South African Commercial Advertiser 1826 - 1 - January to June
Wednesday 4 January 1826
LOSS OF THE BRIG MARY AT PORT NATAL
The following is the account of the loss of the brig Mary, Capt. KING, which sailed from this bay in August last, with supplies for the relief of Lieut. FAREWELL and his party at Port Natal. While the greatest praise is due to Capt. KING for his exertions in endeavouring to save the vessel, the distress is heightened by the fact that he voluntarily undertook the task.
“The Mary sailed from Port Elizabeth to the east coast on the 17th Sept. During the passage heavy gales were experienced, the sea making a fair sweep over the vessel. With great exertion the Captain and the crew managed her till the first of October, when they made the land near Fisher’s River, and saw the Cape near Natal. They prepared their boat for landing with supplies &c, and at 7:30am came to in 9½ fathoms sandy bottom, with the point bearing, per compass, S.S.W. half S. extreme of land, N.E. by E.½E., and the boat was dispatched, but owing to the heavy swell on the bar, and the breeze increasing, they with difficulty returned to the vessel, and found it impossible to get a purchase on their anchor, owing to the heavy sea, which by this time had set in making it highly dangerous in attempting to weather the point.
In this extremity it was considered best to run into port; they immediately cut their cable and made sail, and in less than five minutes they would have got in, but in the deep hollow of the sea on the bar she settled aft and struck the ebb then making, and her way being deadened, the current caught her, and forced her head at least five points to starboard, and in the next sea the vessel was almost overhauled, when her rudder not having the least command, she again grounded on an inner bank, where it apps she suffered much, the sea making a fair breach over her, and every surge threatening to separate the vessel
The only hope of saving her was at the flowing tide, but prior to this they attempted to get out an anchor in their long boat, but this was impossible, as the boat swamped twice before the anchor could be got out. Capt. KING and four men now lowered themselves from the boat with a view board, to assist the vessel over the bank, as their own lives were all they saw a chance of saving. In the evening they landed, and collected such fragments of the wreck as might be useful.
The next day they visited the vessel, but nothing more could be done.
Wednesday 1 March 1826
Jacob DE VILLIERS A.Bz. (Paarl) en Willem LOUW, Drakenstein, are much obliged to Mr. R.W. EATON for his kind information, through the newspapers, respecting his intended Agency in England, for the purpose of receiving and selling Cape Wines and other Colonial Produce on Commission. They promise to send him, on their own account, several pipes of Wine, prepared by themselves, and, should it answer their purpose, they will from time to time on their own behalf as well as for their friends, forward to him similar Commissions.
Wednesday 8 March 1826
DIED on Sunday last at 5pm after a short illness of four days, Abraham, youngest son of the Rev. A. FAURE. Aged about 5 months.
Wednesday 15 March 1826
LOSS OF THE PERSEVERANCE
The Perseverance, Captain BEST, struck on the Whale Rock about four o’ clock on Sunday afternoon and went down in the course of the evening in about 7 fathoms water. The Passengers and Crew were saved. Capt. B. speaks in warm terms of the prompt assistance afforded by the Commandant of Robben Island, who approached the vessel within about an hour after she struck, and safely landed part of the passengers. A boat from the Buckinghamshire was also of great service in taking out whatever luggage could be come at, and the conduct of Mr. CROZIER, who had charge of the boat, was most creditable. The proper assistance was rendered by the Port Office, by the Agents to Lloyds, Messrs. NISBET & DICKSON, and by HMS Helicon, as soon as the accident was known. We decline making any remarks until after the investigation, which we understand the Agents for Lloyds will immediately institute.
MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT
On Friday evening, as the Pinnace of H.M. Ship Owen Glendower at Simon’s Town was returning from the Dockyard to the Ship, with upwards of 30 of her crew – in a violent squall, (when within a short distance of that vessel), she shipped a heavy sea and immediately sank; the wind was so boisterous and blowing so directly from the Owen Glendower that none of the many articles that were thrown over to assist the unfortunate sufferers came within their reach, so that notwithstanding the great exertions made on board the Owen Glendower and Pandora, 20 persons perished. Mr. KING, the first Lieutenant, who was in the boat, was providentially saved, although unable to swim, having fortunately got hold of a spur, which the boat was then taking for the use of the frigate; here were also two Midshipmen on board, Messrs. POSTLE and RAYSTON, the latter of whom was unfortunately drowned. The space near where the accident occurred was yesterday dragged over, when the boat and three of the bodies were found. The exertions of the Owen Glendower’s Cook (a black man), who jumped overboard immediately on the accident occurring, are spoken of in high terms of commendation.
Wednesday 5 April 1826
MARRIED by Special Licence in the English Church, on Saturday the 1st April, Alexander GORDON Esq., Capt. Hon. E.I. Co.’s Service, to Miss Maria Margaret DE WET.
MARRIED by the Rev. F.R. Kaufmann, by Special Licence, on Friday 31st ult, J.T.W.G. MARTIN Esq. to Miss Maria Fredrika JOHNSON.
Wednesday 19 April 1826
SALE OF MRS. ROWLES’ PROPERTY IN CAPE TOWN
A sale by Auction will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of May next at the Garden Vredenburg, situated at the top of Long-street, of the whole of Mrs. ROWLES’ Property, consisting of the said Garden, with a Dwelling-house, two extensive Stores, Stabling and other Outhouses; also a commodious Dwelling-house, now in the occupation of Captain BALSTON, with two small Houses adjoining, situated in Kloof-street, two Stores in Strand-street, and a small Spot of Ground near the Garden of R.J. VAN DER RIET Esq.; also Plate and Plated Ware, Glass, China and Crockery Ware, Cooking Utensils, Furniture of every description. Carriages and Horses, and various other articles, all of which may be viewed at the Garden Vredenburg on Thursday and Friday, the 27th and 28th instant, from the hours of 11am to 3pm.
A complete Cook, a Coachman, a Tailor, Two Houseboys and a Labourer will also be sold.
The Garden and Houses are in the meantime for Sale by Private Contract.
Cape Town, 19th April 1826
Wednesday 10 May 1826
NOTICE
I do hereby declare Mr. Louis MEURANT and his Daughter to be Persons against whose character I have nothing to say, but what is consistent with honor and propriety, and should I have said any thing against their character, I hereby express my sorrow for having done so.
J.A. CHRISTIE
8th May 1826
Wednesday 7 June 1826
MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE
On Wednesday last a Slave Girl, between 6 and 7 years of age, belonging to Mrs. VAN RYNEVELD, was severely burned, owing to her clothes accidentally catching fire. The poor creature was standing near a chaffing dish, some sparks from which set fire to her clothes; and as no one was one the spot, she ran into the back yard, where her cries brought one of the domestics to her assistance, who hastily snatched up a pail of water and threw it over the little girl. She is not expected to survive, as every part of her body is most dreadfully burned.
Wednesday 14 June 1826
To Relatives and Friends
DIED suddenly on Saturday last, the 10th inst, at 5 o’clock am, our beloved son Hendrik Peter, aged 1 year and 12 days.
A. AURET
A,C. AURET, born ITZER
STRANDED BRIG NAUTILUS
The undersigned is desirous of entering into a Contract with any person or persons who are willing to engage to get the Brig Nautilus off the Beach where she now lies, near the Military Hospital, and put her in a fit and complete state for sea (under inspection). She will require to be coppered and supplied with a new 12 or 13 inch hemp cable &c &c. Further particulars may be known by application at the Office of Mr. Notary CADOGAN, where tenders will be received until Thursday next at 2 o’ clock.
W. TRIPE, Master of the Nautilus
NB Adequate security will be required for the performance of the contract.
To the Right Honorable the Earl BATHURST, Secretary of State for the Colonial Department &c. &c.
