Briefwisseling oor Kaapse sake 1778-1792

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XII. W.C. Boers to Swellengrebel
Cabo, 31.1.1780

In my previous letter I informed you that your compatriots at the Cape are becoming restless. I did not want to use a nastier term, but I think that sending representatives against the express prohibition of the government after they had been given permission to make their complaints in proper form, shows such a lack of respect and subordination that you will realise how insolent they are. The turmoil exceeds all limits that can be ascribed to ignorance. In Europe you can have no idea of the licentiousness and intrigues which are practised daily in order to keep the commotion going by telling stupid people in glowing terms what their privileges are; or of the conciliatory and lenient way in which the government, for its part, is acting.

Two or three young, ignorant and conceited people are openly employed in riding round to all the farms and villages to get the unsophisticated people to sign. These people often sign without knowing the contents. They are unlikely to get more out of it than frequent levies upon them to cover the expense of this ‘lovely’ commission! After these signatures had been obtained, some even by threats, a request was presented to the Government in the names of about 300 or 400 signatories, who, it was pretended, had asked of their own accord to send 5 or 6 representatives abroad. The government, realizing that, in effect, approval of a disrespectful act was sought, refused this request but authorised those who at any time had reason for complaint to bring it directly to the local Government's notice. Thereupon the present representatives, on various false pretexts, asked permission to go Europe, and this was granted. They kept very quiet until the yearly military parade took place, when the request was suddenly sprung that the present burgher councillors be allowed to stay in office on the grounds that they had a better knowledge of the matters in the petition, although those are the very people who ought to have put a stop to it.

The government, or at least a part of the government, is granting the request for one year only on condition that such like requests are never to be repeated. This answer was communicated by the Governor to two or three of the Burgher Officers. When they told the other officers at the Burgher Watchhouse, some - merely under-officers - became very insolent, saying that He, the Governor, had to agree, else blood would have been shed.

Since then the Burgher Councillors have arrogated to themselves various powers which they did not have before. Now there is great con-

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fusion everywhere. Hatred and envy, always so natural in our climate, play a large part in this drama of ours. One must be here to realize how bad things are. The nearest relatives will not look one another in the face. Murder is prevented only by self-interest. You seem to think that free trade will solve all problems. But, seeing that the difficulties started at a time when everything went well, the source of their discontent lies elsewhere. For the past three or four years it has been possible to sell corn and wine at exceptionally high prices. I doubt whether the sale of butter and soap come into the picture. However, it was just after the favourable change in the economic situation occurred that the trouble began and opened the floodgates of disrespect for the government; and that the leaders of this movement use the stupid and ignorant part of the population for their own ends. I believe that we see eye to eye and know the real reasons for the decline of the company which, if it continues, must lead to total ruin. Numbers are already too great and the resources in the immediate neighbourhood of the town are insufficiently varied to provide a living for everyone through mutual exchange. Laziness and the desire to live in luxury increase the difficulties ahead. Even those who work hard, may find themselves in difficulties when war conditions cease. Consequently, it becomes ten times more necessary to uphold the Council of Policy's plan of action and restore respect for the government. I, for myself, desire nothing more than to retire in an honourable way, especially as the agitators have abused me for the arrest of Buytendagh, misleading the people and involving me, quite undeservedly, in everything concerned with so notorious a case.

I shall not continue because I have taken up too much of your time as it is. Your friend and servant W.C. Boers.

Cabo 31 Jan. 1780

P.S. Written on my birthday, so that I shall drink 2 glasses (of wine?), one to your health and the other to celebrate the festival. vale.

P.S. I believe that Pater Goldbagh has already realised how silly his plan begins to look and that the ambitions of Madame will not influence him. It is rumoured that two of his sons are going to visit our Indies.