Lady Anne Barnard at the Cape of Good Hope 1797-1802

At rare intervals there comes into the world a mortal around whose cradle the good fairies cluster with gifts in their hands. Such a child was Anne Lindsay, the eldest in the large family given to Scotland by James Earl of Balcarres and his wife Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Dalrymple, and the most richly dowered, though to her sisters were given beauty and charm, and to her brothers valour and great abilities.

Born at Balcarres in 1750, Lady Anne with her two sisters and eight brothers passed their childhood there, reared by a mother whose rule was upright and capable but severe--so severe that her little sister Margaret on one occasion described their life as ' horrious ', and the whole family decided to run away, carrying the baby who was far too young to proceed far on his own legs. They were detected and reported by the shepherd, old Robin Gray--whose name Lady Anne was later on to immortalize, in no grudging spirit--and their punishment was a salutary one.

In after years this ame mother, softened by the passge of time, was to spend the evening of her life with the children she had brought up with such great severity, beloved and honoured by them. Whatever one may think of her system, the results were uncommonly  good.

Original green boards with usual gilt Clarendon vignette to front board. Gilt lettering to spine. Complete with dustcover in good order. xiv plus 343 pages. Halftitle. Frontispiece with tissue guard. Title. Dedication. Contents. Letters. List of Illustrations. 62 Illustrations and Index. Illustrations by a series os sketches by Lady Anne Barnard.

Very clean copy.