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settlement of the Cape of Good Hope, or the territories and dependencies thereof, in vessels of such foreign state than shall be charged on the export of the like articles in British vessels to such foreign state:

It is, however, hereby further ordered and declared, that no foreign vessel, allowed by the terms of this Order to export a cargo from the settlement of the Cape of Good Hope, or the territories and dependencies thereof, shall be permitted to export such cargo to any of His Majesty's possessions, or to any other place than a port or place belonging to the state or power to which the vessel itself shall belong.

And the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty are to give the necessary directions herein, as to them may respectively appertain.

(Signed)

CHETWYND.

[Original.]

Letter from LORD CHARLES SOMERSET to
HENRY GOULBURN, ESQRE.

PARK LANE, July 13th 1820.

SIR, I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 11th instant covering one from Mr. A. Hamilton (Secretary for the Society for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign Parts) and requesting me to give any information in my power relative to the contents of that letter.

With respect to the present place of worship in Cape Town I have the honor to state to you that the Dutch Clergy are so good as to place the Calvinistic church entirely at the disposal of the Colonial Chaplain for all purposes of divine worship, marriages, christenings, &c., at such hours as are most convenient to the Colonial Chaplain and the English Inhabitants. The hour of divine service is past 11 on all Sundays and other days on which it is usual to perform divine service throughout the year. The church is extremely spacious, handsome, and commodious, and capable of containing at least 3 times the congregation that on any occasion attends the English service.

At one period the Military attended divine service in the church, but conceiving that their occupying so large a proportion of the space in the church tended to prevent a more full attendance of the English Inhabitants, I fitted up an appropriate vacant building in the Barracks as a chapel, in which divine service is performed to the soldiers. I am however concerned to say that it had not the effect I had hoped for of bringing a larger congregation to the church. I have only to add that were the attendance at all in proportion to the very excellent accommodation the church affords, nothing more could be desired.

Respecting Mr. Wright's proceeding to Cape Town I must observe that unless he has a thorough knowledge of the Dutch language his exertions amongst the natives and negroes would be entirely futile. The natives have already their own Ministers and there are schools both for them and the negroes. The talent and enlightened mind of Dr. Philip aided by the local knowledge he is now acquiring give in my mind a greater promise of success than any regulations or suggestions originated here, and feeling as I do the greatest anxiety for the success of the exertions of this laudable Society, I cannot but recommend that Dr. Philip's arrangements (whatever they may be) should not be interfered with until they have had a fair trial. I have &c.

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Letter from SIR RUFANE SHAWE DONKIN to EARL BATHURST.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, CAPE TOWN, July 14th 1820.

MY LORD,-I have the honor of transmitting to Your Lordship herewith two copies of a Report which has been made to me by Captn. Moresby, commanding H.M. Ship Menai, respecting Algoa Bay and the adjacent Coast, which as an interesting and useful document I have no doubt will be acceptable to Your Lordship.

I have before acknowledged the services of Captain Moresby at Port Elizabeth, and this report, added to a chart of Algoa Bay,

which I have received from him and which shall be forwarded to your Lordship as soon as a copy is taken of it, gives Captn. Moresby a fresh claim to my thanks. I have &c.

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Remarks on the Rivers and Coast between Cape Recife and the Mouth of the Keiskahama, with a particular description of Port Elizabeth, Algoa Bay, Southern Africa.

Cape Recife is situated in Latitude of 34° 02′ S. Longitude 25° 39' E. of Greenwich. It is a low rocky point; the breakers extend one mile and a half into the sea. The coast from this point runs N. 32° W. 4 miles to Beacon or Rocky Point; off this point lays a bed of rocks, but sufficient water for ships to pass within a small dangerous rock, over which the sea breaks in bad weather, bearing from Beacon's Point W. N. by compass, and Cape Recife S.

W. This rock is a small pinnacle; we frequently tried to heave the lead upon the top, but never had less than 20 feet. Ships of large tonnage should therefore give Beacon's Point a good berth, in approaching Port Elizabeth.

From Beacon's or Rocky Point, to the landing place at Markham's Cove, is N.W. by N. by compass, nearly 3 miles; sand hills covered with bush. Immediately over Markham's Cove is Fort Frederick, at present the only land-mark by which a stranger is guided to the anchorage, and this from many positions is not easily distinguished; but a Pyramid, about to be erected as a private memorial, half-a-mile to the South-East of Fort Frederick, will stand conspicuous to ships approaching the land.

