WILSON, F. A. & RICHARDS, Alfred B.: Britain Redeemed and Canada Preserved. , London: Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans; 1850.

1st. Edn. pp. xxxi, 556. 4 engraved plates showing:- Equipment of working emigrants - pick, shovel and knapsack. Plans and elevations of the Barracks and Convict Prison. Perspective view of the stockaded Retreat for the women of each Station. Plan and elevation of a Block Building of twelve houses. There is a folding diagram, extending to 63cm. showing the Manner of Working the Railway between each of the 400 mile Distances. This shows the various staging posts and gives allocations of labour to each section. In each of the Log Forts this provides for 500 convicts, 166 guards and 54 women. There is a folding line engraved map of North America printed size 52 x 30cms. This shows the completed railway from Halifax to Quebec and the proposed line westwards to Fort Langley. In the original brown cloth with blind stamped boards. Embossed gilt crest to front board. Gilt titled spine. The backstrip is loose and the boards show some edgeware. Signatures "S." and "T" are slightly loose. The map has a 4cm tear to the pastedown. The folding plan is foxed. The text is clean. In all a good plus copy of this scarce work. A proposal to encourage emigration from England (sic) to populate Canada and to relieve England of a mass of paupers dependent on State and private support. In addition convict labour was to be used to construct a trans-continental railway. One speculates as to overcrowding in the Antipodean Penal Settlements. (Book ref. 3329)  £135.00

The payment methods accepted by the seller, Richard Roberts Bookseller. , are shown in the right-hand column.

Click here to order

Back to search