CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 630, 16 August 1851, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company’s steamer Singapore arrived in our Bay yesterday morning, May 2nd, from Southampton. The Singapore left that port on the 18th ultimo, and Sierra Leone on the 7th instant, making the passage from England to the Cape in 37 days. This fine steamer has on board 300 troops, being detachments of the several regiments now serving in the colony. H.M. steamer Rhadamanthus (which is to relieve the Dee) was to follow the Vulcan (arrived) with additional reinforcements, including two companies of Artillery. Thus the action of the British Government in succouring the colony has been most prompt and efficient. We are also informed that the steamer Retribution with the 3rd Foot is also expected. The SinflflTinTn li o o <l_ _ •1 ? . va« uuaiu jur ivjunary chest to the amount of £75,000. An additional sum of £225,000 is to be transmitted. — Graham’s Town Journal, May 3.

H.M.S. Vulcan had arrived in Simon’s Bay with a large detachment of the 74th Highlanders. A despatch from Earl Grey, reported to recommend the removal of the seat of Government from Cape Town to Graham’s Town was also brought out by the Vulcan, and in the absence of Sir Harry Smith from head quarters the real contents of the despatch could only be guessed at by the anxious colonists. Under these circumstances the Secretary of the Commercial Exchange wrote to the Colonial Secretary, requesting information as to the rumoured removal of the seat of Government to the frontier, to which the following vague explanation was given ;— Colonial office, Cape Town, 15th May, 185 L.

Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, requesting to be informed whether there is any ground for the rumours which are circulating Fpcna/'finfr JoonnfAb/jr* K— —— J . UUOpOIVUCO UCril ■£CCi¥&U from her Majesty’s Government relative to the removal of the seat of Government to the frontier. In reply. I beg to acquaint you that H is true a despatch has been recently received from Earl Grey, in which he states it appears to him that the time is come when the seat of Government can no longer be kept in a position so far from central as Cape Town, without extreme inconvenience; but, in the absence of the Governor, and without bis previous permission, I do not feel at liberty to communicate more fully to you the contents, of that despatch.. I have the honour, &c. John Montagu-. R. W. Eaton, Esq., Secretary Commercial Exchange. The Vulcan, we must observe, arrived in Simon's Bay on the 12th May, having 602 rank and file, and 25 officers of the 74th on board. She was at once despatched to Algoa Bay, where, upon disembarking, the troops were to march to Fort Hare to reinforce Major General Somerset’s division.

With reference to Earl Grey’s proposal to remove the seat of Government, all the inijrnals before us, opposite as are tbeir politics, are consentient in declaring that, /apart from the unpopularity of the proposed scheme, there were legal technicalities in the way, which, for a considerable time must nullify his Lordship’s plan.