CHAMPION, Frederic
430
62 Old Broad Street
City
16th October 1819
Sir,
I beg to apologise for the liberty I take in addressing you, but being desirous of obtaining information respecting the proposed settlement at the Cape of Good Hope I presume you are the channel through which the most correct information is to be procured.
I am a young man in the prime of life without encumbrance – have been brought up to mercantile pursuits but having been disappointed in my prospects owing to the commercial distress of the country and conceiving that a field fro enterprize and exertion is opened by the intended colonization of Southern Africa, I am solicitous to become one of the emigrants thither, and although my pursuits have been hitherto of a mercantile nature I am capable and willing to turn my mind to such as are more congenial to the situation of a settler in a new colony and also should feel no hesitation giving my personal support to any measures necessary for the defence of the settlement against the incursions of the neighbouring tribes of Africans. I should therefore esteem myself honoured by your condescension to give me the necessary information and in case of my application to you being improper I hope you will excuse it (being the consequence of my ignorance) and that you will further condescend to inform me where I am to direct my application; and if any further explanation is necessary on my part I shall be most ready to give it; at present I have nothing further to add except that I can give the most unexceptionable references for character &c and to humbly request that you will pardon my boldness in troubling you, and am Sir
Your most obedient servant
Frederic CHAMPION