THE PROPERTY OF THOMAS DUNDAS BATHURST, ESQ.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONGO
Details
ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONGO
Long series of fifty autograph letters signed by Walter Dundas Bathurst to his parents, Henry Thomas and Margaret Ann Dundas Bathurst, and ten to his brothers, John ('Oldie'), Lullum and Cyril, Banana Point, Vivi Station, Manyanga, Kinshasa, Lutete, Kintamo,1883-86.four with the printed heading 'Expédition internationale du Haut-Congo', one in pencil, approximately 160 pages, 4to and 38 pages, 8vo; Bathurst's contract with the Association Internationale du Congo, Brussels, 1 December 1883, signed by [Maximilian] Strauch on behalf of the company, printed with manuscript insertions; 4 telegrams; 9 photographs of which 7 are taken in Africa; 42 envelopes of which 33 are annotated 'stamps not procurable' with various postmarks including Manyanga, Banana, Boma and Vivi; two letters from the secretary of the Post Office, London relating to postal charges, 1885; H.T. Dundas Bathurst's Belgian passport, 1845.
The collection also includes an autograph letter signed by E.J. GLAVE to Bathurst, Lukolela [Station], 31 May 1885, describing the death of 'my beloved late companion poor [Gamble] Keys' who had died of wounds inflicted by a buffalo, with pencil sketch indicating position of wounds, 5 1/2 pages, 4to, split and rubbed at folds, small tear.
Walter Dundas Bathurst (1859-1940), the son of a London civil servant, was educated at Lancing. In 1883 he signed a contract with the Association Internationale du Congo to serve for three years as an assistant attached to one of the stations of the association at a starting salary of £120. At the beginning of February 1884 he is established in a room formerly occupied by H.M. Stanley at Vivi beyond Boma on the Congo River. Bathurst describes the comparative civilization of Vivi where Portuguese wine and food imported from London were obtainable. He gives an account of his work at the station and his impressions of the local people ('We really treat the natives here very well and never knock them about except in the cases of misdemeanor', later describing how he personally set fire to the huts of uncooperative Africans). In March 1884 he announces the imminent arrival of Stanley and the 'magical' effect of a signal received at Vivi ('every one was rushing all over the place putting on the final touches to look clean...Even all the niggers exerted themselves when they were told that the Bula Matari had come'). He describes Stanley's visit and his decision to move Vivi from the hill to a better site, his inspection of a new road and the farewell dinner on 5 June before Stanley's return to Europe ('There were several speeches and the usual amount of "butter" was spoken. Every one went down to the beach to see him off'). Bathurst was posted in August 1884 to Kinshasa where his companion was Arthur Swinburne (formerly Stanley's secretary). He describes his travels, his efforts to settle local quarrels, African superstitions and his distrust of missionaries. In March 1885 he eagerly awaits the results of the West Africa Conference at Berlin, reporting the opinion of one of the American delegates ('He had been told so many lies by Stanley & Strauch...he saw things out here in a worse light that they really are'). He criticises Sir Francis De Winton [sent to the Congo at the request of King Leopold], contrasting his administrative abilities unfavourably with those of Stanley. At Kintamo in October 1885 he discusses Stanley's book [The Congo and the Founding of its Free State, London and New York, 1885], objecting to his portrayal of Kinshasa, 'the humbug' and a passage about Swinburne which Bathurst describes as 'exaggerated a great deal'. By 1886 Bathurst had firm opinions on the prospects for trade, the projected Congo Railway and the capabilities of the Belgians ('whatever they touch they make a mess of').
E.J. Glave was the author of Six Years of adventure in Congoland, introduction by H.M. Stanley, 1893.
Long series of fifty autograph letters signed by Walter Dundas Bathurst to his parents, Henry Thomas and Margaret Ann Dundas Bathurst, and ten to his brothers, John ('Oldie'), Lullum and Cyril, Banana Point, Vivi Station, Manyanga, Kinshasa, Lutete, Kintamo,1883-86.four with the printed heading 'Expédition internationale du Haut-Congo', one in pencil, approximately 160 pages, 4to and 38 pages, 8vo; Bathurst's contract with the Association Internationale du Congo, Brussels, 1 December 1883, signed by [Maximilian] Strauch on behalf of the company, printed with manuscript insertions; 4 telegrams; 9 photographs of which 7 are taken in Africa; 42 envelopes of which 33 are annotated 'stamps not procurable' with various postmarks including Manyanga, Banana, Boma and Vivi; two letters from the secretary of the Post Office, London relating to postal charges, 1885; H.T. Dundas Bathurst's Belgian passport, 1845.
The collection also includes an autograph letter signed by E.J. GLAVE to Bathurst, Lukolela [Station], 31 May 1885, describing the death of 'my beloved late companion poor [Gamble] Keys' who had died of wounds inflicted by a buffalo, with pencil sketch indicating position of wounds, 5 1/2 pages, 4to, split and rubbed at folds, small tear.
Walter Dundas Bathurst (1859-1940), the son of a London civil servant, was educated at Lancing. In 1883 he signed a contract with the Association Internationale du Congo to serve for three years as an assistant attached to one of the stations of the association at a starting salary of £120. At the beginning of February 1884 he is established in a room formerly occupied by H.M. Stanley at Vivi beyond Boma on the Congo River. Bathurst describes the comparative civilization of Vivi where Portuguese wine and food imported from London were obtainable. He gives an account of his work at the station and his impressions of the local people ('We really treat the natives here very well and never knock them about except in the cases of misdemeanor', later describing how he personally set fire to the huts of uncooperative Africans). In March 1884 he announces the imminent arrival of Stanley and the 'magical' effect of a signal received at Vivi ('every one was rushing all over the place putting on the final touches to look clean...Even all the niggers exerted themselves when they were told that the Bula Matari had come'). He describes Stanley's visit and his decision to move Vivi from the hill to a better site, his inspection of a new road and the farewell dinner on 5 June before Stanley's return to Europe ('There were several speeches and the usual amount of "butter" was spoken. Every one went down to the beach to see him off'). Bathurst was posted in August 1884 to Kinshasa where his companion was Arthur Swinburne (formerly Stanley's secretary). He describes his travels, his efforts to settle local quarrels, African superstitions and his distrust of missionaries. In March 1885 he eagerly awaits the results of the West Africa Conference at Berlin, reporting the opinion of one of the American delegates ('He had been told so many lies by Stanley & Strauch...he saw things out here in a worse light that they really are'). He criticises Sir Francis De Winton [sent to the Congo at the request of King Leopold], contrasting his administrative abilities unfavourably with those of Stanley. At Kintamo in October 1885 he discusses Stanley's book [The Congo and the Founding of its Free State, London and New York, 1885], objecting to his portrayal of Kinshasa, 'the humbug' and a passage about Swinburne which Bathurst describes as 'exaggerated a great deal'. By 1886 Bathurst had firm opinions on the prospects for trade, the projected Congo Railway and the capabilities of the Belgians ('whatever they touch they make a mess of').
E.J. Glave was the author of Six Years of adventure in Congoland, introduction by H.M. Stanley, 1893.