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THE REPUBLIC OF NATALIA THE BOERS SEEK RECOGNITION BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT To ensure that their new republic could continue to exist freely and successfully, the Boers had to persuade the British government to abandon its policy of persecution towards them and recognise them as a free and independent people. On 4 September 1840, the Volksraad (People's Council) of Natalia, in a letter to Sir George Napier, the governor of the Cape Colony, requested the British government to acknowledge them as a free and independent people. The request started as follows: "To submit to your Excellency, as the honoured representative of Her Majesty the Queen of England, that it may graciously please Her Majesty to acknowledge and declare us a free and independent people (a right so dearly purchased by our blood)". In response to a letter from Napier on 2 November 1840, in which he requested more clarity on their proposal, the Volksraad, on 14 January 1841, outlined principles for the acknowledgement of their independence. Some of these principles were: "That we bind ourselves not to extend our borders any further, where this is detrimental to any of the surrounding tribes, nor to make any hostile movements against them, unless in self defence; "The Republic promises to give every encouragement to the spreading of the Gospel; "In the event of war between the British Government and any other power, the Republic is to be viewed as neutral; "The trade of British merchandise shall not be made subject to higher imposts than those of other countries; "The Republic binds itself not to aid the enemies of Great Britain nor to permit any of their vessels to enter the harbour; and generally, to live on friendly terms with the British Government and maintain peace with surrounding nations." #Boer #Boers #BoerIdentity #Boeridentiteit #BoerRepublic #BoerRepubliek #Natalia #UnitedBoerRepublic #VerenigdeBoerrepubliek #Britain