We have Cape Town papers of September the 1st. The
Anti-Convict agitation was unabated in any part of the colony; it was as obstinate and as active as ever. But the Governor had made a further concession to pub- lic feeling- " At a meeting of the inhabitants of Cape Town," says the Commercial Ad- vertiser, "held in the Town-house on Thursday, Mr. H. E. Rutherfoord and Mr. T. Ansdell stated, that they had waited on the Governor, at his Excellency's re- quest; when he stated to them that he would not receive the convicts on board the Neptune; that he would have nothing to do with them; and that the Ad- miral on the station would take charge of them.' " It is known, of course, that on board convict-vessels the convicts are under the sole control of the Surgeon Superintendent, who is furnished with instructions as to his conduct from the Admiralty. His Excellency's determination, therefore, not to receive or take charge of these convicts, is understood to leave the Surgeon Superintendent and the Admiral in Simon's Bay precisely in the same situation as if they met or sailed in company on the high seas. And in this position, his Excellency was reported to have said, the convicts on board the Neptune would remain, until an answer should be received from Earl Grey to a despatch sent home ;bout six weeks ago. This, his Excellency said, ' was all that he could do.'"
After this communication, the meeting passed the following resolution—.
" That this meeting is of opinion, that no contracts of any description should be entered into for the supply or use of the Military, Naval, or Civil Departments, until the order in Council making this colony a penal settlement be rescinded; and that the inhabitants of all classes be strongly recommended to adhere firmly to such resolution, as the only means of saving the colony from injury, degrada- tion, and ruin."
Previous page
