Beschreibung:

The Right Hon. Sir Battle Frere
Afghanistan and South Africa. A Letter to the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone regarding Portions of His Midlothian Speeches. (1881)
Published: John Murray London, 1881
Edition: First Edition
"Afghanistan and South Africa. A Letter to the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M. P., regarding Portions of his Midlothian Speeches. With a Letter to the Late Sir John Kaye, and other Papers." 76pp. Modern three quarter red morocco with marbled boards and gilt titling to spine. Mendelssohn Vol. I page 571: 'In the course of political progress through Scotland, In November and December 1879, Mr. Gladstone thought fit to denounce Sir Bartle Frere for his continued "policy of advance," which, first exhibited with regard to Afghanistan, was followed out in South Africa under his administration. In the correspondence which ensued between the statesmen after the recall of Sir Bartle Frere, the Liberal Premier appears to have endeavored to cover his traces, and states, "My object was, during all the recent years, to say as little as I could, and to let that little lean as much as I could towards you and your views." In the light of this remark it is surprising to read in one of Sir Bartle Frere's letters the following, "I earnestly pressed on Her Majesty's Government, both Conservative and Liberal, the necessity of redeeming the promises made at the annexation, by granting to the Transvaal... the same measure of perfect self-government which is now enjoyed by the Cape Colony"; and later on he observes that some time back he "expressed the conviction that no less measure than self-government ... would content the Boers." It does not appear that the Liberal Government did anything in the way of following Sir Bartle Frere's advice in this matter, although he had prepared a constitution for the country, in which he was assisted by President Brand, Sir Henry de Villiers, and Messrs. Upington and Sprigg, and other Dutch and English gentlemen, "who knew the Boers thoroughly, and understood what was needed to give them a good and liberal form of government." It is stated that the materials so collected were placed at the disposal of the Government at the time that Sir Bartle was superseded (as regards all authority in the Transvaal, in June 1879), copies of the papers having been handed to the ill-fated Sir George Colley.' Binding Condition: Fine Overall Condition: Fine