AN ACCOUNT OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE; Containing An Historical View of its Original Settlement by the Dutch, its Capture by the British in 1795, and the Different Policy Pursued There by the Dutch and British Governments. Also a Sketch of its Geography, Productions, the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants, &c. &c. With A View of the Political and Commercial Advantages Which Might be Derived from its Possession by Great Britain.
(London: Printed for C. and R. Baldwin, 1804).
IMPORTANT FIRST EDITION BY ONE OF THE EARLIEST TO ENTER THE CAPE UNDER THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF 1795. Captain Robert Percival (1765-1826) was the first to enter Cape Town in 1795 and he remained there till 1797. Under General Craig, he led the attack on the fortifications of Muizenberg and was the first officer to reach Cape Town. His narrative affords considerable information respecting the state of the colony at the close of the eighteenth century, it was warmly received at the time. His criticisms of the Dutch settlers, their laziness, inhospitality, and low civilisation, are severe. There is some account of the capture of the Cape and the Dutch fleet in 1795 and the country. Attention is drawn to the value of the Cape as a British possession, and the weakness of the Dutch government which took over the colony from the British in 1803. Item #21992
First edition, first issue, with the uncorrected state of the headline on page 247. 4to, handsomely bound in antique three-quarter calf over marbled boards to style, the spine with raised bands ruled in gilt, lettered in two compartments in gilt. xii, 339, ads. A very handsome and well preserved copy copy, the binding in very good order, the text clean but somewhat mellowed or lightly darkened by age as is typical with the paper used in the printing of the work.