Philipton
May 23. 1850
5
My dear Mr Freeman
Owing to the detentions of
the past by the rains and my absence into
Caffreland for the recovery of Mrs Read,
and one of our childrens healths I could
10not reply to yours of the 4 ultimo till now.
1[.] I shall take the earliest opportunity of communicating
with Mr Ulbrecht about his son.
2. I have not had any recent information
about Madoors country - however I dont hear
15a word now about the task - On Campbell
shaking his tardant over Sir H by the
publication of your letter may for
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the present [ ] farther proceedings –
I met Mr Calderwood yesterday & he
told me that the Boors have been causing
a disturbance among the Tambookies, that is
5they have threatened to drive them out
of their country & that Govt he had advised
the Govt to send a force to apprehend
the [ ]ringleaders among the Boors - but
that Sir H shrinks from it - It is to be
10borne in mind that He first promised
the Boors that he would parcel out
Tambooland among them - I think
Sir A spoke about it to you.
3. "How are you likely to be offended by the
15constitution "–?" If justice is done there & is if
all who have property to the amount of 50 £
be fit for electons then will be nearly 7 or 7800 be
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have the right of electing as nearly all the
erfs are valued by the Road Board at
from 50 to 70 £ – The diagram should
be issued immediately as their ostensible reason
5for not building good houses is for
want of that & the ^ want of security & sense of security
of life and property - The Natives look on
the present peace as a hushed volcano = therefore
they are disinclined to build at least for the
10present -
4. The holder of lands at Kat River may sell
and transfer their lands - & therefore it is very
likely in a short the lands may fall into the
hands of others —
15
5[.] The only thing that can put off this is that the
English Protection Society buy up all vacant
erfs & sell them again to other industrious
Natives - This There is no risk in such
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a plan. The old English anti-slavery &
Protection Societies must not abandon
the Natives —
6. I am not of opinion that the Natives will
5suffer greatly from the Establishment of a
representative assembly - but more from a
federal union -
7 I shall write to Mr [ ] by next
post about the accounts -
10
I intent this merely as an outline of my
views - but I shall write deliberately write in
the conjunction with my father & drink
to the Mission Bloomfield [ ] —
Be so kind my dear Sir as to present
15my kindest regards to Mrs Freeman
& your excellent daughters & believe me
Yours respectfully & affectionately
James Read