tem which your Excellency has organised for its future protection—a system which, we feel assured, will be productive of all those advantages hereafter which can reasonably be expected from the resources available for its maintenance, if judiciously followed up by your successors in the Government of the eastern province. In offering to your Excellency our very hearty congratulations on the accomplishment of these important undertakings, and our thanks for the benefits which have resulted and we hope will result from them, we confidently trust that, in addition to the satisfaction you must necessarily derive from the success which has crowned your efforts, you will not fail to receive the marked approbation of your Sovereign. We have the honour to be, Your most obedient humble Servants, (Very numerously signed.) To His Excellency Lieutenant-General the Hon. Sir GEORGE CATHCART, K.C.B., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's Castle, Town, and Settlement of the Cape of Good Hope. The Commissioners for the municipalities of the city of Cape Town beg to refer with much satisfaction to the Address which they had the honour to present, in congratulating your Excellency upon your assuming the chief command and government of this colony, and they now feel much happiness, not, however, unmingled with regret for the loss which the colony will sustain thereby, in tendering to your Excellency, upon resigning those high offices, our sincere thanks for the valuable services rendered by your Excellency during that eventful period in the discharge of the most onerous, complicated, and responsible duties, and under the most trying circumstances. The Commissioners have observed with much gratification that, without sacrificing the dignity of your high offices, or deviating from those rules which your Excellency deemed essential for carrying out the trust with which you were charged by your Sovereign, an evident disposition manifested itself to conciliate and bring together those portions of our colonial community which previous circumstances had unfortunately severed, while, on the part of the people, the Commissioners trust your Excellency will feel equally satisfied that they clearly appreciated your Excellency's views and wishes, and by a ready and willing co-operation materially assisted in establishing the present liberal and judicious policy, which the progress of events clearly indicated as the sole object of your Excellency's proceedings. The Commissioners venture to express a hope that these circumstances will not escape the notice of your Excellency in reporting the full and complete fulfilment of your Excellency's mission to this colony, and that your Excellency will not fail to represent the feeling which Her Majesty's gracious intentions created in the minds of the people by the appointment of an officer of your Excellency's distinguished abilities, and the manner in which it was acted upon, in order that Her Majesty may be still further confirmed respecting the loyalty of the inhabitants of this distant settlement, and their sincere attachment to Her Majesty's person and throne. In bidding you farewell, and a prosperous voyage in returning to your country and friends, the Commissioners once more reiterate their warm acknowledgments for the services rendered by your Excellency during the eventful period that the administration of affairs was entrusted to your charge, they beg to express their best wishes for your Excellency's health and happiness, and whatever may be your Excellency's destination, that your endeavours to serve your Sovereign and country may be as successful elsewhere as they have been in this colony. Town Hall, city of Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, this 12th day of April, 1854. (Signed) HERCULES C. JARVIS, Chairman. S. P. DEMPSON, Secretary. By order of the Commissioners. This Address, beautifully written in a clear, distinct hand, has the municipal seal attached. Government House, May 17, 1854. The Executive Council met at 11. Present His Excellency the Governor. The Acting Secretary to Government. The Attorney-General. The Collector of Customs. His Excellency the Governor reads to the Council a despatch, dated 15th April, 1854, addressed by him to His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, relative to the Administration of the Government after his own departure from the colony. The Council gives it as their opinion unanimously, that, on His Excellency the Governor's departure from this Colony, the Administration of the Government necessarily devolves by law on the Lieutenant-Governor. His Excellency then brings before the Council the question of summoning the Parliament, and desires their opinion as to the proper course to be pursued in respect of Clause 60 of the first Constitutional Ordinance referring to the above subject. The Council are of opinion that a Provisional Notice should be issued, summoning the Legislative Council and House of Assembly to meet on Friday, 30th of June next, at such place in Cape Town as may be hereafter named. (Signed) CHARLES BOYLE, Clerk of the Executive Council. GOVERNMENT NOTICE. Colonial Office, Cape of Good Hope, In reference to the Government Notice of the 28th March last, stating the intention of Government to convene the Parliament to meet in Cape Town in the end of the month of June, it is hereby notified, for the guidance of all Members of Council and of Assembly, that the Proclamation for the purpose (which will be issued at as early a day as the requirements of the Law will permit) will summon the Parliament to meet in Cape Town, on Friday the 30th June next ensuing, at a place and hour which will be specified in the Proclamation. By command of His Excellency the Governor. (Signed) Acting Secretary to Government. LETTER from J. P. HOFFMAN, President of the Provisional Government, Orange River Free State. Blæmfontaine, February 28, 1854. SIR,-We have the honour hereby to apprize your Excellency that by a convention entered into between Her Majesty's Special Commissioner* and the representatives of the people, the Government of this territory was, on the 23rd of the present month, transferred to the inhabitants. We would not merely hope that this will meet with your Excellency's approval, but that we may be privileged to enjoy co-operation and support at your Excellency's hands towards the lightening of our burden and the facilitating of our duties. In whatever measures of ours it may be consistent or practicable for your Excellency to aid us, we would humbly trust that such aid may not be withheld. It is our earnest desire that a good understanding should be ever kept up between Her Majesty's Government and this territory, and we would accordingly beg to tender the assurance of our * Sir G. Clerk. anxiety to contribute our share to its promotion, so that the seeds of future trouble may cease to exist. In the name of the Provisional Government, Your, &c. &c., Obedient humble servant, (Signed) J. P. HOFFMAN. To His Excellency the Hon. Sir George Cathcart, ANSWER. Government House, Cape Town, SIR,-I have the honour to thank you for your official communication of the 28th February, 1854, which, from my having been on the road from the frontier to this place, has only overtaken me now. It is very gratifying to me to receive and acknowledge this first official communication from the Provisional Government of the Orange River Free State, in my capacity of Her Majesty's Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. In my official capacity, and enjoying, as I am proud to believe, the confidence of Her Majesty's Government, I can safely take upon me to assure you that the cordial support and co-operation of Her Majesty's Government will at all times be readily extended to the Orange River Free State, where it shall continue to be merited as it is so fully at this time. The judicious and praiseworthy endeavours which have already been made to provide for the peace, security, and welfare of the community, whose interests are now confided by the people themselves to the care and responsibility of the Provisional Government, of which you are so worthily and fortunately for their best interests selected President, gives me confident hopes that nothing is likely to disturb the friendly |