Captain Peel (4 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Poor. viii, 135, [1] pages + frontispiece map. At the rear a 32 pages publisher's list is bound in. In the original blue cloth, but this is very worn, torn and browned. Binding separating internally and sections of pages are coming loose. An ink number to the front pastedown. The map is very browned and spotted. Pages are lightly browned throughout. Overall complete but in poor condition.

Folio (13 6/8 x 8 4/8 inches). 12 pages. Folding lithographed map of the Western Australian coastline as far as Geographe Bay (showing a proposed grant to Stirling of 90,000 acres), Rottnest Island, as far inland as "General Darlings's Range", all with fine original hand-colour in full by J. Basire after Stirling, published by Hansard (light oxidisation, short marginal separations at folds in top edge). FINE original blue printed paper wrappers (small chip to upper cover). THE FIRST PUBLISHED CHART OF THE PROPOSED COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT AT SWAN RIVER IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA A fine and attractive copy of the map and accompanying correspondence published as blue paper number 238. The beautiful map is based directly on the 1827 surveys by Captain James Stirling who was directly responsible for persuading the British government to attempt a strategic settlement in Western Australia to forestall an announced French settlement. "In October 1828 he was appointed by Sir George Murray, the colonial secretary and an old family friend, to command a party of intending colonists. The expedition sailed in spring 1829 and reached its destination in June. The sites of two towns, Fremantle and Perth, were marked out, and within four months of its foundation the colony had a population of 1300. Stirling returned to England in 1832 for two years, and was knighted in 1833. His commitment and ingenuity preserved the fledgling colony during a decade of difficulties, many of which reflected the over-optimistic report of 1827. He was also given 100,000 acres of land, and remained committed to the colony for the rest of his life. Stirling remained governor of Western Australia until 1839, when the apparent imminence of a war with France, and disappointment at the lack of progress in the colony, led him to resign in order to return to active service" (J. K. Laughton, rev. Andrew Lambert for DNB online). With13 articles of correspondence, mostly to and from Thomas Peel concerning his proposals to help settle the new colony: "In 1828 Peel went to London and was planning to emigrate to New South Wales, when reports of the new free colony to be founded at Swan River changed his mind. He joined a syndicate of financiers in proposing to the government a plan whereby they would transfer ten thousand settlers with requisite stock and stores to the new colony within four years, and place them each on 200 acres of land, in return for which the syndicate wished to receive four million acres of land. The Colonial Office, however, was under pressure from Captain (Sir) James Stirling, who had explored the Swan River in 1827, either to grant him the right to develop the place under a proprietary charter, or to proclaim it a new crown colony of which he would be the governor. When Sir George Murray took charge at the Colonial Office in May 1828 he did not wish to grant a charter, or to incur the expense of forming a colony. The interest of Thomas Peel's association of investors seems to have been a deciding factor in persuading the government that the place could be a crown colony and at the same time be largely developed by outside capital. The government, however, felt it could not agree to the amount of territory the investors wished to receive, and could sanction only a grant of one million acres. At this, all the financiers interested withdrew, except Thomas Peel. While he hesitated, Solomon Levey proposed a ten-year partnership with him in the venture, to which he agreed. A deed of co-partnership was drawn up between them, a long and complicated document by which Levey was to finance the scheme and Peel, not being as wealthy as was thought, was to be the salaried manager of it in the colony, although he was to apply for the title deeds to the land in his own name, it being understood that these lands, with the exception of 25,000 acres, were in joint ownership" (Australian Dictionary of Biography online). Ferguson 1265. Catalogued by Kate Hunter.

First edition. Map. Small 8vo. Original blue cloth, a little rubbed, with large ink stain on pviii. viii, 135, 32ads.pp. London, The third son of the great statesman Sir Robert Peel, the author resolved to explore the interior of Africa with a view to improving the conditions of the native people. With this in mind he studied Arabic under Joseph Churi, and in 1850 the two set out on a tour up the Nile to Khartoum and then El Obeid where they were both struck down by fever. Peel returned in January of 1851 and published his journal in the following year.

