A DISSERTATION ON THE COURSE AND PROBABLE TERMINATION OF THE NIGER (1829)

Publisher's original modest brown paper-covered boards with original paper label on spine, 'The Course of the Niger by Sir R. S. Donkin, 9s. 6d.'

viii + 2pp leaf (errata + instructions to the binder) + 195pp. + 3 fold-out maps.

The 2pp leaf after the introduction, which contains the errata and binding instructions, is a rarity and is absent in most copies.

Possible author's signature in pencil on the front endpaper.

Binding sound. Contents clean. This is an extremely well preserved copy which is almost never found in the original binding. It is a very scarce title by a very important figure in South African history.

'In "Additional notes", discussing the Greek digamma, the author states: " . . . but strange to say, the Hottentots at the Cape of Good Hope, have their Digamma . . . ". See pages 184-185.' - SABIB Vol.II page 89

Lieutenant-General Sir Rufane Shaw Donkin was a British Army officer of the Napoleonic era and later member of Parliament. He came to South Africa on sick leave after personal tragedy and from 1820-21 successfully administered the Cape as acting Governor. He renamed the rising seaport of Algoa Bay Port Elizabeth in honour of his wife Elizabeth who died young. Upon Lord Charles Somerset's return to the Cape he was immediately infuriated by Donkin's reforms, which highlighted his own maladministration, and sought to disgrace him. When Donkin returned to England he responded with the publication of "A Letter on the Government of the Cape of Good Hope, and on Certain Events which have occurred there of late Years, under the Administration of Lord Charles Somerset; addressed most respectfully to Earl Bathurst (1827)". In this publication he exposed Somerset's unchallenged corruption in that removed corner of the Empire, with the result that Somerset was recalled to England to give account of his actions, and soon after resigned his governorship.