Briefwisseling oor Kaapse sake 1778-1792

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X. H. Cloete to Swellengrebel,
Nooitgedacht, 2.1.1780

The commotion amongst the burghers is spreading like wildfire. If they are not given complete satisfaction, I fear that the consequences will be dire. However, it was worse in the years 1738 and 1739. Your father who took office as governor in those dangerous times, was able, through wise administration, to restore peace and quiet in a short time, earning great praise, as is remembered to this day. The Latins believe in omens and I, and others beside, hope that your visit to the Cape, already completed, foreshadows your return here (perhaps as Governor). Rumour has it that our gentle and benign governor, together with some of the ‘hawks’ among the officials, may soon retire, which I do not doubt, especially once the chips are down.

Well now, my compatriot, namesake and friend, do not let your esteemed father down. Your old friends still hanker after your family and the others, who have not, but have heard such excellent reports, not much less. You would be welcomed with illuminations, flags, festive salutes by cannon, dancing, jumping etc., by those who would look on you as the proper instrument of restoring order as your father was before you. More I dare not say.

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XI. ? to Swellengrebel, 10.1.1780

Most Honourable Sir,

Last year I purposely did not write to you to tell you about the condition of some of our burghers, because I did not want to repeat what others had most likely told you. Now something has happened that you ought to know. I have heard that you have given yourself the trouble to speak to the representatives of the burghers. To my regret I have to inform you that during the yearly military review in October, a deputation of officers approached the governor, as it were, in the name of the burghers, and asked him to allow the present burgher councillors to remain in office until they had heard from Europe. What kind of news did they expect - for it was not known that requests had been sent to the Netherlands - which could compel the government to change established usage? Most of the burghers did not even know what requests had been made in their name, yet it was secretly put out that if the requests were not met, the burghers were in arms. Why did they not approach the government at the Cape first of all? Why did their representatives leave the Cape under false pretences? I can assure you that most of the ordinary burghers knew nothing about these goings on. Had the burghers in Stellenbosch known that a similar request, not to change the heemraden until their complaints had been met, was made in their name, they would have beaten the petitioners. I can assure you that most of those who signed the petition, not having read further than the first line, did not know what they were doing. It was a repetition of what happened in Drakenstein where, to create an impression that the whole congregation was against the call of Theron to be elder, children who had not yet been a member of the congregation for a whole month, were allowed to sign the petition.

Just before the representatives of the burghers left the Cape, a pamphlet was found in the streets, demanding that eight burgher councillors instead of three should have a seat on the Council of Justice, immediately after the members of the Council of Policy, and thus be higher in rank than the junior merchants who are members of the Council of Justice only. In that case permanent members would have to make place for members who are appointed for two years only.

As long as the burghers are well governed, what does it matter to them what rank their representatives (so called!) enjoy? Why cannot they be satisfied with the rank which has been granted to their predecessors for over a hundred years? But I believe that they do not know what they want. I hear that some want a separate sheriff's or alderman's bench. Would they be satisfied with its judgments? To whom would they appeal? A Council

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of Justice would be needed, and its members would have to be of higher rank. I do not know how to make sense of it all.

I am curious to know how all these extravagances can be squared with patriotic zeal, what proposals have been made to develop new outlets for their commerce and what more do they want for their grain? Since when have they been left sitting with a surplus? Not long ago the Noordbeek left for Batavia empty, because there was no wheat to be had. Later it became clear that there was actually quite sufficient wheat to supply a great number of English sailors. Could the burghers in January have known that the English fleet would be at the Cape in October? Had it not arrived would they then have been forced to sit with their unsold grain or sell it for Rds. 10 to the bakers? Suppose the XVII decided to allow freedom of trade and shipping. Where would we go? To the West-Indies. But, as you know, we are not allowed to go there. The French islands? But that would be foolish, because French ships buy our produce here and ship it without any cost or risk to ourselves. This has never been forbidden, except when grain is very scarce as the result of a bad harvest, and it is prudent to reserve it for ourselves in the first instance. I do not know how to change a cattle-farmer into a grain-farmer. In time there will no longer be enough land for every young man who wants to become a cattle-farmer; but why do they not already, as in Europe, work for a master and escape from living with the beasts, like beasts, in the veld? You know as well as I that they are too lazy. It should be possible to make regulations to force them to work. It cannot be done while we have too few officials to fill even the ordinary posts; captains without troops, if the burghers will not follow them on Commando. Perhaps Frederik II of Prussia would provide us with some mercenary soldiers, for he has enough. In that way we could protect this colony which is of such consequence for the Company against surprise attacks. Don't tell me that I am in a melancholy mood, as I am forced to stay in this country where conceit is a curse which threatens to bring it to a fall. Honestly, I am afraid when I see all the dangers that surround us. If peace does not come soon, I fear we shall be plucked bare as if by birds of prey, so that nothing will remain not even a stubble. God help us.