Concerning The Cape Chronicle and the Cause of its Establishment
By William Foster Cape Chronicle Proprietor & Editor
Cape Town, 1861
To the merchants of Adderley Street, the farmers of the interior, the tradesmen of our growing villages, and to every thoughtful reader within this Colony:
It has long been my conviction that the Cape of Good Hope—blessed as she is with enterprise, industry, and uncommon promise—stands in need of a newspaper wholly devoted to the honest reporting of colonial affairs, the encouragement of commerce, and the advancement of public understanding.
It is for this reason that I have established The Cape Chronicle.
This Colony is no longer a mere outpost of Empire. She is a land of movement and ambition. Her ports grow busier with every passing season; her roads stretch farther inland; her merchants trade with increasing confidence; her farms yield richly; and from Cape Town to Stellenbosch, from Worcester to the distant frontier, the voices of her people deserve to be heard and faithfully recorded.
Yet too often the affairs of the Cape are spoken of only in passing, or through distant interpretation.
I founded The Cape Chronicle with a plain and steadfast purpose:
To give the Cape her own voice.
Within these pages shall be found:
- Reports from Cape Town and the districts, delivered with accuracy and dispatch;
- Shipping intelligence, arrivals and departures from our harbour;
- Commercial notices and market prices, useful to merchants and farmers alike;
- Public announcements and advertisements, for those wishing to reach a discerning readership;
- Matters of civic concern, discussed with fairness and independence;
- And from time to time, observations upon the progress and promise of this remarkable Colony.
This newspaper is not established for sensation, nor for idle gossip, but for the public good—that neighbours may know one another’s affairs, that enterprise may prosper, and that the Cape may better understand herself.
To those engaged in business, I commend The Cape Chronicle as a trustworthy means by which your goods and services may be made known.
To the reader, I pledge diligence.
To the Colony, I offer loyalty.
May The Cape Chronicle prove a useful companion to every household, every counting-room, every wagon road, and every man and woman invested in the future of Southern Africa.
I remain, Gentlemen and Esteemed Readers,
Your obedient servant,
William Foster
Editor & Proprietor
The Cape Chronicle
Cape Town, Anno Domini 1861
