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GSSA
The 1820 Settler Correspondence
 as preserved in the National Archives, Kew
 and edited by Sue Mackay

pre 1820 Settler Correspondence before emigration

ALL the 1819 correspondence from CO48/41 through CO48/46 has been transcribed whether or not the writers emigrated to the Cape. Those written by people who did become settlers, as listed in "The Settler Handbook" by M.D. Nash (Chameleon Press 1987), are labelled 1820 Settler and the names of actual settlers in the text appear in red.

LAING, Charles

Written by Sue Mackay on .

National Archives, Kew CO48/44, 392

24 Change Alley

Cornhill

11 Sept 1819

My Lord,

My gratitude for the honor you conferred upon my son by having him placed on the civil Establishment of the Mauritius would prevent my giving you the slightest trouble on this or any other occasion; but if my views are at all consistent my proposition may be the means of saving your Lordship & your Lordship's Colonial Department considerable inconvenience at same time it may afford more direct satisfaction to the applicants.

I allude to the intended emigration to the Cape. My mercantile situation has occasioned innumerable enquiries to be made at my office by principals & others wishing to emigrate there and it has occurred to me that to open an office in the city where some kind of official general information could be given would save a great deal of unnecessary trouble to all.

To do this effectually I should feel myself honor'd by receiving such information & instructions from your Lordship as would enable me to speak confidentially & thereby set at rest the minds of many applicants who are now waiting impatiently & perhaps unnecessarily for the result & who might from your Lordship's office be referred to mine. The honor of a reply my Lord would greatly oblige

Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant

Charles LAING

PS Permit me to observe that the Bearer hereof is a principal applicant & well deserving the grant he has solicited – his name Charles DALGAIRNS

[note by GOULBURN at foot: Acknowledge receipt of his letter. Thank him for his offer but acquaint him that Lord B does not at present see any necessity for availing himself of his offer. With respect to Mr. D. the usual answer]

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