Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Illustrations and Maps
- Preface
- Author's Note
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Part I Scotland: Border Farm to Literary Edinburgh (1789–1820)
- Part II The Cape Frontier: Pioneer, Settler Leader (1820–1821)
- Part III Cape Town and Genadendal: The Stand Against Power (1822–1825)
- Part IV The Frontier, Karroo: Rural Retreat and the ‘Great Cause’ (1825–1826)
- 12 Return to Glen Lynden
- 13 Karroo Turning Point
- 14 Last Months at Eildon
- 15 Return of the Settler
- Part V London Literary Life and The Anti-Slavery Campaign (1826–1833)
- Part VI Scotland and Highgate A Poet Returns to his Roots and Last Works (1830–1834)
- Bibliography
- Index
13 - Karroo Turning Point
from Part IV - The Frontier, Karroo: Rural Retreat and the ‘Great Cause’ (1825–1826)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2013
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Illustrations and Maps
- Preface
- Author's Note
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Part I Scotland: Border Farm to Literary Edinburgh (1789–1820)
- Part II The Cape Frontier: Pioneer, Settler Leader (1820–1821)
- Part III Cape Town and Genadendal: The Stand Against Power (1822–1825)
- Part IV The Frontier, Karroo: Rural Retreat and the ‘Great Cause’ (1825–1826)
- 12 Return to Glen Lynden
- 13 Karroo Turning Point
- 14 Last Months at Eildon
- 15 Return of the Settler
- Part V London Literary Life and The Anti-Slavery Campaign (1826–1833)
- Part VI Scotland and Highgate A Poet Returns to his Roots and Last Works (1830–1834)
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
On 29 June 1825 Pringle wrote to Fairbairn that he expected ‘to meet Dr Philip in Somerset in three or four weeks and proceed with him to Graaff-Reinet where I will probably spend a week or two’. Here was an exception to the full and frank exchange of information and ideas in their correspondence. No purpose was mentioned. Rather than to exclude Fairbairn from the intimacy of the talks ahead the object was surely to keep them away from Government through intercepted letters. Stockenstrom, landdrost of Graaff-Reinet, whom they were to meet, was seriously at risk as a government servant.
The date of the forthcoming meeting was accurate enough. On 22 July he wrote from what had been Somerset Farm and was now the village and magistracy of Somerset, later Somerset East, that Philip was expected hourly, on his way to Dithakong. The Revd William Wright, who had set off from Eildon to visit the Thembu and Bushmen in the region and beyond, was to join them.
Pringle wrote next from Graaff-Reinet a fortnight later that Dr Philip had joined him in Somerset the week before and they, with Wright, who had visited the ageing Ndlambe at his Great Place near today's King William's Town, were house guests of the landdrost, Andries Stockenstrom.
Pringle was asked by Fairbairn: ‘But what are you doing at Graaff-Reinet?’ and was given the evasive reply ‘Much good. All I can't explain to you at present – and Wright, though present, is not acquainted with all’.
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- Information
- Thomas PringleSouth African pioneer, poet and abolitionist, pp. 154 - 162Publisher: Boydell & BrewerPrint publication year: 2012