A Brief Account, together with Observations, made during a Visit in the West Indies, and a Tour through the United States of America in parts of the Years 1832-3; together with a Statistical Account of Upper Canada

8vo, 21.2cm, The First edition. 272,[16]p., plus errata slip, some slight foxing, bound in restoration style quarter green calf, gilt decorated raised bands, double crushed red morocco labels, centre gilt decoration in the panels, marbled boards, former owner's signature, J.S. Smith, on the free fly, two more contemporary signatures on the next free fly, and annotations on pp11/12 by one of these signors, a very good copy attractively bound, rare. (Cgc). The last recorded auction record was in 1988. T.P.L. 1997. Lande 763. Sabin 72874. not in Kress. Howes R424. Fleming, Upper Canada Imprints 992. Ragatz, p233. Handler, pp. 91-92. Beineke/Antilles 996. The first six chapters are devoted to an account of the voyage to the Antilles and of the author's three months experience living in the Barbados, and his visit to St. Kitts. The remainder of the work relates to Upper Canada, where Rolph finally settled. The author actively encourages the idea of emigration to Upper Canada: "A great part of Upper Canada is delightfully situated for an agricultural country, free from mountains it is nevertheless abundantly watered, and almost surrounded and intersected by navigable rivers and lakes, on which its produce is easily transported to various and extensive markets." In 1832 Thomas Rolph left England for a brief tour of the West Indies and the United States on his way to Upper Canada. He arrived in U.C. in 1833 and settled in Ancaster where he began to practise as a surgeon. Interestingly, in May 1840, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Upper Canada refunded Rolph s membership fee on the grounds that he had "exhibited no qualifications for being elected a member." Rolph's qualifications for surgery may be in doubt but his role as a proponent of assisted emigration from Britain to the Canadas is not. His book indicates that he travelled widely in Upper Canada for research purposes, describing in detail many features of the province s towns, villages, and townships. Upper Canada is depicted as a desirable location for hard-working farm labourers or emigrants with capital. Appendix includes letters, statistics, descriptions, and commentary on Indians.…