Showing 1 results

Archival description
George Macartney
Print preview View:

George Macartney

  • ZA HPRA A734
  • Fonds
  • 1798 - 1799

This bound volume, No. 4050 (III) in the Oppenheimer Library, comes from the Phillips Mss 1896. It contains a diary, copies of proclamations and copies of circulars and letters to officials, which cover 64 un-numbered pages in the volume.

The details are as follows:

Diary of official business at the Cape 1798 November 1-20, 24 pages: it is concerned with a variety of subjects including burgher petitions, government contracts, Land revenue, customs, taxation and extorts. At the end is a copy of an oath sworn by Lord Macartney, 1798 November 19, that he has accepted no bribes and that he has not abused his office in any way.

Proclamations: 4 items 1798 November 3-19, 8 items: they relate to defaced currency, the prohibition of the distillation of spirits from grain, the assessment of districts for repair of roads avid the appointment of General Dundas as Macartney's successor.

Circulars and letters to officials; 33 items 1798 October 28-November 20, 31 pages: subjects covered included the sale of wine and provisions to passing ships, wharfage dues, prize goods, the examination of the Vendue Masters' accounts, the maintenance of the Opgaaf Rolls and the establishment of the Customs Department.

The names of correspondents included W.A. Ackerman, A. Barnard, J.Baumgardt, F.R. Bresler, A.de Waal, J. H.Greene, J. Holland, P. Leyns,A Maxwell, J. Pringle and H. Ross.

At the end of the volume is the draft of a letter, 1p probably in Macartney's own hand, 1799 Jan, 29, written on board the "Stately" on his homeward journey and addressed to Evan Nepean, the Admiralty, London, enclosing a packet from Admiral Christian at the Cape.