CORRESPDENCE OF LIEUT.-GENERAL THE HON. SIR GEORGE CATHCART, K.C.B.

401 pages, 7 maps - 5 folding, 3 hand coloured, full polished calf, back decorated gilt and with a black title label, edges and endpapers marbled, inscription of a previous owner on the front free endpaper, light foxing on the title page, a very good copy. 

Mendelssohn (Sydney) South African Bibliography, volume 1, page 310, ‘Sir George Cathcart was appointed Governor to the Cape Colony in succession to Sir Harry Smith. He accepted the post with some misgivings, and in his letter to the Duke of Wellington on the subject, remarks. “This appointment comes upon me by surprise, and in many respects is far from desirable ... it is not of my own seeking, and accepted only because I consider it an imperative call for duty, which it would be culpable and disgraceful in me to refuse. . . .” He took the oaths as Governor at Cape Town on March 31, 1852, and after settling the constitution of the Parliament lately granted to the Cape, left for King William's Town, to take over the command of the army from Sir Hairy Smith Sir George was successful both as a soldier and a statesman, and his short rule over the colony was recognised as beneficial to the country, it being asserted, in the preface to this volume, that his memory “as a benefactor will be cherished and revered at the Cape of Good Hope, so long as that colony shall endure .” In 1854 Sir George proceeded to Russia to take part in the Crimean War and was killed at the battle of Inkerman. The work gives a full account of the War with Sandilli during the period of Sir George’s rule, together with an account of his measures to bring about a lasting peace. There are also particulars of the war with Moshesh, and much information respecting Basutoland, and the Orange River Sovereignty . There are several maps and plans, an alphabetical index, and a number of interesting private and official letters on South African matters m general.’