Pringle (Thomas) NARRATIVE OF A RESIDENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA. New edition: xxxvi + viii + 356 pages,

New edition: xxxvi + viii + 356 pages, map of The ceded territory of Albany as frontispiece, half brown calf with a brown title label gilt on the spine, marbled paper sides, edges and endpapers - the leather is worn along all the edges and the spine is faded, the marbled paper sides are rubbed and worn, apart from some occasional foxing the contents are good.

Mendelssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography vol2 page 87 -88 :The Pringle family decided to emigrate to South Africa, and they proceeded to the Cape in 1820, Thomas Pringle taking charge of the party as pro tempore leader. Their destination was a valley near " Baviaan's River," and their settlement was afterwards known as " Glen Lynden." There is an interesting account of the early experiences of the Albany settlers, with much information respecting the natives and Boer farmers. In the main, Pringle speaks well of the Dutch colonists, though he refers to the cruelty shown to the natives by the early pioneers in South Africa, which, however, he asserts was by no means confined to the Boer section of the population….

Pringle remained at Glen Lynden for two years and then removed to Cape Town, where he was appointed Librarian of the South African Library, and he also opened an academy, and started The South African Journal in conjunction with Mr. John Fairbaim. Owing, however, to the bitter opposition of Lord Charles Somerset, his prospects in South Africa were ruined, and he returned to England. Here, after an unsuccessful effort to secure compensation for his losses from the Government, he was appointed to the post of Secretary of the " Anti-Slavery Society," a position which he retained until the objects of the Society were attained, seven years later.

It was Pringle's intention to return to South Africa, but his health failed, and he died on December 5, 1834. " Few men were richer in friends than Mr. Pringle. Among them might be enumerated most of the literary men of the day," and the " eminent philanthropists with whom his official engagement brought him . . . into immediate connection and intercourse ... no man, perhaps, ever had fewer enemies, or descended to the grave with fewer animosities."