1831.] 
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
69 
of the slaves, as respects their food, clothing, hours of labour 
punishment, marriages, &c. This was wormwood to the Dutch, 
who consider their slaves in the same light as some teamsters do 
their horses : — " If there be any work in the animal," say they, 
" we must bring out our money's worth by the lash of the whip." 
They therefore convened a meeting, and passed resolutions to de- 
nounce the Cotmnercial Advertiser, as unworthy their patronage 
and support ; and, as a joint-stock company, to establish an oppo- 
sition paper, called the Zuid Afrikain, which maintains a policy 
diametrically opposed to that advocated by the other. Whether 
this, competition of clashing interests is calculated to produce 
beneficial effects, is a question that time will determine. There 
is also another periodical pubhshed here, called the Literary 
Gazette, which, is said to be entitled to no inconsiderable share of 
praise for the liberahty of its doctrines, and the literary merit of 
its original articles. 
The public library is an honour to the colony, having, in the 
course of five or six years, increased in books and subscribers 
until it has attained to a degree of prosperity unrivahed in any 
colonial annals. Its shelves present a brilliant display of the bes^ 
works on all subjects and in divers languages. The librarian, 
who is also secretary to the institution, and the editor of the Lit- 
erary Gazette, is distinguished for his affable deportment, urbanity 
of manners, and polite attention to visiters. A museum has also 
been established, which is rich in specimens of natural history, 
especially in those branches of it which are so numerous in 
Southern Africa. A very large and interesting menagerie of wild 
beasts likewise, as we were informed, once existed in this place, 
and was a great object of attraction to strangers ; but it has since 
dwindled away to a " beggarly account of empty" cages, there 
being not at present half a dozen subjects in the enclosure. 
Two infant schools have been established here, which appear 
to be conducted on excellent principles, and meet a very general 
support. Schools and academies for the higher branches are also 
in a flourishing condition. But the institution which merits the 
most attention, is the South African College, which embraces all 
the advantages of an English seminary and university, — admitting 
pupils with the shghtest possible preparation, and instructing them 
in the highest branches of science, and the widest range of liter- 
