REITZ FRANCIS WILLIAM: (1844-1934) Lot n° 1661

REITZ FRANCIS WILLIAM: (1844-1934) South African politician and statesman who served as State President of the Orange Free State 1889-95 and as State Secretary of the South African Republic 1898-1902 at the time of the Second Boer War. A good A.L.S., F. W. Reitz, two pages, 4to, Pretoria, 16th January 1899, to Charles de Mosenthal ( ´My dear Friend´). Reitz thanks his correspondent for their letter and sends a payment for some pyrethrin seed which he had found very good, explaining that the plant seems to thrive in his country, although adding ´What I want to ascertain is whether the leaves of the plant in their green state are also pernicious to insects, for if so I mean to plant it all round my garden as a protection to my vegetables from insects of which we have many in this country that attack plants and trees. I almost fear however that it is only in its dried conditions that the plant is destructive to insects´. The statesman continues his letter by discussing the upcoming Paris Exhibition, ´the necessary committee and officials both in Paris and here were appointed about a year ago, and before I became State Secretary. A large sum of money has also been placed on two estimates for the purpose (20 or 30 thousand pounds). I think it is a pity that the Orange Free State.....did not see fit to place a sum on the estimates for the same purpose, for though from a commercial point of view there may be no great advantage in advertising a State at such Exhibitions, yet from a political point of view, States like the two Republics should take advantage of every chance of making known to the European world that they exist, & mean to continue existing´. Reitz concludes his letter by making a reference to his family, in particular one of his (thirteen) sons who is studyling law in Amsterdam and who ´has also joined Grays Inn London whether (sic) he goes every quarter to eat his dinners & (once a year) to pass examinations´. Some light age wear and with a couple of neat tears to one edge, only very slightly affecting a few words of text, otherwise about VG