HILL, R.W.

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 634

Leicester

Aug 3rd 1819

Hon Sir,

I take the liberty of writing you for information respecting emigration to the Cape. If from your ans'r I find possibility of supporting myself, wife & two children I will immediately prepare to go.

Your information on the diff't points as stated will oblige.

My own age is 28 my wife 25 a little boy near 4 and a little girl near 2. As I shall be able to raise a little money will thank you to say the smallest sum you think necessary to support us till we receive the fruits of our labor. Your ans'r soon as convenient will oblige,

Your Most Obt

RW HILL

What extent of land & what terms & in what state the said land is in Are we coming there quite free of expenses from our homes.

The smallest sum necessary to keep us till we receive the fruits of the earth & how long that may be Who must we apply to for a guarantee of the said land & When as near as you think the time of Embarkation

Mr RW HILL

Mr FORSELL's

Hosier

Brown St

Leicester

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 642

Leicester

Aug 5th 1819

Hon Sir,

I take the liberty of again writing you expecting emigration to the Cape. Not knowing that an individual application would be objected to was the cause of my not having in my letter of the 3rd Ult. the signatures as below. The undersigned are young men with families averaging about 30 years of age & are willing to go - imm'y [immediately] provided they are satisfied a provision will be made for them, or at least for a certain time after they arrive there.

Their determination rests entirely upon your information in answer to this which shall feel obliged by your giving or as near as you can, if we are satisfied with the terms pointed out by His Lordship shall immediately prepare to go and shall be able to leave this I don't doubt in a month or 6 weeks.

Waiting Yours I am

Your Most Obt Hble Ser

RW HILL

What extent of land & what terms

Whether we are conveyed there free of expence What provision when we arrive there What guarantees for the said land What guarantee also for being provided for - for a time When the time of embarkation If any sum as a deposit, what is that said sum & is it returned us when we get there Where to apply to for passage &c &c

RW HILL

Wm BROWN

Samuel SMITH

Thos. CHAMBERLAIN

Wllm JACKSON

Thos CROFTS

{?]etton SMITH

Jas. COOPER

[illegible signature]

Joseph WILLS

John PEARSON

Thomas SPIERS

John DALLEY

Mr RW HILL

Mr FORSELL's

Hosier

Brown St

Leicester

National Archives, Kew CO48/43, 694

Leicester

Aug 10th 1819

Hon Sir

I duly rec'd yours of the 7th ult. & beg pardon for again troubling you respecting the affair in question. Yet not feeling exactly satisfied - I think it is a duty I owe to myself & to those who entrust themselves with me to gain every information in my power before I take so serious a step. I will state a few facts to you which if you think are no obstacles of course I shall think so also & me & my party will be perfectly satisfied - the case is this, the major part or all of those that will go with me are poor & can't even with the sale of their furniture raise more than the necessary deposit & this matter makes both myself & them afraid. Tho the paid deposit is ret'd them yet it will fall very short of supporting them till they begin to receive the fruits of their labor for I assure you things have been so bad with the laboring classes that they will not be able to take anything with ‘em except the clothes on their backs - as to myself, I shall not be able to take more than 20£ with me besides paying my deposit. These things I will be obliged to you for an answer & if with the assistance of Government these obstacles can be done away with shall imm'y conclude to go - I hope there is some way of getting over this - for instance - for any assistance I might receive in the cultivation of the ground, could I not pay more rent as a remuneration or I would be bound in any way that was necessary if I & my party can go under these circumstances will thank you to say in your next whether I am to send the deposits to you - who is to examine us & who is to inform us the day vessels sail as we should not like to get everything ready & then be forgot.

I am My Lord

Your Most Obt

RW HILL

Mr RW HILL

Mr FORSELL's

Brown St

Leicester

PS Suppose it would take all the deposit money to purchase implements for cultivation and the Parishes will not raise more than the deposits