- The subscribing Colonists in South Africa who emigrated in the year 1819 under the patronage of their native Government are compelled by a sense of justice to themselves and duty to the Government under whose auspices they embarked to lay before your Lordship a statement of the real circumstances which have prevented their advancement.
- Whatever may have been the individual disappointments incidental to so numerous an emigration, they do not present themselves before his Majesty's Government with any complaint of the natural disadvantages of the country to which they have been sent; and they have ever been actuated by one undivided feeling of respect and gratitude for the liberal assistance of the British Government, a feeling which future reverses can never efface. And they most gratefully recognise an additional instance of the same favourable disposition in the late modification of the colonial law of succession; which they hail as a pledge that their interests (when not opposed to that of their fellow subjects) will never be lost sight of by His Majesty's Government.
- Although the Settlers must lament that in its earlier stages the prosperity of the Settlement has been checked in several important instances through the misapprehensions of the general or local authorities, yet they gratefully acknowledge the prompt and generous exertions of Government in procuring the means of subsistence at the commencement of the settlement and in alleviating as far as possible the severe visitations of repeated and total failures of their wheat crops; and they cannot omit the expression of their particular gratitude to the acting Governor, Sir Rufane DONKIN, who devoted to their prosperity a great share of his personal attention; to whom they owed the establishment of a town in the centre of the new Settlement, as the seat of its magistracy; and a system of military defence during which they were free from Caffre depredations. By which measures, as well as by arrangements for a friendly intercourse with the Caffres, and by his solicitous attention to the interests and wishes of the Settlers he inspired them with a degree of energy and hope of which they are now left only the recollection.
- It is the peculiar hardship of their situation, placed in a remote corner of the British dominions, with their whole interests and prospects committed to the unlimited control of one individual, and possessing no security that their situation is thoroughly understood or properly represented, that they have been debarred all means of expressing their collective sentiments upon matters of the utmost importance to their common interests.
- It has long, and from the most distressing proofs, become evident to the Settlers that the Colonial Government, situated at the opposite extremity of the Colony (where every particular, whether of soil and climate or the constitution, pursuits and interests of society, is totally different) possesses no adequate means of ascertaining their actual wants.
- Under this conviction it was contemplated by a small number of the principal Settlers to consult together upon the most advisable mode of making His Excellency the Governor acquainted with the peculiarities of their situation; but this intention was met not only by positive prevention but by public imputation against the views and motives of the Settlers in general which they feel to be wholly unmerited.
- Being thus prevented from communicating with the Colonial Government they have for twelve months continued to labor under the effects of a series of measures calculated only to extinguish the small remains of enterprise and confidence that had survived the numerous disappointments they had previously encountered; and when at length their situation from the increasing and unpunished incursions of the Caffers had become really insupportable they were reduced to the necessity of requesting permission to meet in the manner pointed out to them as legal for the purpose of making their situation known to His Majesty's Government: but as this also has been virtually denied to them they are obliged to content themselves with offering to your Lordship this imperfect but faithful sketch of their situation in general, but more particularly of the uniform reversal of every measure previously resorted to for their advantage.
- As it does not appear that many natural obstacles are opposed to their advancement they are induced to submit a candid statement of the artificial disadvantages by which they are surrounded, in the confident hope that this settlement will not be allowed to fall a sacrifice to them.
- Upon their arrival they found themselves placed, according to the terms accepted by them in England )before they were aware of the peculiarities of this country), upon grants of 100 acres each in a country where it still appears necessary to the subsistence of the native Farmer to grant him 4000 acres; this, together with the withholding two thirds of the deposit money, which it was stipulated should be repaid after location, had the effect of precluding the majority of the Settlers from pursuing the mode of farming usual in this country and of directing their attention exclusively to agriculture.
- Although the disappointments hitherto suffered in this pursuit must be, in a great measure, referred to extraordinary and unavoidable causes, yet the Settlers cannot but observe that their future prospects appear totally barred by the weightiest artificial obstacles.
