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"opinion, that small coasters may enter into the river, with "facility and safety; and, therefore, that a water communi"cation from the centre of the locations, will, in future, supersede the heavy expense of land carriage to and from the 66 new Settlement. His Excellency went thither on the day "subsequent to his arrival at Bathurst, and has directed the "Locust, with proper boats, to ascertain the point while he is "on the spot.

"The Locust left Table Bay prepared for this survey; and "has on board a life-boat, and other boats, for the purpose "of effectually completing the survey of this interesting and "important river.

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"Many of the Settlers are very confident on the subject, and one commercial gentleman, who was with Lieutenant Moodie "when he made his survey, has written to England for a Humber "boat, (which is said to be the best description of boat for the "Kowie service,) for the purpose of commencing trading with❝out delay.

Property, in the whole of the Albany District, will greatly "increase in value, if the navigation of the Kowie succeed. "Erven,* both at Graham's Town and Bathurst, continue to be "in great request; six were sold at the latter place, on the 1st "of this month, at an average of 500 rix dollars per acre.

"His Excellency the Governor received a deputation from the "Heads of Parties, and others, at Bathurst, on the 1st instant, ❝ when an Address was presented to him, a copy of which will "be found in this paper. On Sunday the 3d, His Excellency "attended divine service at Bathurst, accompanied by Major "Jones, (Landdrost,) and other functionaries. A considerable "number of Settlers, with the military at present quartered at "Bathurst, attended on this occasion. The service was per"formed by the Rev. Mr. Boardman.

"This assemblage, and public homage to the Deity, in a place which a twelvemonth since was a waste solitude, "frequented only by wild beasts, was very striking and affecting.

* Erf-in the Plural Erven-are small lots of land for building and gardens.

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"THE ADDRESS.

"To His Excellency Major General Sir RUFANE SHAWE "DONKIN, K. C. B. Acting Governor and Commander "in Chief, &c. &c. &c. Cape of Good Hope.

"We, the undersigned, Heads of Parties, and other British "Settlers in Albany, beg leave to address your Excellency, to express our gratitude, for the liberal manner in which we were provided and sent to this Colony, for the precautions "which were previously taken, and for the ample supply of "stores, of all sorts, which were furnished by the Government "at home, to ensure our success, and future stability on our "several locations.

"We further beg leave to convey the expression of our "thanks to your Excellency, to the officers of this Government, "and to the local authorities here, for the zeal and kindness "with which the intentions of the Government at home have "been carried into effect, and for the constant care and attention "with which our wishes have been met, and our wants even "anticipated.

"We feel it particularly incumbent on us, to acknowledge our gratitude to your Excellency, for kindly continuing to us "the issue of rations, after the total failure, by blight, of "all our crops; thereby assuring to us a subsistence, until "our endeavours, by the blessings of Providence, may procure "us such necessaries, as may render our situation easy and "independent.

"In conclusion, we are cheered and encouraged by feeling "and knowing, that in transplanting ourselves to the shores of "Southern Africa, we have not been removed beyond the "fostering influence and protection of His Majesty's paternal "care and Government; and we hope your Excellency will "be pleased to convey these, our sentiments, most dutifully to "our Sovereign.

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LETTER FROM CYPRESS MESSER TO MR. JONES, CAPE TOWN.

"I received your letter sent by the Mary yesterday. "I have sent a letter to Mr. Lucas in Castle-street-I desired "him to inform you of what I had said to him-I like this part "of the country very much-it is very pleasant, and capital "land, and all things seem to thrive well; it is like a gentle"man's garden, decorated with clumps of all sorts of flowering "shrubs, as if they had been regularly planted,* and all parts "covered with the finest grass, as high as your middle.

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never saw in England so much good land together: I have "nearly an acre of turnips, which is doing well. My vines are nearly all dead-Ishall want five or six thousand next "season, as I intend to plant a large vineyard, and some fig, 66 orange, and lemon trees. I have plenty of melons, cucum"bers, and pumpkins, which are coming forward very fast. I "have three huts complete, and a well that I sunk at the "top of the garden, which has plenty of excellent water. "I have felled sufficient timber to build General Campbell's house, and the men are digging stones for the walls. I "have made a large kraal for cattle; all that have seen "it, say there is not its equal in the Colony. I am sorry "our parties are not come; I think they would have been well "satisfied. Here is nothing wanted but a good stock of cattle "and industry. I wish I had four or five hundred heads of "cattle, a few quarters of corn, and sufficient rations for one

year; I would be better off than with 50007. sterling in Eng"land. I have set fire to more than 500 acres of grass, to burn "it off the land for the young to spring up. I see nothing of

*This is not at all too poetical-the whole face of the country for several days' journey together often has the appearance of the most beautiful parts of the finest parks in England.-R. S. D.

I

"the wild tribe but monkeys, and a few spring bucks. Near our "location we have a wood, I suppose two miles in length, where “I fell the timber. I have been in all parts of the wood, but "have not seen any snakes. About four miles off, in a wood "which I pass through on my way to Bathurst, are elephants, "buffaloes, and many other different sorts of animals. I have "not as yet met with any curiosities, having been very busy. "I believe I have made more progress than most of the Set"tlers. When any more Settlers come out for me I intend to "form a town at the Riet-fountain River,' as that is a suitable "place, and the General will be a good distance from other in"habitants, as it was his desire, and will have a very pleasant

ce

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place close to a wood, where I can with little trouble cut avenues for him and his family to walk in the shade all day, and "will have the river running nearly all round his house. My men have turned out as bad as I expected-they do not earn “8d. each per day—they are too lazy to work. They go to "the magistrate at Bathurst, eleven miles distant from here, "who gives them encouragement, which causes me to go out "of my employ almost every week as well as they. They have already lost fifty-one days at that fun; they are in hopes "of getting off next week, as they have been offered two rix "dollars per day. They are getting on very fast with the Ma"gistrate's House at Bathurst. I will be obliged to you to "ask Captain Chissel for what strawberry roots he can spare, "and send them by the first conveyance. If Mr. Bowie is not yet gone, he will have the goodness to bring them for me; "and if he would likewise be so good as to bring a bushel

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or two of seed potatoes, for which I will pay him. Please "tell Rock to send me five or six thousand vine cuttings, with a dozen of figs in sorts, and two dozen of orange and lemon

"trees.

"Your's, &c.

(Signed)

"CYPRESS MESSER."