A Brief Account, Together with Observations, Made during a visit in the West Indies, and a tour through the United States of America, in part of the years 1832-3 together with a Statistical Account of Upper Canada

Dundas, U.C.: G. Heyworth Hackstaff, Printer, 1836. Hardcover. Good. 272, [16] p. 22 cm. Newer spine and spine label with stained paper-covered boards. Wrapped in mylar (removed for photos). Corners worn, hole in lower front hinge. Pen signature on front free endpaper and ink signature at top of first page of preface. Ink blot affects page tops up to p. 7. Some discolouration to page edges throughout. Label on front free endpaper identifies signature on preface as that of Jacob H. Busk, Treasurer of the New England Company, with brief historical explanation of the company.

In 1832 Thomas Rolph left England for a brief tour of the West Indies and the United States on his way to Upper Canada. He arrived in U.C. in 1833 and settled in Ancaster where he began to practise as a surgeon. Interestingly, in May 1840, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Upper Canada refunded Rolph’s membership fee on the grounds that he had “exhibited no qualifications for being elected a member.” Rolph's qualifications for surgery may be in doubt but his role as a proponent of assisted emigration from Britain to the Canadas is not. His book indicates that he travelled widely in Upper Canada for research purposes, describing in detail many features of the province’s towns, villages, and townships. Upper Canada is depicted as a desirable location for hard-working farm labourers or emigrants with capital. Appendix includes letters, statistics, descriptions, and commentary on Indians.