How We Made Rhodesia (1896)

1896 first edition, rebound in half leather and marbled boards. With the title to the spine. 356 pages. Two library stamps on first and title page and one stamp on very last page. One stamp on page 174. Previous owner made some pencil notes on four pages. Now very attractive in the new leather.

'The work takes the form of a series of letters, which includes the period from March 29, 1890, to November 23, 1891. On the former date the author received a cable from Sir F. Carrington offering him ""a troop in the Chartered Company's Police,"" which he accepted, leaving for South Africa a few days later, and reaching Cape Town on 23rd April. He was stationed for a considerable period at Macloutsie, where the force was inspected, first by General Methuen and later on by Sir Henry (afterwards Lord) Loch, then High Commissioner of South Africa. In December the troop marched to Tuli, where Major Leonard remained till he resigned his commission in September 1891. The author's digressions are numerous, ranging from discussions on ""Home Rule,"" to an essay on ""the duty of mankind to animals,"" and embracing his opinions on all kinds of subjects of a social, political, and philosophical nature. The writer also criticises the characters of the notabilities he encountered during his stay, amongst these being Messrs. Rhodes, Jameson, Beit, Rutherfoord Harris, Lord Randolph Churchill, Theodore Bent, and many others. He is very severe on Dr. Rutherfoord Harris, alluding to his ""bumptiousness and ignorance,"" and he expresses surprise at ""Rhodes putting a man of his stamp in such a responsible position."" He had, however, great admiration for both Rhodes and Jameson, who, he asserts, ""are imbued with the same identical line of thought and ideas, while the selfsame fiery spirit of unbounded ambition inspires them.""' -(Mendelssohn Vol. I, page 887)