Briefwisseling oor Kaapse sake 1778-1792

[p. 321]

VIII. Swellengrebel to J.A. Baron van Plettenberg,
Schoonoord, 3.11.1779

Young Artoys whom I had met on board the ship on which J.J. le Sueur's son travelled, informed me that there were a few burghers who had come here to hand over some complaints to the Company. I advised him to tell them to confine themselves to general issues, such as difficulties in finding a market, and not to make personal attacks nor to forget the respect that is due to the government. I refused to receive a visit from them, but the Hon. Van der Oudermeulen asked me to join him in Amsterdam to find out just what was at issue. I discovered that their attitude towards some people was bitter, though some complaints were obviously exaggerated and can be refuted. I am aware, knowing your magnanimous nature, how unpleasant you must find all these difficulties which have erupted during your term of office. We concluded that I ought to interview the First Advocate - without disclosing the nature of the charges - and suggest that it might be best for them to address the XVII over a general plan of reform for the Colony and hold back their individual complaints, which I would try to induce them to do. But I had the ill fortune to differ from this gentleman over the degree of freedom there ought to be in the Burgher community, as I was of the opinion that each individual must have the assurance that neither his person nor his goods might be touched except through a lawful sentence imposed by a judge competent to try his case; and that, although in times of trouble the Burgomasters of Netherlands Towns were empowered to exile a citizen on political grounds, this was a quite extraordinary remedy confined to such times. Moreover, such an exile could appeal to the States.

After much discussion we reached agreement that I should continue to work on my plan, merely to keep the affair from coming out into the open, and recommend a good advocate to the burghers. Boers suggested Advocate Calkoen and I undertook to put his name forward. They appeared receptive to my advice to draw up two memorials; one, for general redress, to be handed in, and the second, containing particular grievances, to be held in reserve. But they would not hear of a change of advocate.

In a subsequent discussion with First Advocate Boers, we again differed so widely that I realized it was useless to ask the burghers not to air their individual grievances without any assurance that Boers would treat their complaints seriously on their merits. I therefore withdrew from the affair. The burghers would not appoint Advocate Calkoen, although their own advocate fell sick. I was afraid they might pick one who would

[p. 322]

seize the opportunity to raise a scandal, and suggested Advocate Luyken, whose discretion can be relied upon.

A whole fortnight passed before I was again asked to come over by the Hon. van der Oudermeulen. He had tried to persuade the Cape burghers to hold back their petition until I had come. But it seems that they were afraid that I was going to try to persuade them not to hand in their petition, of which they were rather proud, so they had not waited to consult us, but had hastily handed it in before I reached Amsterdam. I then tried to induce them to withdraw it, but this was useless, though they might well have done so had any concessions been offered. The Company's advocate is angry and thinks I did not do enough to avert its presentation. If he had disagreed with me over the freedom of the individual, this had simply been because he wished to defend his cousin. Unfortunately, I am a simple man who does not think that personal attachments should influence one's judgment in public affairs. To me the welfare of the colony is very important and I hope Your Honour will not become disheartened by recent events, but will remain in charge of the Government for a long time to come. The welfare of the colony depends on it and I can assure you that those burghers who matter are well disposed towards you. I receive letters to that effect. Of course the dissatisfied burghers should first have approached you, before they turned to the XVII, but I do not doubt that when peace and quiet have returned you will find all the respect and affection which can be expected from well-disposed inhabitants.