REVIEW.

Evening Post, Volume XLIV, Issue 44, 20 August 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

REVIEW.

"The Life and Times of Sir George Grey, X.C.8.," by William Lee Rees and Lilt Rees : H. Brett, Auckland. To write the story of a man's life and times while he is still alive and breathing in our midst— taking an active part in public affairs, and in almost daily familiar association with the writer— must always be a difficult task. Mr. and Miss Eees have, no doubt, felt it so in dealing with the life and times of Sii George Grey. But if there are disadvantages in having a living Hubject for a biographical and historical work, there are, also, many advantages in such a work being undertaken by those who know and appreciate the man of whom they write — who are in his confidence, have access, as it were, to his inr-mory, and are privileged to hear from his own lips the explanation of whatever muy appear indistinct or doubtful in the story of his life, and the incidents in which he has been a chief actor. The historical c juity of a work so written may be open to Rime doubt The judgment of contemporaries, and still more of intimate friends, is, perhaps, apt to be partial and biassed — its verdict may not be that which posterity will pronounce, but the opinions of fio.-io who knew a man intimately, and were enabled to look at his actions in some measure through his own eyes, or, at least, with a clear conception of the motives actuating his life and conduct, must always be of interest, and will hereafter prove of inestimable value to the historian. The book before us, if not exactly history itself, will form the most valuable material for making history hereafter. The future historians of that| portion of Greater Britain which has grown in South Africa and these Southern Seas during the last half century, may find all the facts which Mr. and Miss Rees refer to in the public records of the period, but in the book under notice they will find light shed on the bare facts of history in a way which cannot fail to induce a clearer understanding of the facts, and a better appreciation of their influence on the development of Britain's Colonial Empire in the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. The reign of Her Majesty, the foundation and development of the colonies, and the life of Sir George Grey, have been contemporaneous, and are closely identified, ft was while waiting at Plymouth to emburk on H.M.S. Beagle, on an exploring expedition of which he, a young lieutenant in the 83rd Regiment, had been appointed leader —an enterprise voluntauly undertaken in default of active military duty — that Sir George Grey heard Her present Majesty proclaimed as Queen. Greater Britain had then scarcely an cxistoncc. The Colonies, as they lire now known, did not exist. Canada was the one great colony. India was governed by John Company. The Cape was an Anglo-Dutch Settlement, having been ceded to Great Britain some 22 years before, but little known except as a fruitful source of trouble. Australia was scarcely more than a collection of convict settlements, and New Zealand was savage territory. The story of Sir George Grey's explorations, the dangers and hardships he undorwent, the scientific services he rendered in South Australia, his transfer at a time of speciul difficulty to New Zealand, and the .sacrifices it ontailed ; his brilliant achievements in this colony during the term of his first administration ; hid dispatch to South Africa, to repoat tlioro his triumphs as a pacificator; tho magnificent work he did tliero, the official ingratitude he met with at Home, his re- appointment to South Africa, and his return once more to Now Zealand in the moment of omorgeney and trial— are all admirably told by Mr. and Miss Itees. It is a brilliant picture of magnificent sorvicos, services uotually unparalleled, and of unexampled value to the Umpire; but, ala«! shamefully requited with neglect and ingratitude. It is a story which can only bo read with mingled feoliogs of admiration for the man, upprociiir.ioii of his work, and shame that it has been so ill-rewarded as to constitute a national reproach. It may, of course, be Maid th-it Mr. and Miss Roes have only told one .side of tho story— that there is much to be snid on the other sido to detract from Sir Georgo Grey's merits, and to extenuate, it' not. to justify, the treatment meted out to him. We are not prepared to question this. Doubtless, Mr. and Miss Rees have tikoii tho best view of everything done by Sir Georgo Grey. They probably have not done full justice to his opponents or antagonists in the various phases of his life They depict an almost perfect character, free from all the errors and blemishes incidental to even tho beat of our poor humanity. Tho admiration thoy express of Sir George in all his relations of life is too thorough and sincere to bo eharaofcorised as flattery, but it must bo accepted with reservations. Tho perfect man is not as yot. Sir Georgo Groy, no doubt, has made mistakes, has erred' and has had his weaknesses as well us other men. Over his errors and weaknesses Mr. and Miss Roes have thrown a closo veil. They in some cases represent them as virtues; in others, ignore them nltogothor. Wo, who know Sir George Grey as a contemporary, kijow how far from perfoct ho is; but it is, perhaps, doubtful if his contemporaries know him ns fully as future genemtious will. Even in small things Sir George Grey looks far ovor tho heads of his contemporaries into the dim aud distant future. It is the fushiou of opportunists to sneer at his frequent references to the unborn millious, but it is those who are jet to be who will liavo to adjudge him his propor pluco iv the history of tho generations with which lie has been personally associated. He nlwuys thinks of the future as well as of the present. His every thought and action is influenced by consideration of its bearin 8 upon the interests of those who arc 1o" people the world when its present tenants shall have passed away. Future historians may not, probably will not, place him on tha pedestal of perfection an being beyond eritioism, as Mr. and Miss Reos have done, but we believe they will award him a higher status as a patriot statesman, v wise administrator, aijd a really great man, than most of his contemporaries sredit him with. His services to tho Empire will loom large in tho eyes of thoio who come to calmly and dispassionately reviow the history of the first half -century of tho British colonies undor tho pres-eut reign. Sir George Grey will be the central and commanding feature of the iuteroiting record. The book now before us will doubtless contribute greatly to a just appreciation of his life and actions. Without accepting all its statements of facts or the doductions made from them by the author*, <th« historian will be enabled to understand aud analyse the motives and purposes of the actions h* will be called on to review, consider the effect of, and pronounce judgment upon. This inner light will reflect brightly on Sir George Grey, and increase the meed of glory to bea^rded him. Ihe literary merit of the work ot Mr. and Miss Rees ii very great, apart from .the greutues* of its subject. As a mere biography, perhaps iv some cases for obvious reasons, it is deficient in detail ; in othere it assumes a knowledge of events which probably the majority of readers do not possess, anu *M want of which detracts from a proper understanding of the matter* which are being referred to. Of some matters an evidently one-sided, ex jmrte statement is given, and the absolute accuracy of what are stated as facts is, perhaps, open to-dis-cussion in some instances j but on the whole, ■we heartily congratulate Mr. and Miss Rees on their contribution to New Zealand literature and the history of the development of HcrMajesty's Colonial Empire. They lava done- their work well, and they have done it pleasantly. The fltylo is good, and the story well arranged. The work (which is dedicated to the Counter .of Aberdeen) is full of interest from the first page to the last, and acquaintance with its pagas canuot fail to prove of value to even- colonist, And conduce to a better understanding of suiv ixjuuding circumstances and of many great poliiieal problems which yet h»ve to be tolvod in these eolouie*. The illustrations iire veil executed, and tho book has been printed and published by Mr. H. Brett, at the Auckiaud Evening Star office, m a hisrhly ereditaUo manner.