"I SHOULD BE CHARMED ... TO SEE YOUR NEW APPLIANCES AND INVENTIONS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HUMAN RACE AND THE PROPAGATION OF CHRISTIAN TRACKING ..." BAKER (Sir Samuel White, 1821-1893, Explorer & Sportsman)

Fine Long Autograph Letter Signed to Captain Cleveland saying that "Lady Baker is very much obliged for the kind invitation from Mrs Cleveland and yourself, but as we leave 18th inst for London en route to Bombay she has so much to arrange that she cannot possibly manage to absent herself only for a day of pleasure. She is in the midst of all sorts of household duties that are necessary before we leave. Only one of my daughters is at home and she is busy also together with my wife. But, if you will be kind enough to let me run over en garçon any day you may find convenient next week, only let me know the date and I should be charmed to pay you a visit, and to see your new appliances and inventions for the destruction of the human race and the propagation of Christian tracking through torpedoes, quick-firing guns, and Melenite. Nothing would give me greater pleasure ...", 4 sides 8vo., Sandford Orleigh, Newton Abbot, 5th October

Sir Samuel White Baker (1821-1893) was an English explorer, officer, naturalist, big game hunter, engineer, writer and abolitionist. He also held the titles of Pasha and Major-General in the Ottoman Empire and Egypt. He served as the Governor-General of the Equatorial Nile Basin (today's South Sudan and Northern Uganda) between April 1869 and August 1873, which he established as the Province of Equatoria. He is mostly remembered as the discoverer of Lake Albert, as an explorer of the Nile and interior of central Africa, and for his exploits as a big game hunter in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. Baker wrote a considerable number of books and published articles. He was a friend of King Edward VII, who as Prince of Wales, visited Baker with Queen Alexandra in Egypt. Other friendships were with explorers Henry Morton Stanley, Roderick Murchison, John H. Speke and James A. Grant, with the ruler of Egypt Pasha Ismail The Magnificent, Major-General Charles George Gordon and Maharaja Duleep Singh.

Item Date:  1888

Stock No:  40634      £1750

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