THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, CAPE TOWN, AND ITS

ENVIRONS.

In the year 1795, this Colony (originally founded by the Dutch in 1652) was captured by the British arms under Sir James Craig, who became the first English Governor. In 1802 it was restored to the Dutch at the peace of Amiens, and again taken by the British, under Sir David Baird, in 1806. By a subsequent treaty (1815) it was finally ceded to Great Britain by the King of the Netherlands.

The Cape of Good Hope, considered in its political, commercial, and military relations, is deserving the highest consideration. "It is," observes the author of the History of the British Colonies, " to a maritime power like England, a jewel beyond price." And the Marquis Wellesley, who was here in 1798, has borne his testimony in its favour in the following words: "As a depôt for the maintenance of a military force in India, the Cape is invaluable; and as a naval station, I look upon to be still more important." The immense advantage of the Cape climate over that of every other Colony, Lord Wellesley points out with his usual sagacity; and the late Parliamentary Returns on the health of the British army fully establish, beyond all controversy, the enviable position of this interesting portion of the great globe.

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Cape Town, the metropolis of the Colony, is built immediately at the foot of Table Mountain, along the shores of Table Bay, on a plain which rises with an easy and subsequently toilsome ascent to the sumThe town is laid out with great regumit of the far-famed mountain. larity, parallel streets intersecting each other at right angles. It is under municipal regulations, and is divided into twelve districts, each district into four wards, the inhabitants of which elect their own wardThe duties of the wardmasters are various ;-the most important is the classification and appraisement of the landed property in Cape Town for the purpose of assessing the taxes.

masters.

The supply of water through the town, by means of hydraulic pipes, is abundant, affording at the same time any quantity required for shipping purposes, and of the purest quality in the world."

The return

of the population, according to the latest census, though certainly underrated, amounts to 22,500.

The Castle, situate on the left of the town, (entering from Table Bay,) is a strong fortification commanding the anchorage, and capable of successful resistance, when complete in its appointments. There are other works defending the castle, and the batteries are the Rogge Bay, Amsterdam, Chavonne, and the Mouille. At the latter place a lighthouse has been erected, in which a French lenticular light of the fourth order is in use.

The Barracks, apart from the castle, are a large, substantial, and

commodious pile of buildings, capable of containing about 4,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry.

The Commissariat Buildings (a new range) are near the Jetty, along the shores of Table Bay.

The Military Hospital is a noble range of buildings on the sea-side, near the lines of the Castle.

The Public Buildings for the transaction of the affairs of Government viz. :-the Colonial Office, Supreme Court, Judges' Chambers, Council Office, Treasury, Audit Office, Sheriff's Office, Master's Office, Registrar's Office of the Supreme Court, Clerk of the Peace Office, AttorneyGen. Office, Transfer Dues' Office, Post-Office, &c.—are all very nearly in juxtaposition, adjoining what are called the Government Gardens. In these Gardens are situated Government House, a College for public education, the Pauper Asylum, and an Infant School. There is a spacious public walk through these Gardens, overshadowed by noble oak trees, and further cooled in summer by running streams.

The Town Prison, on the sea-side, adjoins the Custom House. It is well regulated, and kept in perfect order as to health and cleanliness. The Police Office is in Burg Street. The Police are a body of men organised upon the principle of the London Police. Their efficiency is fully admitted, and their introduction is one of the best amendments in fiscal regulations. Connected with the Police, and the administration of justice, it is a subject of congratulation that crime is on the decrease in the Colony. There are comparatively few cases of great enormity; and in general, we believe, there is great confidence in the integrity of the population.

The Cape Town District includes 9 square miles, and we know for certainty that it is no uncommon case for dwelling-houses and outoffices to be altogether unfastened during the night. This is of course neither a prudent nor a cautious method of procedure; but we state the fact, because in an influential London paper it is said, that "the Cape population of every grade is in the lowest possible state of moral degradation."

