114 Recollections of Adventures 



Although Pretoria was the seat of Government, 

 President Pretorius lived in Potchefstroom ; where 

 he had a wagon-maker's shop, his house and gardens ; 

 as he said that he had no property in Pretoria. As 

 an inducement to him to reside in Pretoria the 

 towns-people and officials appointed a special com- 

 mittee in which (John Robert Lys and myself were 

 included) to select a piece of ground suitable for the 

 President's residence. The President went with us, 

 and the ground now known as "Skinners Court" was 

 chosen, It was understood that it was for the 

 President in perpetuity ; not as a gift to an 

 individual. I am not aware that any money was 

 granted for building, and Mr. Pretorius made it over 

 to Mrs. Skinner, in settlement of an account for 

 board and lodging. The good natured old fellow was 

 always hard-up, and when I saw him shortly before 

 his death, at Maquassie, after his resignation on 

 November 21st, 1871, he was in great poverty; so 

 different to the simple prosperous days on Kalk- 

 heuvel where I stayed with him. 



