The South African Commercial Advertiser

The authorities had emphasised their aversion to a free press by seizing printing equipment found on board the "Chapman", an 1820 Settlers ship.

Governor Somerset's banning of the paper, only a few months after its founding, followed on his earlier decree that The South African Commercial Advertiser would have to submit to censorship before printing and distribution.

In March 1824 Pringle had printed details of a libel suit against a Cape solicitor, William Edwards, who had accused the Governor of abuse of his powers.

Greig sailed to England and obtained authorisation to publish free from Colonial Government censorship, resuming publication on 31 August 1825.

John Fairbairn, now the paper's sole editor, led the publication to become a powerful voice for greater democracy in the Cape Colony.