The Established Cape-Dutch Church is Calvanistic, and in doctrine and presbyterian discipline approaches very near to that of the Church of Scotland. A perfect religious toleration prevails at the Cape, and a good understanding in reference to Christian union is seen to exist among the various denominations of Protestant Christians. Sectarianism has scarcely a footing in Cape society; hence the Presbyterians (Dutch and Scotch), the Episcopalians, the Lutherans, the Independents, the Moravians, the Wesleyans, the Baptists, all agreeing in essentials, unite with each other in promoting the extension of the gospel of peace, and in widening the channels of universal benevolence in aid of the diversified wants of the singularly-diversified orders of the human family in this Colony. The Church Buildings in Cape Town are of varied character. The Reformed Church, between Church-square and the Heerengracht, is a very extensive building, and will contain 2,000 persons. In this church there is a splendid organ, which was presented to the community by the late Jan Hoets, Esq., and cost £1,500. VOL. VI.-No. 22. OCTOBER, 1845.

St.

George's (Episcopalian) in Wale Street, opposite St. George's Street, is a handsome modern edifice, and will contain 1,000 persons ;-St. Andrew's (Church of Scotland) in Somerset-road, about 500. In this church, Mr. M'Gregor has, at his own individual expense, constructed an apparatus by means of which gas-light is carried into the body of the church, that has a very excellent effect, and is much preferable to the usual mode of lighting churches in this Colony. Adjoining the church, the Scottish community have lately erected a School-house for the instruction of the coloured classes.

The Lutheran Church is in Strand-street;—this church, which is likewise a very spacious edifice, was presented to the Lutheran congregation by the late Mr. Martin Melck, and will contain 1,600 persons. The Independent Chapel is in Church-square,-Wesleyan, in Burg and Sydney-streets; and the South African Missionary Chapel is in Longstreet. A Mariner's Church has likewise been erected in Rogge Bay. To each of the churches and chapels in Cape Town, a Sunday School has been opened for the instruction of all classes of the community. There is also a life-giving Missionary spirit abroad. This is visible in most of the denominational sections of Christian societies,-hence the axiom is fully recognised-" the Church that stagnates, dies."

Public and private education for both sexes is carried on in Cape Town with good results; and the free schools, Sunday schools, and infant schools, supply a moral and extensive good to the community. There is perhaps no town in which, in proportion to its population, so many persons are under instruction.

Nor, as connected with public utility and general information, must we forget in this sketch two noble establishments which have gained for the Cape well-merited encomium. The first is the Commercial Exchange, situated on the Grand Parade. The Commercial Hall is a noble building, devoted to various purposes. Its centre room (which is frequently used for public meetings, balls, concerts, and lectures) is of spacious dimensions; and those adjoining are chiefly used for commercial purposes. In the great room, groups of merchants and others assemble during six days in the week. Here abundance of newspapers of every political creed, and from all parts of the world, are seen on the tables. The rules and regulations are most liberal.-The second is the Public Library, open to all; it is an institution that does honour to the Cape community, as well as the Indian visitors, who compose a branch of its supporters. It was devised by Colonel Bird, when Colonial Secretary, under the administration of Lord Charles Somerset. The Library forms the N.E. wing of the Commercial Exchange, and its collection, "a mighty a mighty mass of knowledge," with choicest works of every age and nation, is now approaching to 30,000 volumes. The library is governed by a committee of nine gentlemen, chosen annually by the subscribers according to the popular form of election by ballot. A new general catalogue of this institution has lately been published, and is valuable as a guide to books. The rooms are becoming too small for the collection.

Very nearly the whole of the Cape trade may be said to pass through

Table Bay. Many remarks have been made on the insecurity of this bay as a port. This is incorrect-Table Bay is capable of containing any number of ships, and at certain seasons only requires a little more nautical skill than on ordinary occasions.

From the contiguity of Table Bay to numerous farms, every description of vegetable and animal provision is instantly supplied to the shipping.

Within the last thirteen years upwards of sixty useful associations have been established, such as-the South African Fire and Life Assurance Company, the Cape of Good Hope Trust and Assurance Company, the Protector Fire and Life Assurance Company, Savings' Bank, the Cape of Good Hope Bank, the South African Bank, the Steam Navigation Company, Marine Assurance Company, a Boating Company, an Association for the administration and settlement of Estates, a Board of Executors, a Widows' Fund, three Joint-Stock Companies, Provident Society, Colonial Bank, which all work steadily and well. Besides these, there are agents here for Lloyd's, the Alliance, Eagle, Alfred, and Universal Assurance Companies, and consuls for Foreign States, &c. &c. The steam-mill erected by Mr. Prince, at the lower end of Breestreet, and the one by Mr. Letterstedt, in Caledon-square, are valuable acquisitions to commerce.

