it appears that a detachment had been despatched for the taking possession and occupation of the Island of Rodriguez under the military command of Lieutenant Colonel Keating and under the convoy of His Majesty's Ship Cornelia. * * * I have now a most painful duty to perform in communicating to their Lordships my serious apprehensions of the loss of His Majesty's Brig Harrier, which vessel parted company from the Racehorse in the Hurricane on the 16th March, and has not since been heard of. * * * [Original.] (Signed) A. BERTIE. Letter from the EARL OF CALEDON to VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH. CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE, 18th September 1809. MY LORD,―The length of time which it has necessarily taken to procure the documents called for by my Lords of the Committee of Trade has as yet prevented me from replying to your dispatch, No. 24, but I beg to assure your Lordship that I am by no means unmindful of your commands, more especially upon a subject which I am sensible requires the utmost accuracy and attention. I have not lately been honor'd by any dispatches from your Lordship. His Majesty's commands contained in all former ones have been executed according to my instructions. I am happy to acquaint your Lordship that, with the exception of some trifling depredations occasionally committed by wandering Caffres on the Eastern frontier, the Colony enjoys a state of perfect tranquillity, and the measures which I propose to adopt and which I shall fully submit by a less precarious conveyance will, I am inclined to believe, if not wholly control at least materially check any petty annoyance in that quarter. I have, etc. [Copy.] Letter from LIEUTENANT COLONEL COLLINS to the STELLENBOSCH, 22nd September 1809. MY LORD, I have the honor to acquaint your Excellency that I have received a report from Captain Frazer of the Cape Regiment, stating that the party of Caffers which had been commanded by Ogande, and which I formerly acquainted your Excellency I had directed that Officer to take charge of, had been conducted by him to the Drostdy of Uitenhage, from whence they were immediately sent by Major Cuyler to the Sondag River. They had been increased on the Road by the addition of several of their Countrymen who had been in service with the Inhabitants; and they finally amounted to the number of two hundred and seventy. In consequence of the great difficulties that had been experienced in clearing the District of Swellendam of these intruders, I requested that Captain Frazer would require a written declaration, as if upon oath, from the several Veld Cornets, stating that to the best of their belief none continued within their respective jurisdictions except the few that I had been induced to permit to remain from particular circumstances, such as females having children by slaves, &c. The enclosed papers will show the punctuality with which this zealous officer has fulfilled that part of his instructions, which corresponds entirely with his conduct in the execution of every other duty that I have had occasion to confide to him. In concluding the last Report that I hope it may be necessary for me to write on a subject that I fear must appear tedious, I am induced to recall to your Excellency's recollection that when you did me the honor to consult me upon the force to be sent to Uitenhage, and, if I recollect right, inquired whether a Squadron of Dragoons would not be necessary, I stated (having in view the Establishment of the 21st Regiment) that I thought a Troop would be sufficient. By the General Orders I observe that fifty men. have been ordered for that duty, which I confess is a less number than I expected. The Detaching of 20 or 30 more would not, I should hope, cause much inconvenience at Head Quarters, especially as so considerable an accession is shortly expected there; and it would be a greater benefit than I can possibly express in the neighbourhood of the Caffers, where a mounted force is unquestionably the most useful. I am the more inclined to take the liberty of hazarding these observations from perceiving that the number of infantry of the Line and Irregulars ordered to be sent is exactly what I had recommended, a circumstance which makes me apprehensive of having been misunderstood with regard to the Cavalry. I have &c. Proclamation by the EARL OF CALEDON. Whereas His Majesty, being duly authorized by an Act passed in this present session of Parliament, has been graciously pleased to take into His Royal consideration the state of the Trade of the Colony, and to pass an Order in Council for the better regulation thereof: These are to make known to all and every one the following Copy of the said Order in Council given at the Court of the Queen's palace, the 12th of April 1809. Whereas by an Act passed in the present session of Parliament, intituled "An Act to authorize His Majesty during the present War to make Regulations respecting the Trade and Commerce to and from the Cape of Good Hope," it is enacted that from and after the passing of the said Act it shall and may be lawful for His Majesty, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, by any Order or Orders to be issued from time to time, to give such directions, and make such regulations touching