- Besides the injurious effects of the distinction above mentioned, in drawing away a portion of the Settlers to more profitable pursuits, the remaining part, who may possess land of an extent worth attending to, can have no inducement to raise a surplus produce while the Colonial Government reserves to itself in the entire supply of the troops the monopoly of the only internal market; and they can never look for an external trade while the prosperity of this part of the Colony continues to be subservient to the local interests of Cape Town; while no direct trade is allowed to Algoa Bay; while no exportation is permitted except through Cape Town, and dependant on the state of that market; and the advantages of possessing a sea port is, in a great measure, lost to the Settlement; while every article of import brought to Algoa Bay or the Kowie is burdened with all the expence of reshipment from Cape Town.
- The establishment of the town of Bathurst as its seat of magistracy was of the most material service to the Settlement, as from its situation in the centre of the smaller parties it served to sustain in its vicinity a denser population than the circumstances of the country could otherwise induce. Its superior advantages of soil; its vicinity to the only part of the coast found capable of communicating with the sea; and the erection of the residence of the Chief Magistrate at the public expense had induced many individuals to expend their means in establishing themselves there. The removal of the seat of magistracy and the withdrawing the troops and the government support from a town upon which they had fixed their first hopes, and upon which depended their future prospects of a market, has been productive of the worst effects upon the interests and prospects of the Settlement in general; as, besides its directly ruinous consequences to individuals, it has drawn away the population from the nucleus of the Settlement and created a general distrust in the stability of the measures of the Government.
- The most pressing and insupportable of their grievances arises from the constant depredations of the Caffers, who have, within a few months, committed several murders and deprived the Settlement of the greater part of its cattle. These depredations are, in a great measure, produced by relinquishing that line of policy which held out to those tribes a hope of procuring, by friendly barter, such commodities as their acquired wants have rendered necessary, and which they are now obliged to procure by force or theft; by discountenancing and withdrawing the military force from the new settlement of Fredricksburgh and permitting the Caffers to plunder and force the Settlers to retire, and ultimately to burn it to the ground; by withdrawing from the Fish River a line of posts which had previously effectually protected the Settlers; by refusing aid to the more advanced farmers, plundering parties have been encouraged to drive those in, and afterwards to extend their incursions to all parts of the Settlement and even beyond it; by exasperating that tribe which had hitherto preserved the appearances of friendship, in attempting to seize their Chief Gaika in his own village; and by withholding from the local military authorities that discretionary power with which they were formerly vested, which, by enabling them to enforce summary restitution, showed the Caffers that the offence must instantly be followed by the punishment, whereas by waiting the decision of the commander in chief, 600 miles distant, in every emergency, offences are allowed to accumulate to an alarming amount and the slender means of defence the Settlement possesses deprived of the power of acting with promptitude is forced to present to the Caffers at once the appearance of enmity and weakness.
- It thus appears to the Colonists that instead of the new Settlement ever deriving any advantage from the civilization of these savages the existing measures can only lead to a war of mutual extermination.
- The Settlers refrain from adverting to other numerous and serious obstacles to the prosperity of this settlement arising from the system of government and laws to which they are subjected, from the enlivening assurance that these considerations continue to occupy the attention of His Majesty's Ministers.
- When they contemplate the immense resources of fertile and unappropriated territory this Colony possesses in their immediate vicinity and the provident care of the British Government to preserve the future inhabitants from the contamination of slavery, they cannot but cherish the hope that their present distresses are only temporary; and that at no distant period a numerous and flourishing Colony may be here governed upon British Principles and by British Laws.
Wednesday 21 June 1826
NAUTILUS
Subsequent to the account which appeared in our last, of the probability of getting off and repairing the Brig Nautilus for a moderate expenditure, a further survey was [made], when, it appearing that the expense of repairing her would considerably exceed her worth, and that she was in a most dilapidated state, she was condemned to be [sold] as a wreck. A sale accordingly took place yesterday, at which she fetched (including her masts, spars and boats) 3360 Rds. Her stores &c yet remain to be sold.
[after the end of June 1826 the paper became twice weekly and BMDs began to be featured regularly, usually on Saturdays]
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