A new Pier, in a line with Bree-street, where formerly stood the old whale-fishery of Messrs. Van Hall, Sappé, and Muntingh, was opened on the 6th Jan. 1842, which greatly facilitates the landing and shipping of cargo and passengers.

The environs of the town are beautiful and picturesque; that part at the immediate base of the mountain, and usually denominated the Gardens, is fruitful in the extreme, affording every luxury which can be desired for the table of man. Extensive orchards, vineyards, nurseries, gardens, fields blooming with heaths and other wild flowers, meet the delighted eye in every direction; while the prospect of the town from thence-the bay with its shipping-the opposite shore, where lies the granary of the Colony-the distant mountains, here standing majestically in the fore-ground, and there receding in the distance,— cannot fail to fill the mind with grandeur.

The Botanical Garden, belonging to Baron von Ludvig, is situated in Kloof-street, at the base of the Lion's Rump. It is a credit to the indefatigable exertions of the Baron, its disinterested founder. Residents and non-residents cannot only obtain tickets of admission to the Garden, but are moreover supplied with any specimens of flowers or bulbs merely on application to the kind owner, at his residence, situate in St. George's-street.

Green Point, where a Municipality has also been established, is situated at the back of the Lion's Rump; on account of its proximity to Cape Town, combined with the pureness of the air and delightful refreshing breezes, it has become the resort of numbers of our merchants and men of business, who here find an agreeable retreat after the toils of the day. Here also is situate the mansion of the Hon. Mr. Justice Menzies, formerly known by the name of Heeren-huis, now Sea-point.

At Green Point is situate the Somerset Hospital, open to every case of emergency. This institution is under the control of Government, and the superintendence of the chief medical inspector of hospitals; and here the sick of all classes and ages are treated with proper medical assistance, on the most moderate terms, and in many instances gratuitous, upon an order of the Government, if circumstances warrant the boon. Proceeding a few miles beyond Green Point, is situated the Marine Villa of the late Lord Charles Somerset, (the property of Sir Anthony Oliphant, our late Attorney-General,) now in the occupation of Mr. Johnstone, to which many visitors from India retire for the benefit of their health, and where pic-nic parties often proceed to be supplied with everything that is really good on such occasions.

A Magnetic Observatory has been erected near the Royal Observatory, where a complete series of magnetic observations has been carried on under the superintendence of Captain E. Wilmot, R.A.

The Colony of the Cape of Good Hope is of very great extent, and contains every variety of soil, from the richest level land to the wildest mountain, and tracts destitute of any appearance of vegetation. The climate throughout the Colony is unequalled perhaps by any in the world; the Cape has consequently become the resort of Indians and others who have suffered from the effects of an Eastern climate.

The prospect which it holds out to the industrious emigrant cannot be sufficiently appreciated, the more so as the average prices of provisions are very low, employment of every kind abundant, and wages very fair, not to use the term high, which in some instances may with propriety be asserted.

Large quantities of corn of the very best description are produced in most of the country districts, but chiefly in those in the immediate neighbourhood of Cape Town. The division of Stellenbosch, especially the Paarl, Drakenstein, and Wagenmaker's Valley, constitutes the seat of the wine-grower. Wines of different descriptions are made here, such as the ordinary Cape madeira and sherry, sweet muscadel, pontac, and frontignac. The wines of the Cape are of three sorts-good, bad, and indifferent. That excellent wines are made here, is most certain, and they are seldom known to produce that acidity, or the least stomach complaints, as in the case of wines manufactured elsewhere. Much error prevails as regards the real purity of good Cape wine. Such wine has never been known to disagree with a rightly-constituted and healthy constitution. It has been the fashion to decry Cape wine; but we think it is a fashion like all others of mere worldly notion-fast passing away. At the same time, it is satisfactory to know that the winefarmers have, by common consent, recently met in assembly, and have resolved that the Cape wines shall be improved. With the finest grapes in the world, our wines ought to be of unequalled excellence.

Next to the wine, the article of produce which now engrosses the mind of the farmers, merchants, and others, is-Wool. Large sums of money have been embarked in improving the breed of sheep; the quantity exported during the year ending 5th July, 1844, amounts to 2,151,768 lbs., valued at £108,366.