Government of the colony. 



CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 



Sir George Napier. 



349 



plan. The former we frequented during our short 

 stay, and found it comfortable, although far inferior 

 to what might have been expected from the size 

 of the town. 



The Cape of Good Hope was originally settled by 

 the Dutch in 1652; captured by the British in 

 17^5; restored again after the peace of Amiens in 

 1802; again taken possession of in 1806; and finally 

 ceded to Great Britain in 1815. During its occu- 

 pation as a Dutch colony, it had twenty-eight go- 

 vernors, and since it has been under British rule 

 it has had eighteen. By this it will be perceived 

 that the changes in its administration have been 

 frequent, and what might naturally be expected to 

 follow, the policy and character of its governors 

 have been vacillating. It has been generally ruled 

 very much after the ideas of those who presided 

 for the time being. The government is nominally 

 vested in the governor, and an executive and legis- 

 lative council, who are all appointed by the crown, 

 or with its approbation and consent. 



Under this system of government it has been the 

 misfortune of the Cape colony to be placed ; and the 

 advantages it has possessed under some, have been 

 counterbalanced by others, and not unfrequently 

 the salutary regulations made by one, have, with- 

 out any apparent reason, in the minds of the colo- 

 nists, been annulled or set aside by others; which, 

 of course, has tended to foment discord and produce 

 a feeling of opposition to British rule: this has pre- 

 vented the advancement of the colony, and retarded 

 its usefulness by giving license to crime that other- 

 wise would not have existed. 



Of late years, however, although the government 

 still remains the same, yet they have been more 

 fortunate in the individuals who have presided over 

 it. In regarding the British colonial system, it 

 appears remarkable that the British nation, gene- 

 rally so mindful of political rights, should place it 

 in the power of distant governors to rule their 

 colonists with almost despotic sway, and their 

 growth and rise to be at the option of any one in- 

 dividual, who may arbitrarily crush or paralyse the 

 efforts of industry and the development of re- 

 sources. Many of the inhabitants of the Cape 

 complain of this polity, but look forward to the 

 adoption, in the course of time, of an elective 

 legislative body, which will give them some share 

 in the government, and prevent not only misrule, 

 but undue taxation and a misapplication of its funds 

 in the various improvements which government 

 may authorize. 



The executive council consists of seven mem- 

 bers, including the governor, who is the presiding 

 officer ; and the legislative council of thirteen, 

 composed of the members of the executive council 

 and five additional unofficials, who are themselves 

 residents of the colony, named by the governor, and 

 appointed by the crown. 



The same kind of government may be said to 

 exist now as in New South Wales, of which I have 

 had occasion to speak when treating of that colony ; 

 and it is thought to be equally inefficient, and to 

 require reform. 



One of the circumstances that had agitated the 

 respectable portion of this colony, has been the 

 publication of the authentic Cape records. Many 

 entered warmly into the scheme at first, but it was 

 soon perceived what the developments were likely 

 to be, and that many who had played a conspicuous 



part in the history of the colony, were about to have 

 all their public as well as private acts brought to 

 light; and this has raised a strong opposition to the 

 continuance of the publication. The editor, Donald 

 Moodie, Esq., in the year previous to our visit, 

 made an appeal, stating the difficulties that he had 

 encountered, and adding, that he would in conse- 

 quence be obliged to give up the task. Some of 

 the numbers were sent me by a friend, which I 

 took the more interest in perusing, as exhibiting 

 the history of the tribe of Hottentots, which may 

 be now deemed almost extinct, so far as the civilized 

 and settled portions of the colony extend. Many 

 disreputable actions on the part of all those who 

 have been engaged were here exposed, and I am 

 not at all surprised that the official incumbent, as 

 well as others, should exert all their interest to 

 effect its suppression; however, as many of these 

 statements are now before the public, it would be 

 desirable that they should be gone through with, 

 that there may be a full understanding of the trans- 

 actions that have now come to light, in order to 

 have a full knowledge of the state of the affairs of 

 the colony, as well in relation to the governor as to 

 those who have been employed under the govern- 

 mental authority, whether missionaries or officials. 

 Like the secret details of all colonies, they will show 

 a great deal of misrule, inhumanity, and want of 

 system, in the conduct of affairs. The opposing 

 interests are such that the whole will probably be 

 exposed. The colonists, on the one side, feeling 

 themselves unjustly charged with cruelty and per- 

 secution of the unfortunate natives, desire that all 

 the investigations that have taken place may be 

 brought before the public; while, on the other 

 hand, those who are or have been in any way con- 

 nected with the government, are, from all accounts, 

 disposed to the suppression of this documentary 

 evidence. Were I desirous of showing the dark 

 side of the picture, I might insert here a few ex- 

 tracts that would startle the many who now boast 

 of their philanthropic actions, and are disposed to 

 condemn the actions of others in regard to slavery, 

 who are, in comparison, far less guilty of wrong to 

 the interests of humanity. Those who are dis- 

 posed to look further into these subjects, may con- 

 sult " Specimens of the Authentic Records of the 

 Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, relative to the 

 Aboriginal Tribe; together with an Inquiry into 

 the Justice and Expediency of publishing the re- 

 maining Portion of those Records, by Donald 

 Moodie: Cape of Good Hope, 1841." 



On the morning after my arrival I called on his 

 excellency the governor, at the government-house, 

 where I had the honour of an introduction to Sir 

 George Napier. His reception was kind and frank. 

 With him I passed a pleasant half hour. Sir George 

 is one of the heroes of the Peninsular War, and 

 bears the marks of his activity in those well-con- 

 tested conflicts, in the loss of an arm. He showed 

 me over the apartments, which, however, are not 

 now occupied, as he was living at his country-seat. 

 They appear convenient, and afford from the win- 

 dows a view of the government demesne, which is 

 quite pretty, planted as it is with fine old oaks; 

 part of it is kept as a public walk, which the citizens 

 frequent on holidays in large numbers. The Cape 

 station has never been a popular one, from the 

 want of society; but of late years very many per- 

 sons from India have made it a resort for the reco- 



