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CAPE TOWN, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 8th July, 1850. 



DEAREST MOTHER, We arrived here safely and all well a fortnight ago and this 

 is the first mail that has left since then, so that what with our very long passage and 

 tin; other delay, you will I fear have wondered where in the world I am. I found 1 Inn I 

 letters of introduction to everybody worth knowing in Cape Town. Sir Harry Smith 

 is most civil, and I feel just as much at home here as in Leamington. Andersson is 

 a right good fellow and particularly well. He desires to be very kindly remembered to 

 all of you. I found out an old Leamington acquaintance of yours, or rather she found 

 me out, a Mrs Menzies, who was there in 1840 and knew Admiral Christian well. She 

 is the wife of the Chief Justice here and is a particularly nice person. I daresay Emma 

 will recollect her. My old ally, Hyde Parker is here in command of a ship and has just 

 taken some prizes another friend also, a Cantab whom I had my Xmas dinner with, 

 on the Nile, is settled here. The news as regards my future plans, is somewhat 

 chequered : Four clays after I arrived news came from the frontier, that the Rebel 

 Dutchmen (Boers they call them) had entirely stopped every route, and were on the 

 point of themselves, going immediately to the Lake in order to keep it for themselves 

 and had stopped parties of English Travellers and robbed them. My plans have been 

 therefore changed. I intend either to go round by Natal near Delagoa Bay, or else on the 

 western coast by Walfisch Bay, so as to turn their flank. Government, i.e. Sir H. Smith, 

 desires me to take some letters to the Chiefs about, with reference to this movement of 

 the Boers in order to resist them. It has been, and still may be for aught I know, 

 seriously contemplated to annex this wide country to the Colony. Anyhow I shall know 

 all about it in two days. I have offered to do whatever Government wishes, and 

 I should not be surprised if I had orders of some importance to carry out. Till then as 

 my plans are so unsettled I cannot say more but I am ready for a start any day and as 

 soon as a decision is come to shall very likely be packed off at once ; so I may have to 

 leave Cape Town this week. 



I have received no letter from England as yet. Please direct them, Cape Toum 

 Cape of Good Hope, unless I write again to the contrary as I have no chance whatever of 

 going within 500 miles of Colesberg. Andersson is delighted at the prospect of anything 

 like a scrimmage and the fact of there having been 1000 ottered for the capture of one 

 Boer, and 500 for another on account of previous enormities quite unconnected with 

 the present business gives an extra zest to the fun of his present destination. 



If I go to Natal, I shall recollect to enquire about Darwin's prote"g Mr Hume, and 

 will report on the state of his farm. Sir H. Smith has a glorious team of beagles they 

 don't run half as fast as those at Edstone did, and if possible make more noise. They 

 run about in front of Government House and have been trained to chivy any strange 

 dog that may approach too near, which they do at full cry. Give my love to everybody 

 babies and all. I will write by next mail, which must leave in 10 days I should 



think. 



Ever your affectionate son, FRANK G ALTON. 



WELCH'S HOTEL, CAPE TOWN. August 5th, 1850. 



My DEAR DAHWIN, In an hour more and I shall be off, with I think nearly as 

 efficient a lot of men and cattle, as could possibly be met with. I have been obliged to 



