GWYER, Thomas
307
Newport
Monmouthshire
29 July 1819
My Lord,
Having been informed that it is the intention of His Majesty’s Government to give every encouragement to persons of character who are inclined to settle in the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope I beg to be informed of the support intended to be given and the proper steps to be taken in an application to go there. I beg leave to observe that I have been brought up as a sail maker, am 26 years of age & have a wife & two children but from the decrease of business am unable to carry it on here with any advantages.
I have the honor to be my Lord
Your most obed’t hbl svt
Thomas GWYER
340
Newport
Monmouthshire
Aug 6 1819
My Lord,
I have been honored with your reply to my letter with the printed terms proposed to persons disposed to settle in the new colony near the Cape of Good Hope. It is stated in those terms that the Government allowance will cease on the parties landing in which case the expence of maintenance & the erection of habitations must fall upon the settler and which must be attended with a greater expence than it is apprehended they can afford. I beg therefore to be informed whether any aid in respect to provisions will be granted untill the first harvest can be got in. I have a relation a female who would be glad to accompany me with her family with a view to settle in trade and who would take out a cpital of a few hundred pounds who is desirous of knowing whether under these circumstances Government would defray the expence, also whether any distinction will be made in the accommodation aboard the ship between the persons who with some property take out ten men & those men who are of an inferior rank.
I beg to apologise for these queries but am anxious to acquire every information on the subject & should be glad if I could be refered to any documents which could give any information on the present state of the settlement.
I am my Lord
Your most obed’t hbl svt
Thomas GWYER