PRESTON, Thomas
254
No.49 Francis Street
Newington
Surrey
4 October 1810
Sir,
Having some friends who I expect will advance me about £500 I should be desirous of availing myself of the present opportunity afforded by Government of settling at the Cape of Good Hope.
I am now forty six years of age and have till within these few years been engaged in a very extensive concern in the Lead Trade, which I was obligated to relinquish through the unfavourable result of some mercantile speculations.
In addition to the experience of more than thirty years active employment in commercial pursuits, a constant thirst after knowledge and information and a particular attachment to all the mechanical arts together with the application of science to the practice and improvement of whatever may be useful for the concerns of life – have rendered me perhaps rather peculiarly fitted for an undertaking of this description.
May I request therefore to have a copy of the conditions upon which the applicants will be permitted to settle, together with such further explanatory information for the due regulation of their proceeding as is permitted to be given.
I am with great respect Sir
Your most obed’t humble servant
Thomas PRESTON