These pleasing hopes continued in force, as will be seen by the following, which was published in the English newspapers in May, 1822, from which I extract it. It will be observed that it was dated Dec. 3, 1821, that is, two days after Lord Charles Somerset landed, and at the very moment when he was planning, nay, had already begun the work of destruction, which was so soon to sweep away all the towns, villages, and establishments, of which the writer speaks, and with them all the future hopes and actual prosperity on which this Settler so fondly dwells. At the moment of Lord Charles Somerset's landing, I was looking with great anxiety for news from the Kowie about the Elizabeth, but the first intelligence I had of her success, was just after my arrival in England, from the newspapers, where I read the following :—

"CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

"The following is the copy of a letter from Hope, near "Bathurst, Cape of Good Hope, dated Dec. 3, 1821:—

"The opening for commerce is now better than ever for that "part of the country. The problem of the anchorage off the "Kowie River, and the entrance over the bar, were solved by "the Elizabeth schooner. She left Algoa Bay with a freight "principally for Government, anchored off the Kowie on the " evening of the 8th of November, rode safe and easy "through the night, although it blew fresh, and the next "day weighed anchor at half tide, and came over the bar "with her foretop-gallant-sail set, without shipping a sin"gle spray. She discharged her cargo, and careened along"side the shore as at a wharf. There is a vessel of fifty "tons register, which has been built at Cape Town, for the purpose of coasting from thence into the Kowie and back. "Whenever it may please the Almighty to cause us to have good crops, we shall be sure of sending our surplus, particularly of butter, cheese, bacon, hams, salt, beef, and leather, "to Cape Town, and to the Mauritius. Pigs, that were very

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"scarce indeed amongst us, when we first arrived, begin now to "be pretty plentiful. The change effected in the appearance of "the country, since the arrival of the first settlers in April, ❝ 1820, is wonderful. Algoa Bay, the town of Port Elizabeth, "where there were only two houses, boasts now of thirty and « upwards. Graham's Town consisted then of twenty-two "houses, now of sixty and upwards; fifty more building lots "6 are granted and measured out, and must be built upon within "the twelvemonth, or forfeited. Bathurst has sprung from the "wilderness completely, and contains, built or building, between "forty and fifty houses, besides handsome barracks. Upwards "of seventy building lots, in all, have been granted or sold, " and must consequently be shortly built upon. Another town " is now forming on the right bank of the Kowie, not far from "the mouth, which will increase in ratio with the navigation of "that river, and the trade carried on.-Fredericsburg, across "the Fish River, was only founded in June, 1821, and contains "already twenty-six houses built, besides the barracks, and "nearly as many more building. All the towns which I have now mentioned have been founded under the authority of Go"vernment. Besides these, there are a number of very decent villages, built by the different parties of Settlers. The Court "of Circuit sat at Bathurst in October, and the Dutch code of "laws, and manner of administering justice, so much depre"cated by the Settlers, and for which they so much wished to "substitute Trial by Jury, and God knows what, was universally "pronounced to be strictly in equity, and devoid of all quibble; "and if it had a fault, it was too lenient. I am sorry to say "rice and flour are at a most ruinous price: retail-rice 6d. 66 per lb. coarse flour (that is, with all the bran in it) 6d. "fine flour, 9d. and 10d.; potatoes (what few are ever brought "to market) are ten to twelve and fourteen rix-dollars the "sack."

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The next is my letter to the Landdrost of Albany, Major Jones, concerning the Kaffer Fair, with the Proclamation referred to in that letter.

TO MAJOR JONES, LANDDROST AND COMMANDANT ON THE

"SIR,

FRONTIER.

"Government House, July 20, 1821.

"I am to call your attention to the Proclamation which "will appear in the Cape Gazette of to-morrow, regulating a Fair "to be held on the Keiskamma, for the purpose of establishing "and carrying on a closer intercourse with the Kaffers, and supplying their wants, as well as of creating a regular system "of barter with that people; and you will be pleased in your "capacity of Commandant on the Frontier to give every military "aid, and make the necessary arrangements in regard to the "troops under your orders, for giving full effect to that Procla"mation, and the several objects to which it points.

"I have in a particular manner to warn you to take the "strictest precautions against any surprise from the Kaffers. "One essential measure will at once suggest itself to you, that "of causing the whole of the troops quartered in the fortified "barrack near the spot where the Fair will be held, to remain

closely within their walls during the whole time of the Fair, "keeping their gates locked, and being themselves constantly on "the alert.

