cornet Mr
George Dyason, and which return we hear
was intended for the inspection of the Governor,
our crops, particularly of Indian Corn & Potatoes,
had not been generally harvested, we are concerned
to say that eventually they proved miserably
deficient, and in the course of a few weeks will
be generally exhausted. _ added to which, the
Market at Grahams Town continues to be not
only Scantily supplied from other districts but
it is also 50 to 100 prCt dearer than than the
prices quoted from other districts but
it is above the reach of the majority of us. indeed
a few who have already consumed their stock
subsist on Meat alone, Vegetables also having failed
from the continued extreme drought.
Under these distressing circumstances
it being reported to us that there is a laying
stock of Flour warehoused at Algoa Bay,
which was brought direct from England
several months since, we humbly pray
that directions may be given to allow us to
purchase what our want may require, and
that the conditions of sale, may be such as
to place within the reach of our diminished
means this most necessary article of Life
It

It is with extreme concern we have to add that
our prospects for the next Harvest again appear
to be most discouraging, the Rust having again
destroyed all the early sown cape wheat, some
of which we were compelled to sow, not being
able to procure on the Frontiers a sufficient quantity of the
sold Straw Bengali Wheat.
Albany 4th August 1823.
William Shepherd.
J. C. Wright

E.H. Hanger
A. Kidwell
J. H. Greathead