Beatson, Alexander Tracts relating to the island of St. Helena London 1816
Beatson, Major-General Alexander. Tracts relating to the island of St. Helena; written during a residence of five years. . . . Illustrated with views engraved by Mr. William Daniell, from the drawings of Samuel Davis, Esq. London: printed by W. Bulmer and Co.; and sold by G. and W. Nicol; and J. Booth, 1816. xix(1), lxxxvii(1), 360 pp. + six aquatint plates, and one engraved map. 4to, original dark grey boards, printed paper label (very slight wear to spine, label a bit rubbed). First edition. One of the best early books on St. Helena, a colonial backwater formerly under the control of the East India Company, but suddenly of great interest to the English public after Napoleon was exiled there in October, 1815; Napoleon stayed until his death in 1821. Beatson had served for many years with the East India Company, and saw action in the campaign against Tippoo Sultaun. In 1808 he was appointed governor of St. Helena, and he remained for a period of five years. After his retirement, he devoted his attention to running a farm near Tunbridge Wells, where he conducted numerous agricultural experiments. Beatson found St. Helena in a very unsatisfactory condition; the scanty population had just been very nearly wiped out by an epidemic of measles, and the survivors, some of them emigrants from England, and others Chinese coolies, were living in a wretched state. Beatson set about introducing a better system of cultivation, and many other beneficial improvements. Much of this volume is devoted to agricultural subjects, and various aspects of botany; there is also a long section on the mutiny of 1811, which was a reaction against the suppression by home authorities of the trade in spirits; the mutiny was put down by Beatson with firmness. Portions of this text were in fact printed as "tracts" on the first St. Helena press, or in the pages of the St. Helena Monthly Register, but these imprints are all of the greatest rarity. This volume is illustrated with six attractive uncolored aquatints by Samuel Davis, an amateur artist of some talent who was in the employ of the East India Company, and a friend of the author. Davis was also friendly with the Daniell brothers, whence the appearance of William Daniell as engraver. There is also an engraved map and elevation of the island. A fine fresh copy in original condition, with the tissue guards present for the plates; signature and circular book label of Lord Eldon. Abbey, Travel, 312.
£2000
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