HISTORY OF THE ZULU WAR (Presentation copy)

First edition: viii, 249 + 18 pages of commercial advertisements at the end, folding map, frontispiece portrait of the Prince Imperial - a laid down photograph, original blind stamped blue cloth, titled gilt with a gilt vignette of Cetywayo on the spine, top edge uncut, a very good copy.

Letter pasted onto the front free end paper reads: Port Elizabeth 4th April 1880 To His Excellency Sir Bartle Free Sir, I have the honour to request Your Excellency's acceptance of the enclosed copy of my work on the Zulu War. Signed by A Wilmot

Mendelssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography vol 2 page 619: A narrative of "the salient features and the principal events of the Zulu War. The work embraces an early history of the Zulu nation and of Natal, including a chapter dealing with native policy in the latter colony, and the laws, customs, and religion of the Zulus." The author contends that, without taking these matters into consideration, " it will be perfectly impossible to appreciate the policy of Sir Bartle Frere, or to understand the real causes of the war, or of many events in its progress.

Mr. Wilmot appears to have been fully convinced that the war in Zululand was inevitable, and he asserts that " Cetywayo, for two years, had been arranging for a great special blow on the white people. He was couching ready to spring and the High Commissioner knew it was absolutely necessary to act at once." With reference to the attack on Sir Bartle Frere's policy, it is observed, " Slowly, but more certainly, will the mists of prejudice be lifted from the minds of the English people, and they will learn to know that the policy they so much vilified saved the British name from dishonour, and the British people and British interests in South Africa from destruction."

Published by Richardson and Best, London and A. White and Co. Cape of Good Hope.