Skip to main content
GSSA
The 1820 Settler Correspondence
 as preserved in the National Archives, Kew
 and edited by Sue Mackay

pre 1820 Settler Correspondence before emigration

ALL the 1819 correspondence from CO48/41 through CO48/46 has been transcribed whether or not the writers emigrated to the Cape. Those written by people who did become settlers, as listed in "The Settler Handbook" by M.D. Nash (Chameleon Press 1987), are labelled 1820 Settler and the names of actual settlers in the text appear in red.

SINCLAIR, Martin

National Archives, Kew CO48/45, 779

No.19 High Street

Edinburgh

28th July 1819

My Lord,

Having learned from the Parliamentary Reports in the newspapers that a public grant has been made for carrying out settlers to the Cape of Good Hope I feel desirous of accompanying them as a Medical Practitioner if Government should be disposed to grant such a permission.

If this branch of the service comes under your Lordship's Department I most respectfully beg to be informed if there is any likelyhood of my getting a passage out to the Cape upon Proper Certificates of my Qualifications and Character being produced from the University of Edinburgh from which college I hold my Diploma – and if such permission would be granted might I further request to be informed upon what terms I would be sent out.

I am my Lord

Your Lordship's most obedient and very humble servant

Martin SINCLAIR

Surgeon

  • Hits: 5330