Page:George McCall Theal, History of South Africa since September 1795, Volume 1 (1908).pdf/279

1819] London society Lord Charles Somerset proposed to him that as a government agent he should undertake mission work among both whites and blacks in the new subdistrict, and reside at Beaufort West, though specially directing and superintending the establishment at Kookfontein. Mr. Taylor accepted the offer, and his services proved of great value. A little later, as his Scotch credentials satisfied the clergy in Capetown, he was appointed minister of the Dutch reformed church of Beaufort West, where on the 16th of May 1820 a new congregation was formed by the governor's approval of elders and deacons nominated by the landdrost of Graaff-Reinet.

In March 1819 Lord Charles Somerset purchased the buildings on two loan farms named Langerug and Roodedraai in the valley of the Breede river, for about £3,750, and on the 20th of October in the same year stationed Mr. Jan Frederik van de Graaff there as deputy landdrost of Tulbagh, with the same powers and duties as the officers holding similar situations at Clanwilliam, Caledon, Grahamstown, and Cradock. On the farms thus obtained the governor resolved to found a village, and a better position could hardly have been chosen. It is on a plain with just sufficient slope for drainage, and it has an abundant supply of good water from the Hex river. The great road down the valley goes through it, the road up the pass of the Hex river into the Karoo commences here, and in 1819 it had just been discovered that a road through the Drakenstein mountains could be made by way of the French Hoek pass, which would be almost a straight line from Capetown. These advantages were enhanced by the fertility of the country in the neighbourhood, and, in Lord Charles Somerset's eyes, by the fine mountain scenery which closed the view in every direction.

The site having been selected, one hundred and forty-four erven, each two-thirds of a morgen in size, were laid out in twenty-four blocks, with broad streets between them. The first sale took place on the 28th of February 1820, when