DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49271#0140
Drawings of Hottentot women
85
Majesty.” 5 This document is dated “In the Castle of Good Hope 20th Septr. 1795”
and is signed by Thibault and others.
The next reference of interest is a letter from Thibault to William Huskisson, Esqre.,
chief clerk of the War Department, dated “Cap de Bonne Esperance, Le 13 Octobre
1800.” 6 This letter explains how Sir George Yonge, the new Governor, unjustly seized
certain maps and plans of the Colony and its fortifications, which Thibault had made
for himself in his leisure time, after having been relieved of his duties by the surrender of
the colony to the British. The writer finds his position in the colony precarious because
of the unjust suspicions of Sir George and others, and he asks to be placed upon a more
secure footing, offering to put his knowledge of architecture at the disposal of the colony.
He states that he loves the colony, has resided there for seventeen years, and wishes to
remain there with his family, to live honorably, and to employ the residue of his years
in useful work. This letter is written in French.
Immediately following it is a “Private Letter from Major General Dundas to William
Huskisson, Esqre,” dated “Cape, 15th October, 1800” 7 The letter reads as follows:
“Dear Huskisson,— You will receive a letter from a Monsieur Thibault of this place whose repre-
sentations therein contained will be of course laid before Mr. Dundas in the event of anything being
stated by Sir George Yonge concerning him.
This Thibault was the Dutch Engineer at the capture of the Settlement, was for some time upon
his Parole and afterwards preferred taking the oath of allegiance rather than quit the Colony and al-
though certainly he is not an Englishman yet during the administration of Sir James Craig and Lord
Macartney the propriety of his conduct appeared to be such as to entitle him to the protection of His
Majesty’s Government consequently his private property was respected and he himself permitted to
live undisturbed.
The Plans which Sir George is desirous of possessing have been hitherto considered the individual
property of this man and being very pretty Sir James Craig offered him the sum of 100 Guineas for one
of them which he refused. In my opinion poor Thibault being allowed to keep his plans is not a fig’s
consideration as to the safety of the colony. In truth I believe he is as willing as many others employed
to serve John Bull faithfully and might be made useful here as an Architect which has been his chief
study and in which he has a fine taste but I conceive him to be of very slender abilities as a military
Engineer. I am &c.
[Signed] Francis Dundas.”
In 1801 Sir George Yonge was recalled to England with charges preferred against
him, and Major-General Francis Dundas became Acting Governor on the twenty first
of April, 1801, a position which he had held previous to the arrival of Sir George Yonge.
5 G. McC. Theal, Records of the Cape Colony, from February 1793 to December 1796, vol. 1, p. 141 sqq.,
Cape Colony, 1897. Cf. also Ibid., vol. XX, p. 103, 105, 108.
6 Ibid., vol. 3, p. 306-313.
7 Ibid., vol. 3, p. 313 sq.
85
Majesty.” 5 This document is dated “In the Castle of Good Hope 20th Septr. 1795”
and is signed by Thibault and others.
The next reference of interest is a letter from Thibault to William Huskisson, Esqre.,
chief clerk of the War Department, dated “Cap de Bonne Esperance, Le 13 Octobre
1800.” 6 This letter explains how Sir George Yonge, the new Governor, unjustly seized
certain maps and plans of the Colony and its fortifications, which Thibault had made
for himself in his leisure time, after having been relieved of his duties by the surrender of
the colony to the British. The writer finds his position in the colony precarious because
of the unjust suspicions of Sir George and others, and he asks to be placed upon a more
secure footing, offering to put his knowledge of architecture at the disposal of the colony.
He states that he loves the colony, has resided there for seventeen years, and wishes to
remain there with his family, to live honorably, and to employ the residue of his years
in useful work. This letter is written in French.
Immediately following it is a “Private Letter from Major General Dundas to William
Huskisson, Esqre,” dated “Cape, 15th October, 1800” 7 The letter reads as follows:
“Dear Huskisson,— You will receive a letter from a Monsieur Thibault of this place whose repre-
sentations therein contained will be of course laid before Mr. Dundas in the event of anything being
stated by Sir George Yonge concerning him.
This Thibault was the Dutch Engineer at the capture of the Settlement, was for some time upon
his Parole and afterwards preferred taking the oath of allegiance rather than quit the Colony and al-
though certainly he is not an Englishman yet during the administration of Sir James Craig and Lord
Macartney the propriety of his conduct appeared to be such as to entitle him to the protection of His
Majesty’s Government consequently his private property was respected and he himself permitted to
live undisturbed.
The Plans which Sir George is desirous of possessing have been hitherto considered the individual
property of this man and being very pretty Sir James Craig offered him the sum of 100 Guineas for one
of them which he refused. In my opinion poor Thibault being allowed to keep his plans is not a fig’s
consideration as to the safety of the colony. In truth I believe he is as willing as many others employed
to serve John Bull faithfully and might be made useful here as an Architect which has been his chief
study and in which he has a fine taste but I conceive him to be of very slender abilities as a military
Engineer. I am &c.
[Signed] Francis Dundas.”
In 1801 Sir George Yonge was recalled to England with charges preferred against
him, and Major-General Francis Dundas became Acting Governor on the twenty first
of April, 1801, a position which he had held previous to the arrival of Sir George Yonge.
5 G. McC. Theal, Records of the Cape Colony, from February 1793 to December 1796, vol. 1, p. 141 sqq.,
Cape Colony, 1897. Cf. also Ibid., vol. XX, p. 103, 105, 108.
6 Ibid., vol. 3, p. 306-313.
7 Ibid., vol. 3, p. 313 sq.