African sketches

Abstract

There are two or three points on which it may be proper to say a few words, by way of preface to the present Volume. It presents, in the first place, an unusual combination of Verse and Prose-not blended, but bound together, like the Siamese Twins, by a ligature which perhaps may appear equally unnecessary and unnatural. Yet in the present case, as in that of the singular human anomaly referred to, the junction, though originating in accident, will be found, on closer examination, to be of a nature so intimate, that it could scarcely be dissevered without endangering the vitality of the separate parts. To the Verse greater prominence has been given than was perhaps altogether desirable, by its being placed first in order, an arrangement arising from accident rather than design, but which the Reader may easily rectify by perusing the prose Narrative first. By this means he will have the advantage· of obtaining such a familiar knowledge of the country, its scenery, inhabitants, and political condition, as will render the local allusions in the Poems perfectly intelligible without continual reference to the explanatory Notes. With respect to the Narrative, it may possibly be inquired, why, if considered worth the publishing at all, it was not published immediately on the Author's return from the Cape of Good Hope. To this he can only reply, that such was then, in fact, his intention; but having become unexpectedly engaged in the prosecution of a great moral and political question, as Secretary to the Society for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Dominions, he was led to postpone, though he never entirely abandoned, his purpose of relating what he had seen, felt, and suffered, during a residence of six years in South Africa. The grand and engrossing object to which for the last seven years his hand and heart have been, however feebly and unworthily, devoted, (in conjunction with persons of whose infinitely more eminent services it is unnecessary for him to speak,) having at length, through the blessing of Divine Providence, been attained, the author now offers this little Volume as the first fruits of his relaxation. It will, he humbly trusts, be found in no respect incongruous with his recent labours, and, so far as it relates to the condition and improvement of the long-oppressed Natives of Southern Africa, even strictly subsidiary to the same Cause. The interesting results dependent upon the wise and equitable settlement of our relations with the Native Tribes, have led him to devote an extent of space to the discussion of that topic which has enlarged the size of the book considerably beyond his calculations, and consequently added to its cost: but the peculiar importance, at the present juncture, of the subject referred to, will, he hopes, furnish an adequate apology. It is only requisite further to notice that a considerable portion of the Poems, and a few also of the Prose Sketches comprised in the present work, have appeared in print before; partly in a small volume entitled ' Ephemerides,' which the Author published in 1828, and partly in various Periodical Works to which he has been an occasional contributor.