From Markham's Cove to Ferreira's River is N. 13° E. by compass, nearly 4 miles; between this point and Beacon's Point may be considered the anchorage of Port Elizabeth; the water deepens gradually from the shore; the bottom is hard sand, in which the anchors hold well. Where merchant ships have generally anchored, the ground is not so clear as further out, arising from numerous anchors that have been left; but should Port Elizabeth ever become a place of commercial consequence,

chain moorings, or even anchors of a larger size, with chain cables, should be laid down for those ships that wish to approach near the shore, for the purpose of loading or unloading. The expence would not be very great, and a small tax for such an accommodation, would be cheerfully paid.

I do not make this remark from the insecurity of the bay, for I consider it at all times equal to Table Bay, and for six months very far its superior.

His Majesty's Ship Menai, lay off Port Elizabeth from the 29th of April, until the 25th of June, 1820;-during that period there were only two days we could not communicate with the shore; with a South-East wind a swell rolled in, but never any high breaking sea. Ships have, from time to time, rode during the whole year in this bay, and some of His Majesty's Ships have rode out the heaviest South-East gales that have been known.

Had I my choice of trusting my ship for the year round, to Torbay, in England, Palermo Bay, in Sicily, Table Bay, or Algoa Bay, I should, without hesitation, prefer the anchorage off Port Elizabeth, Algoa Bay.

From the 1st of April, to the 1st of September, the wind scarce ever blows from the South-East; and, calculating upon the average. number of days that ships can communicate, and carry on their commercial occupations, Port Elizabeth infinitely surpasses Table Bay.

In proof of what I have said, not a single accident happened in landing the Settlers from England, (who amounted to 1020 men, 607 men, and 2032 children,) from the period of their arrival, in the middle of April, to the day of our departure, the 25th of June. It is true, that two small coasters were wrecked last year, on the same day; but if their loss is attributed to the right cause, it will be rather to their want of good tackle, than the force of wind; even from these vessels not a man perished.

No ship should anchor nearer the shore, until the bay is cleared of anchors, than 6 fathoms, without they have chain cables ;--thus, in considering Port Elizabeth a safe anchorage, it may naturally be looked forward to as a point to where the coasting trade of the Colony can be carried to an extensive scale. Between Port Elizabeth and Table Bay, the anchorages are numerous; and there are few masters of coasting vessels in England, Holland, or France, who have not hourly more dangers to encounter, and more diffi

culties to surmount, than the trade from Port Elizabeth to Table Bay.

As the Export Port to the Isle of France, &c. Port Elizabeth is admirably situated; and as a place for refreshment during the winter months, few Seamen would risk their ships in Table Bay, or encounter the delay in beating up to Simon's Bay with a NorthWest wind, when Port Elizabeth affords much easier access, and articles of refreshment at a more moderate price.

The bay abounds in fish, and this will be soon one of its most important Exports. Fresh water, there is abundance of; at the expence of a few hundred Rixdollars, it might be carried to the beach in a stream, sufficiently strong to water any number of ships.

The Thermometer, during our stay at Port Elizabeth, at noon, varied from 66° to 59°. The nights were cool, the morning air fresh and invigorating. High water at full and change, 3 h. 40 m. Tide rises about six feet.

Ferreira's River is closed at the mouth by a bank of sand, except at spring tides, and is not worth notice; from thence to the mouth of the Zwartkops, is N.E. by E. E.; 2 miles to the shore, sandy and flat. The surf rolls in much higher with every sort of weather, than at Port Elizabeth.

The Zwartkops, in Latitude 33° 51′ 24′′ S. Longitude 25° 43′ 30" E. is a river of the first consequence, if Port Elizabeth should continue to flourish. From the accompanying survey of it, the capacity of its water is evident; and I have little doubt, that when commercial gain shall stimulate the merchant to enterprise, the Zwartkops will be found capable of admitting ships of considerable tonnage; in fact, there is now in the river, the remains of a Dutch ship of 200 tons, and there were but few days, when boats could not have come over the bar whilst we remained at Port Elizabeth. Ships may anchor off the Zwartkops to wait for tide; but I do not consider it so safe, as the anchorage off Port Elizabeth.

From the Zwartkops to the Kuga River, situated in Latitude 33° 47′ 19′′ S. Longitude 25° 49′ 30′′ E. is 5 miles. The coastsand hills, with a flat sandy beach. The mouth of this river is closed, and the water peculiarly salt, that flows into a small lake; from hence to the Sunday River is East 4° 35' South 9 miles. The mouth of this river is situated in Latitude 33° 43′ 06′′ S.

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