SOUTHERN AFRICA. ^ 
A few days before our arrival at Algoa Bay, General Vandeleur 
had fubdued the rebellious boors in the manner I have already 
defcribed in the beginning of this chapter, and had fent the 
ringleaders on board his Majefly's fhip the Rattlefnake, to be 
conveyed to the Cape to take their trial there by their own 
laws, before their own court of juftice. Defirable as it might 
have been to punifii the leaders upon the fpot by oiaiual law, 
as an example to a rebellious people, the General refolved to try 
on^e more what lenient meafures might efFed, concluding that, 
in the event of their own countrymen finding them guilty, the 
colonifls muft at leaft acknowledge the juftice of the decifion ; 
whereas in the other cafe, as it generally happens, the public 
are more ready to blame the feverity of martial law than to 
acknowledge the criminality of thofe upon whom it is in- 
fiiaed. . 
This trial for feditlon and rebellion caufed no fmall degree 
of fpeculation at the Cape ; and the general opinion was, that 
either from inclination, or the fear of offending their country- 
men, the judges would acquit the prifoners. Such conjedlures 
were founded on the very illiberal and erroneous notion, that 
in no inftance where a colonift and a foreigner were concerned 
had the latter obtained his caufe before this court. Such an 
idea might probably have taken its rife from the conftitutioa 
and the pradice of the court. Two-thirds of its members 
were chofen out of the fervants of the Dutch EaPi India Com- 
pany, and one-third only from the burghers of the town. The 
Company, as proprietors of the fettlement, dire(9:ed their fer- 
vants to take the afcendancy and the lead in all colonial affairs ; 
VOL. II. N but 
