Colonial Despatches

I beg to lay before you my application for an appointment in the Cape Constabulary force or in the corps about to be formed in British Columbia. I have to plead the services of my family for many generations and my own desire to be employed in any capacity in any of our Colonies. The development of the resources of our Colonies and their defence have for many years engaged my attention, and some years ago I laid before the Rt Honble Sir G. Grey a plan for colonising the frontiers of the Cape upon a defensive scheme which though considered at the time impossible, was carried out in part at the close of the Crimean War with the German Legion. Having a considerable practical knowledge of the Natural Sciences such as Geology, Botany and their kindred, I could in addition to my duties turn these to advantage to the Colony. All my family are Military, my education has been Military and I have served in the French Dragoons, the Leicestershire Militia and the [one word off microfilm] Irregular Cavalry during the Crimean War. Trusting some appointment may be found for me however humble, in the Colonys, where a thorough knowledge of French, a good acquaintance with Italian, Spanish, German, Turkish may be useful.