COBDEN RICHARD: (1804-1865) British Radical and Liberal Statesman, associated with John Bright in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League. A.L.S., Rich Cobden, three pages, 8vo, Westbourne Terrace, 13th March 1857, to Edward Fry. Cobden announces 'I would advise you to take no steps in the Caffre affair until you hear more authentic particulars' and continues 'There appear to have been great atrocities committed by the savages (though I hope not to the extent reported) & it would be clearly wrong, upon imperfect information, to enter the arena in their defence'. Cobden also remarks that the 'only cure for this evil is to make the Cape Colonists in every way responsible for the consequences of a war with the Caffres (giving them at the same time full powers of self government) & they would then be more likely to treat them with justice than they are now when they can fall back upon England for support, & even profit by the expenditure that takes place in the course of the war'. VG Edward Fry (1827-1918) English Judge.

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Colonial Africa from the Collection of a South African Gentleman