Of historical importance, this volume of Copies of Despatches was Published for the House of Commons in 1837, and holds copies correspondence (mainly) between Sir Benjamin D'Urban Governer of the Cape of Good Hope, and various members of the British Government, Military Officers, frontier settlers, Clergy etc. from 1835 to 1837.
The scope is vast and covers subjects from military issues, the ongoing Xhosa War, land disputes, murders, inquiries into military killings and much more.
Names of settlers, both English and Dutch are listed by the hundreds.
A large volume at 33.5 x 22cm, in good condition with original boards and firm binding. Some professional repair has been done and the endpapers replaced. Some minor scuffing and wear.
Major events in South Africa at this time: 1835 - The Boers begin to leave the cape colony and start
'The Great Trek' into the interior.
- Port Natal is renamed 'Durban' in honour of Sir
Benjamin D'Urban.
1836 - The 6th Frontier (Xhosa, Caffre) War ends.
- 10000 Boers leave the cape for The Great Trek.
- Andries Potgieter leads the Voortrekkers to victory
against the Ndebele at the Battle of Vegkop.
1837 - Voortrekker Loius Trichardt arrives at Lorenzo
Marques in Mozambique.
- Voortrekkers under Andies Potgieter, Piet Uys and
Gerrit Maritz defeat the Ndebele at Mosega.
- Piet Retief publishes his manifesto, and arrives in
Natal with his group of Vooertrekkers, setting a
dark and tragic chain of events in motion.
A very rare and important addition to any collection of South African and British colonial history.