SELECT DOCUMENTS. CHAPTER I. THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. SECTION A. CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. REQUEST FOR AN ORDER TO SURRENDER THE No. 1. Letter from LORD GRENVILLE to the DUKE OF YORK DOWNING STREET, 1st February 1795. SIR,-As it appears of the utmost importance, particularly from the Letters this day received from Captain Berkeley, that the Prince Stadtholder should give to the different officers and Commanders of the Forts and Vessels of the Republic such orders as may distinctly mark the real situation in which His Serene Highness is placed, and may authorize them to avail themselves of that protection which His Majesty is desirous of holding out to them, according as circumstances may permit; His Majesty's servants have thought that a Proposal of this nature, the urgent necessity of which is so apparent, could not in any manner be brought forward with so much advantage, as if Your Royal Highness would have the goodness to charge yourself with it. Your Royal Highness is too well acquainted with all the bearing of this important point, to make it at all necessary to dwell on the arguments which will prove to His Serene Highness, in the most indisputable manner, that the line now pointed out is what He owes as much to the interests of the Republic, as to those of His own House, and of the high dignity with which He is invested. There would be no difficulty in giving to His Serene Highness any assurance that He might wish, that any Ships of War or Forts, surrendered in consequence of such order, would be restored to the Republic at the conclusion of a General Peace, by which Her Independence and Constitution should be secured. I have the Honor to enclose to Your Royal Highness the Draft of an order, which has been prepared on this idea; and it would be desirable if His Serene Highness could be persuaded to adopt this Form. Enclosure in above. WHEREAS I W. Prince of Orange, Hereditary Stadtholder of the States General of the United Provinces, and Hereditary Governor of each Province, and Captain General and Admiral of the Forces by Land and Sea belonging thereto, have been compelled by the Entrance of a Foreign Armed Force into the Territories of the same, to withdraw myself therefrom, and to retire into the Dominions of the good Friend and Ally of Their High Mightiness The King of Great Britain, and whereas I am thereby illegally and unjustly prevented from exercising in Person within the said Province the Functions of the said High Offices and of all other Offices and Powers with which I am legally and constitutionally invested, I do by this Declaration, subscribed in due form and in the presence of lawful Witnesses, notify to all Commanders and Governors, Civil and Military, of all Forts, Castles, Garrisons, Ports, Settlements, Plantations and Colonies belonging to the States General and to all Admirals and Commanders of Ships of War belonging to the same, and do strictly enjoyn them, that They forthwith deliver up Possession of the said Forts, Castles, Garrisons, Ports, Settlements, Colonies and Ships of War to the King of Great Britain or to such Persons as He shall authorize to receive Them, in order that They may be secured from falling into the possession of the Enemy; and under special Trust and Confidence solemnly assured on the Part of His Britannick Majesty, that the same shall be restored in full Sovereignty and Use to Their High Mightinesses, as soon as ever it shall please God to restore to my afflicted Country the Blessings of Independence and of its ancient and established Form of Government. Subscribed in the presence of (L. S.) Rec. I. 26. ORDER TO ADMIT BRITISH FORCES INTO THE CAPE. KEW, 7th February 1795. To The Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. We have thought it right to write to you by this opportunity, and to charge you to admit into the Fort under your command such Troops as may be sent thither on the Part of His Brit. Majesty, and to receive into Table and False Bays and other Harbours and Places where Ships can remain with Safety all Ships of War, Frigates or Armed Vessels that may be sent from His said Brit. Majesty, and to look upon them as Troops and Ships of a Power in Friendship and Alliance with Their High Mightiness, and that come to prevent the Colony from being invaded by the French. (Signed) W. PR. OF ORANGE. By Command of His Highness, In the Absence of the Private Secretary. (Signed) J. W. BOEJENK. THE FIRST SURRENDER OF THE CAPE TO No. 3. Articles of Capitulation.