BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF JOHN MONTAGU (Published 1855)

London & Cape Town: Harrison/AS Roberton/WL Sammons, 1855

4to, xvi + 612pp. Rebound. Hardcover binding, marbled boards, gilt lettering on slip of leather on spine. Frontispiece of Montagu with tissue paper, 4 tinted lithographic plates, collated and complete.

From the collection of AJJ Wessels, founder of Toyota SA, but originally from the renowned Hosken Africana collection, with bookplates from both owners.

‘John Montague was born in the year 1797, and in 1814 joined the army as an ensign, and after rising in the service to the rank of a captain proceeded to Tasmania, where he eventually became Colonial Secretary. Leaving the Colony owing to a difference with the Governor he was appointed the office of Colonial Secretary to the Cape of Good Hope where he arrived on April 23, 1843. Amongst his earlies tasks in the Colony was the placing of its finances on a new footing and so clear was the new system devised by Mr. Montague for paying the debt and increasing the revenue of the Colony that in two years and a half the whole debt was liquidated." During Mr. Montague's official career great and lasting improvements were carried out in the interior of the Cape Colony the country was opened up by new passes and roads, convict labour stations were organised; Robben Island was fitted up for the reception of lunatics, lepers and incurables, a system of judicial reform for the colony was drawn up and a Government scheme of education formulated, and in all these measures for the benefit of the Cape, Mr. Montague was the leading organiser and administrator, and by his vigour, energy, and foresight was instrumental in carrying out these schemes with well-deserved success. It is stated that his attitude on the question of representative government at the Cape, and with regard to the anti-convict agitation, was misunderstood by some of the Cape Colonists; but his integrity of purpose was never seriously questioned, and the able memorandum which he drew up on the subject of the proposed legislative bodies for the Colony formed the basis of the constitution provided for by the Letters Patent granted on May 23, 1850. Mr. Montague was characterised by self-reliance, a grasp of conception, and a great capacity for public service; his steady vigilance, firmness, and honesty resulted in his wielding immense influence in South Africa, and he is recognised as one of the wisest and most upright of the advisers who have moulded the destinies of the sub-continent.’ (Mendelssohn, South African Bibliography volume 2 pages 39/40)

Condition: Good-Very good. Slight spot of wear to top corner of front board. Some stains to spine, and superficial wear to leather slip on spine. Previous owners’ bookplates on front pastedown and endpaper. Previous owner’s signature to title page, slight spots of foxing to a few pages. Text and plates are clean, small notes in pencil to top edges of a couple of the plates. Well bound.