Briefwisseling oor Kaapse sake 1778-1792

[p. 334]

XV. J.A. Baron van Plettenberg to Swellengrebel,
Cabo, 12.5.1780

Since my letter of the 7th March and before receipt of your letters of the 3rd of November and the 20th of December 1779, and before my instruction to Van Jaarsveld could have been carried out, I have had a report from Swellendam that the burghers of both districts have taken the law into their own hands and have assembled a commando against the Caffers: the Swellendammers under P. Ferreira and the burghers from Stellenbosch under Josua Joubert, fieldcornet in the Camdebo. Both commandos have crossed the Fish River, killing many inhabitants and taking a large number of cattle including some of their own cattle that had been stolen previously. I have asked the landdrost of Stellenbosch to keep me informed, but I am afraid that we are now in for more trouble because the Caffers will wait for an opportune moment to take their revenge and it is the innocent who will suffer. One needs superhuman power to instil Christian love into our people, so that they will look upon the Caffers and Hottentots as their fellow-men and brothers. The designation ‘Heathen’ is taken as justification for their acts of revenge or covetousness towards these people, even as the Jews of old desired to annihilate all the inhabitants of Canaan as soon as an anathema was pronounced against them. I feel no consciousness of a supernatural mission which would lead me to take such a step, such as the priests of Israel had. I would never have given such an order. The responsibility, then, lies with those who have carried out the deed. Possibly - too late - they will feel remorse in their inmost selves, unless all ideas of right and decency have been stifled, seared by the branding-iron of self-interest.

I could not discern any sign in your letters that you were aware of the XVII's provisional resolution about Cape affairs. As it is sealed ‘Secret’, I can disclose no more than that I shall find it difficult to execute, and it will probably make enemies for me. Mr. O. ... may be able to let you know more, if opportunity offers, since he has let me know why affairs did not turn out in accordance with your plan for avoiding publicity. This was destroyed by an ill-considered attempt by the Advocate to protect his relative; although I am sure that he subsequently came to realise faults in the latter's behaviour.

Artoijs has deceived me over his reasons for going to the Netherlands. The people who started the movement are on the whole not very honourable. This appears from the list of signatories. Few of the foremost citizens would have anything to do with it. This has more than once been the case in the course of the history of the Republic.

[p. 335]

My successor will have to be chosen carefully. No one must be chosen who regards the post as a means of restoring his own shaky financial position. The Company should put all its officials on the same footing. It would be wise to appoint some one whose love for the land of his birth will animate him to uphold the reputation of his forefathers through conduct which, at the same time, will win the affection of the inhabitants. I know only one such a person, and possibly he does not wish to leave the comfort of his present life. A word to the wise is enough.

I am sending you the map which Leijste has drawn, stretching from St. Helena Bay to the Bay of de la Goa, or Swartkops River Bay. It can be made into a good nautical map ...