-RUSTENBURG, 16th Sept. 1795. ART. 6. Everything that belongs to the Company shall be handed over in strict honour without the withholding of anything, after an inventory has been made; but the property of the Company's servants... as well as that of all the burghers and other inhabitants shall remain free and intact, as shall also all that belongs to the churches, to the orphans and to the public bodies. ART. 7. The colonists shall retain all the privileges which they now enjoy, including their present religion, without any change. ART. 9. No new imposts shall be introduced, but on account of the decay of the Colony, the taxes shall be lessened as much as possible. ART. 13. Finally, no persons, whether they be servants of the Company, sailors, soldiers, burghers, or any other, shall be pressed into or engaged for the service of His great Britannick Majesty, except it be of their own free will. Rec. I. 127. APPOINTMENT OF THE FIRST BRITISH No. 4. Appointment.-By General ALURED CLARKE, Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Troops, and Vice-Admiral Sir GEORGE KEITH ELPHINSTONE, Commander-in-Chief of WHEREAS His Majesty has been pleased to appoint us to be Commanders-in-Chief of His Land and Sea Forces, employed on an Expedition in the course of which the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope has surrendered to His Majesty by a Capitulation dated on the 16th Instant. And whereas His Majesty among other Articles of Instruction with which he has been pleased to charge us has directed that in the event of the surrender of this Colony we should arrange and settle such matters as may be necessary for the internal regulation of the Affairs thereof. Now we, considering that it will materially tend to the purpose aforesaid as well as to the furtherance of His Majesty's Service, Do hereby appoint you to be Commandant of the Town and Settlement of the Cape of Good Hope, authorizing you to take upon you the Charge of all Duties and of all manner of things both civil and military appertaining to the duty of Commandant aforesaid. To Major-General Craig. Rec. I. 175. OATH OF ALLEGIANCE REQUIRED OF No. 5. Proclamation.-By General ALURED CLARKE, Vice- It is hereby declared that all persons whatever continuing to reside in the Colony, and thereby to enjoy His Majesty's protection, although they may not have individually or actually taken the oath hereby required, will nevertheless be considered as having virtually acceded thereto, will be looked upon as subjects, will as such enjoy every right and privilege belonging to that quality, and will be liable to all the pains and penalties attached to the crime of treason in case of any act contrary to their allegiance as such. And if there are any persons who preferring the government of any other power, do not chuse to become subjects of great Britain, all such are hereby required to notify such their intentions, as they will be allowed a reasonable time to settle their affairs, after which it will be expected that they do withdraw from the Colony. Rec. I. 178. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICIALS. [10 Oct. 1795.] No. 6. Proclamation.-By General ALURED CLARKE, ViceAdmiral Sir GEORGE KEITH ELPHINSTONE, K.B., and Major-General CRAIG, etc. etc. expedient to appoint a Revenue, and a Treasurer: WHEREAS We have judged it Collector-General, Collector of Land We hereby make known thatIst. Mr. J. I. Rhenius is to take upon himself the office of Collector-General and Treasurer. 2nd. Mr. C. Brandt, Collector of the Duty of Imports and Exports of Merchandise and Produce together with the duty of the Cape Wine and Brandy, and of the tythes of Corn on being brought to Town. Wherefore all persons desirous of Importing or Exporting any Merchandise or produce are to apply to the said Mr. Brandt, and the duty of the said Cape Wine together with the tythes of the said Corn are to be paid with ready Money to the Clerks who will be appointed for that purpose at the Main Guard of the Imhoff Battery as has been Customary. 3rd. Mr. J. P. Baumgard, Collector of the Revenue which is yearly paid by the Farmers for permission to cultivate and feed Cattle in the Lands of the Company and of the Revenues proceeding from other Lands. Rec. I. 184. INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED TO THE GOVERNOR No. 7. Instructions to Our Right Trusty and Right well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor GEORGE, EARL OF MACARTNEY, K.B., Our Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Settlement of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa -Given at Our Court at St. James the Thirtieth Day of December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, in the Thirty-seventh year of Our Reign. Ist. With these Our Instructions, you will receive Our Commission under Our Great Seal of Great Britain, constituting you Our Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Settlement of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, now in Our Possession. In the Execution therefore of Our said Commission you are to take upon you the administration of the Government of the said Settlement and to do and execute all things belonging to your Command according to the several powers and authorities of Our said Commission under |