the Trade and Commerce to and from the said Settlement and the Territories and Dependencies thereof, as to His Majesty in Council shall appear most expedient and salutary, any thing contained in an Act passed in the Twelfth Year of the Reign of His Majesty Charles the Second, intituled "An Act for encouraging and increasing of Shipping and Navigation," or in an Act passed in the Seventh and Eighth Years of the Reign of His Majesty King William the Third, intituled "An Act for preventing Frauds and regulating Abuses in the Plantation Trade," or any other Act or Acts of Parliament now in force relating to His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations, or any other Act or Acts of Parliament, Law, Usage, or Custom to the Contrary notwithstanding; His Majesty is hereby pleased to order, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, in pursuance of the powers vested in His Majesty by the above recited Act, and it is hereby ordered, that it shall be lawful, until further Order, for all Ships and Vessels belonging to the Subjects of any Country or State in amity with His Majesty to enter into the ports of the said Settlement of the Cape of Good Hope, and of the Territories and Dependencies thereof, and to carry on Trade and Traffic with the Inhabitants of the said Settlement and of the Territories and Dependencies thereof, and to import and export to and from the Ports of the said Settlement and of the Territories and Dependencies thereof, any Goods, Wares, or Merchandize whatsoever, subject to the following Exceptions, Duties, Rules, Regulations, and Restrictions, that is to say, it shall and may be lawful for the Governor of the said Settlement and of the Territories and Dependencies thereof for the time being, to impose on all Goods, Wares, and Merchandize not of the Growth, Produce, or Manufacture of Great Britain or Ireland, which shall be imported into the said Settlement or the Territories or Dependencies thereof, from any part of His Majesty's Dominions, after due notice to be given by the Governor of the said Settlement, as herein after directed, a Duty not exceeding Fifteen per Cent on the Value thereof, such Duty to be rated and collected in the same manner as is in Use with regard to the Import Duty now levied at the said Settlement and the Territories and Dependencies thereof from and in Ships and Vessels belonging to the Subjects of Countries and States in amity with His Majesty, and upon the Goods and Merchandize imported in the same; provided always that the time of the commencement of such Duty shall be fixed in the proclamation, or other lawful Instrument, which shall be made and issued by the said Governor for the purpose of imposing such Duty, which time shall not be less than Six Months from the day of issuing such proclamation or other lawful Instrument, and provided also that the rate of Duty imposed on the Importation of Goods (not the Growth, Produce, or Manufacture of Great Britain and Ireland) from any part of His Majesty's Dominions, when so imported in British built Vessels, owned and navigated according to law, shall in no case be so high as that which shall be imposed on the like Goods imported in the Vessels of Foreign States. And it is His Majesty's pleasure that no goods, Wares, or Merchandize, the growth, Produce, or Manufacture of the Countries to the Eastward of the Cape of Good Hope be imported into the said Settlement or the Territories or dependencies thereof, except by the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, and that no such goods, Wares, or Merchandize be permitted to be exported from thence, except for Sea Stores only, or by the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, or by their Licence. But it is His Majesty's pleasure that nothing in this Order contained shall extend to prevent Ships or Vessels employed in the Southern Whale Fishery from carrying on the same, in such and the same manner as might have been done if this Order had not been made. And it is also His Majesty's pleasure that no Arms or Artillery, Gunpowder or Ammunition of any sort, be allowed to be imported into the said Settlement or the Territories and Dependencies thereof, except by the said United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, or by Licence from His Majesty. And it is His Majesty's further pleasure that the Trade and Commerce to and from the said Settlement and the Territories and Dependencies thereof shall be subject to such of the Laws of Trade and Navigation as would have affected the same if this Order had not been made, except so far as such Laws are contrary to the present Order. And the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty are to give, the necessary directions herein as to them may respectively appertain. I do therefore, in pursuance of the said Order in Council, and by Virtue of the Powers and Authorities in me vested, hereby order and direct that at the expiration of Six Months from and after the issuing of these presents, on all Goods, Wares, and Merchandize, not of the Growth, Produce, or Manufacture of Great Britain and Ireland, which shall be imported into this Settlement from any part of His Majesty's Dominions in Ships and Vessels belonging to the Subjects of Countries in amity with His Majesty a Duty of |