"The capabilities of this most important possession to the British interest are too numerous for the undersigned here to set forth" (Peel) Large folding panoramic lithographed chart (280 by 630mm to the neatline) with contemporary hand-colour in full, bound into parliamentary "Hansard" paper, number 238, 'Swan River Settlement. Copies of the Correspondence of the Colonial Department with Certain Gentlemen proposing to form a Settlement in the Neighbourhood of Swan River, in Western Australia'; folio, original blue printed paper wrappers, stabbed and sewn as issued. One of the first published charts of the first detailed survey of what would be the Swan River Colony, now Perth in Western Australia, extending as far as Cape Naturaliste in the south, and to about 200 miles north of Rottnest Island. Only preceded by the very rare chart published by Joseph Cross in January of 1829, and a 'Sketch of the New Settlement of Swan River', published in the 'Quarterly Review' of April 1829, each based on the same survey. The beautiful map is annotated with useful information regarding topography and vegetation, and colour-coded: green areas highlight land intended for settlers and "public purposes"; yellow areas have been granted to Peel, "on condition of his landing 400 Persons before the 1st of November, 1829"; and red, about 90,000 acres at Geographe Bay, to Stirling himself. The map extends as far inland as "General Darlings's Range". Fearful of French colonization in the Pacific, in April of 1826,James Stirling(1791-1865) was given command of the newHMS 'Success' with instructions to take a supply of currency to Sydney and then to move the misplaced and unsuccessful garrison at Melville Island. Once at Sydney, Stirling was soon persuaded by Governor, Sir Ralph Darling, to sail west instead and examine the coast with the idea in mind of establishing a defensive garrison or other settlement that might open trade with the East Indies.Stirling"sailed in 1827 and during a fortnight's visit was much impressed with the land in the vicinity of the Swan River. So also, was the New South Wales government botanist,Charles Frazer, whose report added weight toStirling's political and commercial arguments in favour of its immediate acquisition andStirling's appointment to establish a new colony there? under the direct control of the British government, and superintended initially byStirling: a bill would soon be brought before parliament to provide for its government; private capitalists and syndicates would be allotted land in the proposed settlement according to the amount of capital and the money they spent on fares and equipment; priority of choice would be given only to those who arrived before the end of 1830, and no syndicate or company would be the exclusive patron and proprietor of the settlement. On 2 May 1829 Captain C. H. Fremantle of the'Challenger'took possession, at the mouth of the Swan River, of the whole of Australia which was not then included within the boundaries of New South Wales.Stirling, who arrived later with his family and civil officials in the store-shipParmelia, proclaimed the foundation of the colony on 18 June" (Crowley). The accompanying report consists of twelve articles of correspondence, mostly to and from Thomas Peel (1793-1865), concerning his proposals to help settle the new colony: "In 1828 Peel went to London and was planning to emigrate to New South Wales, when reports of the new free colony to be founded at Swan River changed his mind. He joined a syndicate of financiers in proposing to the government a plan whereby they would transfer ten thousand settlers with requisite stock and stores to the new colony within four years, and place them each on 200 acres of land, in return for which the syndicate wished to receive four million acres of land. The Colonial Office, however, was under pressure from Captain (Sir) James Stirling, who had explored the Swan River in 1827, either to grant him the right to develop the place under a proprietary charter, or to proclaim it a new crown colony of which he would be the governor. When Sir George Murray took charge at the Colonial Office in May 1828 he did not wish to grant a charter, or to incur the expense of forming a colony. The interest of Thomas Peel's association of investors seems to have been a deciding factor in persuading the government that the place could be a crown colony and at the same time be largely developed by outside capital. The government, however, felt it could not agree to the amount of territory the investors wished to receive, and could sanction only a grant of one million acres. At this, all the financiers interested withdrew, except Thomas Peel. While he hesitated, Solomon Levey proposed a ten-year partnership with him in the venture, to which he agreed. A deed of co-partnership was drawn up between them, a long and complicated document by which Levey was to finance the scheme and Peel, not being as wealthy as was thought, was to be the salaried manager of it in the colony, although he was to apply for the title deeds to the land in his own name, it being understood that these lands, with the exception of 25,000 acres, were in joint ownership" (Hasluck). Crowley, and Hasluck 'Australian Dictionary of Biography', online; Ferguson 1265.