12 
INTRODUCTIONS. 
26—28 Nov. 
personally known to General Jansens the last Dutch governor, and 
to several officers of his suite, among whom was Dr. Lichtenstein, 
the present professor of natural history in the university at Ber- 
lin. On being informed of my intention of visiting the colony, they 
voluntarily offered letters and friendly recommendations to many 
Dutch and German families residing there. 
Among these, the Reverend Frederick Hesse, the Lutheran minis- 
ter, was more particularly mentioned to me ; and a correspondence 
having from that time continued to subsist between us, I now decided 
on repairing to his house ; having first secured a lodging at the 
" English Hotel." The reception which I met with, was such as to 
prepossess me with a favourable opinion of the place and of its in- 
habitants. He would not allow that I should take up my abode 
elsewhere than at his house during my stay in Cape Town ; and the 
friendly kindness of his manners at last persuaded me to accept his 
hospitality. 
The lateness of the evening did but just permit me to present 
another letter of introduction, and to pay a visit to an old acquaint- 
ance : but as I walked along the streets, the remaining twilight was 
still sufficient both to excite and to satisfy much of my curiosity ; 
and I was particularly struck with the elegant style of architecture, 
regularity, and cleanness of the town. 
Thus passed my first African day. Gratified by every thing I 
had met with, when I retired to rest, a train of pleasing reflections 
and anticipations long kept me from sleep. 
21th. The next morning I presented my letters to the Governor 
the Earl of Caledon, who expressed with much politeness his inclin- 
ation and readiness to forward my views. 
A letter of introduction to the Deputy Colonial Secretary, Major 
(now Colonel) Bird, was the means of my obtaining afterwards much 
polite attention from that gentleman. He was then filling the office 
of the Colonial Secretary Mr. Alexander, to whom I was already per- 
sonally known, but who was absent on a mission to England. To the 
friendship of Mr. Alexander, and a voluntary offer of several letters 
