BERRY, Thomas

National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 486-488

Finsbury Market

Finsbury Square

Sept 10 1819

Sir,

Herein you will find a normal statement of the number & names and ages of all the Persons, Men Women & Children, whom I wish to propose to Government of taking under my direction to proceed to the settlement in the Cape of Good Hope – and am willing in every respect to conform to all the conditions offered by Government in the circular letter being fully assured within my own mind that the persons I have exerted myself to select are individuals in every respect I have the most & anxious hope that they will answer every expectation of Government - & you will see by my statement that I have been particularly careful of selecting men who understand Agriculture in all its branches and who on examination will vouch for the truth should the party proposed meet with the approbation of Government. I should wish for an answer as soon as convenient as the party are anxious to know the decision so as they may know how to act.

I remain Sir

With the most profound respect

Thos. BERRY

National Archives, Kew CO48/41, 571

Finsbury Market

Sept 1819

My Lord

On the immediate notice of your Lordship's disapproval of my proposals I took the earliest opportunity of making it known to the different individuals comprising my party offered to your consideration and who with myself on the perusal of it met with a severe disappointment and what I am really sorry to say will they have informed me be placed in a very awkward predicament having put such confidence as well as myself that is entirely accorded with His Lordship's own proposals that they should have immediately be sea bound that they have disposed of the little they possessed and purchased useful wares of every description to[o] and others necessary as leader for such undertaking, likewise some have given and left their employers which will be the means of plunging them and their families in the most poignant distress – under these circumstances I hope and trust you will lay this their case before his Lordship for his serious consideration so that some means yet if not too late be devised whereby they may be enabled to emigrate by joining larger parties as new party – I thank his Lordship if he would condescend would not be so great an object as the whole are fully qualified for the undertaking and might be a good acquisition. Should your Lordship consider this case they desired me to inform your Lordship that you would be the means of saving them and their families from the greatest distress and I am so afraid that the parish will be troubled with them hereafter – should you deign to answer this favourably it will be ever gratefully remembered.

I am with the most profound respect

Your Lordship's most obd/t and humble svt

Thos. BERRY

[This is not Thomas BERRY the 1820 settler, who was an indentured servant in SOUTHEY's Party. John ANSON is not listed in The Settler Handbook but appears as an independent settler in Hockly's ‘Story of the British Settlers of 1820' – see the correspondence of John LEIGH]