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GSSA
The 1820 Settler Correspondence
 as preserved in the National Archives, Kew
 and edited by Sue Mackay

Correspondence 1821 to 1837.

Here only letters by known settlers or their families, or letters of great relevance to the 1820 settlers, have been transcribed, whereas ALL the 1819 correspondence was transcribed (see CO48/41 through CO48/46) whether or not the writers emigrated to the Cape.

Unless otherwise stated letters were written to either the Secretary of State for the Colonies or his deputy.The original correspondence is filed in order of receipt. Here it has been placed in alphabetical order according to the surname of the writer, with letters by the same writer in chronological order, for ease of reading. Original spelling has been maintained. Reference numbers, where given, refer to printed page numbers stamped on the letters and will enable visitors to the National Archives to locate the letter more easily.

PARKER, Richard (brother of William PARKER, 1820

Filed under A-L

National Archives, Kew, CO48/52, 166

[To Sir Nicholas COLTHURST MP]

Waterview

Passage West

Feb 18th 1820

My dear Sir Nicholas.

In the absence of my brother who is now aboard ship at Cove waiting the first fair wind to sail for the Cape of Good Hope, I beg to request you will do me the kindness by ascertaining whether Government intend to encourage emigration next September to South Africa. Conceiving that Wm. was on his voyage a letter has been addressed to me by a gentleman of respectability at Enniscorthy County of Wexford stating that 100 Protestant families were anxious to proceed to the colony my brother's party are to be located on. I have been further assured that every individual has his deposit ready to make & will also take out means, not only of subsistence, but for other purposes; as Wm. has engaged in this undertaking I am desirous to forward his views & could the addition now offered of loyalty & respectability be added to his strength it would give his friends here some satisfaction. I therefore have no hesitation in imposing on you the task of making in the Foreign Office such enquiry as will enable me to give a favourable answer, or at least a decisive one. Your knowledge of Mr. GOULBURN will I am certain greatly facilitate this object. I will take on me for you on some future occasion ten times over the trouble I now put you to.

Forgive the haste I write in and believe me most sincerely

Your faithful friend

Rich'd PARKER

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