On the 18th of September 1761 there died in Capetown a gentleman named Joachim Nicolaas van Dessin, a native of Rostock in Germany, who arrived here in 1727 as a soldier in the service of the East India Company, in 1729 became clerk to the secretary of the high court of justice, and from 1737 to 1757 held the situation of secretary of the orphan chamber. His wife—Christina Ehlers—and only child died before him, so that he was without natural heirs. In his will he bequeathed to the colony three thousand eight hundred printed books and many manuscripts, to become the foundation of a public library for the benefit of the community. Some mathematical and astronomical instruments and several oil paintings were also included in the gift. He appointed the consistory of the Cape guardians of this bequest, and directed his executors to pay to that board one thousand rixdollars—then equal to £208 6s. 8d.—to form a capital fund, the interest of which was to be applied in perpetuity to the preservation and enlargement of the library. To several of his friends and dependents bequests were made in his will, and the residue of his property—which amounted to £5,041 16s. 5d.—he left to the orphan chamber.

The consistory accepted the trust, and was placed in possession of the books, money, etc., also of an additional sum of £208 6s. 8d. given by the orphan chamber from its inheritance to furnish a room in which to keep the library.