632 Notes for the Month. [JUNE, 



chain, and seals," &c. on the occasion N.B. There was no "sub- 

 scription" to " indemnify." Patriotism is not so ready in the pecuniary 

 way as it used to be. Mr. Pitt was carried to How-street, as a rioter ; 

 but nothing else of interest occurred : the meeting was altogether a failure. 

 Cobbett, in fact, has been very weak indeed upon the whole business of 

 the change of ministers ; worse, almost, than ever we recollect him.* 



Mr. Wilmot Horton moved for papers in the House of Commons on 

 Friday night the 18th of May, preparatory to the discussion of Sir 

 Rufane Donkin's charges against Lord Charles Somerset, for misconduct 

 in the government of the Cape of Good Hope. The value of Sir R. D.'s 

 accusations will not be determined by any reference to the spirit in which 

 they are brought forward ; but that circumstance cannot be altogether dis- 

 missed from notice in their examination ; and it seems quite clear that, on 

 the part of Sir Rufane Donkin towards Lord Charles Somerset, there does 

 exist very decided personal pique. The explanation of Sir R. Donkin 

 (given in the " postscript" to his pamphlet) is not discreetly written, as it 

 touches this matter. 



According to Sir Rufane Donkin's statement, when Lord Charles Somerset 

 returned to the Cape of Good Hope, after an absence of two years, during 

 which Sir R. Donkin had officiated as acting-governor, Lord Charles 

 treated him (Sir R. Donkin) with a coldness bordering upon, if not 

 amounting to, disrespect; and of this conduct Sir R. Donkin (in his post- 

 script to a late edition of his pamphlet) complains in the following terms : 



" During two whole years I had been heaping on Lord Charles Somerset's two 

 sons, and on alt the friends he had recommended to me, every kindness in my 

 power. When the frigate entered Table Bay, I felt quite sure that Lord Charles 

 Somerset's first words to me would be the words of thankfulness and regard for all 

 I had done for him. I expected a warm and cordial embrace but, instead of 

 this, the staff officer, whom I had sent on board to say that my carriages were 

 waiting Lord Charles Somerset's orders on the beach, and that dinner would be 

 ready as soon as he and his family landed, was sent back to me without one word 

 of answer ! no message ! no communication to me at all ! but simply an an- 

 nouncement that Lord Charles Somerset would land early next morning. He did 

 so land and entering the Government House, while I was just going out to receive 

 him, he sent me the note which is printed at page 97." 



Now. assuming that no cause (here unexplained) operated to influence 

 Lord Charles Somerset's conduct, this was a mode of treatment certainly 

 something cavalier. And if Sir R. Donkin's patronage had been so freely 

 dispensed as he describes, it would seen! almost to have been something 

 ungrateful. But the circumstance which immediately occurs to the reader 

 is this Sir Rufane Donkin appears to be acquainted with all the facts 

 which, he says, in a letter afterwards, would " astonish and shock" Lord 

 Bathurst, and " plunge Lord Charles into utter ruin," prior to the time 

 when he " heaps upon Lord Charles's sons," and " all the friends he recom- 

 mended" to him, every kindness in his power and " provided dinner" 

 and expected a " warm and cordial embrace," and " sent his carnages, 

 &c. to the beach:" His charges are not brought forward until after the 

 " dinner and the carriages" oxe declined, the " embrace" not proffered, and 

 no acknowledgment made of the " heaps of favours," by the governor 

 returning to the exercise of his authority ! This fact does not alter the value 

 of Sir R. Donkin's charges, whatever they may be ; but it will induce peo- 

 ple to accept no point of them without distinct and unquestionable proof. 



* Tbe exhibition which took place, at the Crown and Auclior dinner, was a more signal 

 failure still. 