"You will take as a personal escort for yourself, or the Ma"gistrate you may send, as well as for enforcing the general "Civil Police of the Fair, (which of course, as Chief Civil c Magistrate on the Frontier, you will regulate in a proper and "efficient manner,) such a number of additional troops with you

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as you may require, from Graham's Town, or Bathurst, or from "some of the neighbouring posts.

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"The greatest care must be taken to prevent the troops from

carrying spirits or wine with them in any quantity, which shall "enable them to intoxicate the Kaffers or themselves. I need "not dwell on the fatal effects which probably would result from "drunkenness at such a place and time.

"There are a number of minor details, both civil and military, "which must be left to your discretion and judgment; the "general principle and object of which will be to inspire con

"fidence in the Kaffers, to administer regularly, and without "inconvenience, to their wants, and thus gradually to lead to the "civilization of that barbarous race, and by consequence to the "security of the frontier provinces of this Colony.

"Your personal attendance at the Fair whenever practicable, "is of course very desirable; but on this, the first occasion, it "is indispensable.

"I have the honour to be, Sir,

"Your most obedient humble Servant,
(Signed)

"R. S. DONKIN."

"PROCLAMATION.

"By his Excellency Major General Sir RUFANE SHAWE "DONKIN, Knight Commander of the most Honourable "and Military Order of the Bath, Acting Governor and "Commanding in Chief his Majesty's Forces at the Cape "of Good Hope, &c. &c. &c.

"WHEREAS the Landdrost of the Frontier District of Albany, "having, by my express desire, had an interview with the Kaffer "Chief Gaika, for the purpose of cementing the friendly rela"tions which happily exist between the Kaffer people and the "Colony, it has been stipulated, among other things, that an "Annual Fair shall be held on the banks of the Keiskahamma "River, for the purpose of supplying the Kaffers with such "articles as they have been in the habit of obtaining from the "Colony, through the channel of Government; but which they "have not regularly procured since the period at which the distur"bances of the year 1818 broke out:-These, therefore, are to

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give notice, that an Annual Fair will accordingly be held, under "the following Regulations, which shall be subject to such "alterations and modifications, as, from time to time, shall appear to me, or to the Governor for the time being, to be "necessary, viz:

"1. The Landdrost of Albany, after having arranged with "the Kaffer Chief Gaika, the spot on which a Fair is to be held, "for the object of supplying the Kaffers with such articles as "they may require, in barter for cattle, or the produce of the

"Kaffer country, is to give notice, within his District, and to the "Landdrosts of Uitenhage and Graaff Reynet, of the time fixed "for the intended Fair, which he will also arrange with the "Kaffer Chief.

"2. As in this first attempt to establish a regular traffic with "the Kaffer Nation, it will be essential to enforce the strictest "order, and it will be desirable, that the Landdrost of the District "shall attend in person, if possible; or should he be prevented "from so doing, that he should depute one of the special Heem"raden to superintend the regularity of the transaction.

"3. The Landdrost shall appoint a Clerk of the Market, who "shall take a regular account of the transactions of the Fair, "which shall be afterwards made public through the channel of "the Cape Gazette.

"4. It shall be the duty of the Superintending Magistrate to "annul all transactions at the Fair, which shall appear to him "not to be just towards the Kaffer people; so that they may "be thereby secured an adequate compensation for such Cattle or Produce, as they may bring for disposal.

"5. The Fair shall open one hour after sun-rise, and termi"nate one hour before sunset: no transactions entered into out "of the hours of the Fair shall be considered legal.

"6. The Landdrost shall not permit any person from the "Colony to attend the Fair, who have not articles to dispose of: "it being of the greatest importance to public peace and secu“rity, that all crowding shall be prevented. The Landdrost, "or Superintending Magistrate, will, therefore, use the most summary means to send away such persons, as are above "described.

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"The Landdrost, or Superintending Magistrate, shall also "make arrangements with the Kaffer Chief, in order to obviate "the consequences which might ensue from the Kaffers crowding 66 upon the Colonial Venders, and thereby exposing their property "to the plunder of the Kaffers.

"7. The Landdrost, or Superintending Magistrate, shall be "careful to be attended by as many interpreters as he can "conveniently collect, for facilitating the intercourse of all "concerned. The Landdrost will also require the presence,