CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
425 
been employed under the governmental 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 w r hole will pro¬ 
bably be exposed. The colonists, on the one side, feeling themselves 
unjustly charged with cruelty and persecution 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 connected 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 extracts that would startle the many who now boast 
of their philanthropic action, 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 disposed to 
look further into these subjects, may consult “ 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 remaining 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-contested 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 windows 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 persons from India have made it a resort for the 
recovery of their health, and in a measure supplied the deficiency in 
this respect. The offices for the transaction of government business 
are in the immediate neighbourhood of the government-house, and 
within the precincts is also a college for the education of the youths 
of the colony; it has several professors, but I understood all those who 
desire to have their children well educated send them to Jlngland. 
The barracks are extensive, and well built, and have a large area 
in front as a parade-ground. There are several other buildings going 
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