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Life of Sir George Grey: Governor, High commissioner, and Premier. An Historical Biography.

[Introduction]

Few colonial governors have excited such enthusiastic admiration and ardent devotion as Sir George Grey; few have, in an equal degree, aroused passionate hatred, stern disapproval, and even angry contempt. Now that these partial feelings have passed away, a historical interest must still be inspired by the spectacle of his governing force, the variety of the stages on which he played so considerable a part, the very magnitude of his errors, and the dramatic vicissitudes of his chequered career. To his contemporaries he was a myth; to his oldest acquaintances his character was a mystery. Like many a greater and many a lesser man, he was pronounced "inscrutable." Yet few have sought, to few have been given, more opportunities of self-disclosure. For over half-a-century he lived in the public eye. His acts were known to all the world. He was easy of approach and drove none away. His conversation was largely autobiographical. His addresses turned on his ego as on a pivot, and even his despatches have a personal flavour rare in State documents. As if apprehensive of posthumous misconstruction, he took care that the story of his life should be told from his own point of view. Sixteen years ago he authorised the publication of a skilfully composed biography, so evidently inspired by the subject of it that it may be accepted as his apologia pro vitê suê. Due allowance being made for the distortions produced by the illusions of old age, the book must be the foundation of all study of his character. If, with this central blaze page 2and so many collateral lights, that character remains an enigma, the fault is surely our own. At all events, the problem is a challenge. We believe that it can be solved, and in the process of solution we shall be brought close to a remarkable personality, full at once of fascination, instruction, and warning.