Buxton, Edward North, 1840-1924

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt discusses the provisions, particularly alcohol and other drinks, that he intends to bring for his upcoming safari. Noting that Frederick Courteney Selous and Edward North Buxton disagree on whether or not Roosevelt should hire a white man to manage his caravan, Roosevelt asks for Selous’s opinion. Roosevelt is considering hiring William C. Judd for the job. If he does hire Judd, Roosevelt wants it to be made clear that he will not be doing any hunting and will only be managing the caravan and serving as guide.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt discusses the various supplies, including food and drink, that he should bring on his safari. He tells Frederick Courteney Selous that he does not want the trip to be too luxurious, and does not want to bring very much alcohol. He also discusses the type of guns he should use and when he intends to leave for Africa. Selous’s friend Charles Sheldon recently visited Roosevelt and told about his hunting experiences in Alaska. Roosevelt has been invited to give the Romanes lecture in Oxford in 1910, and will be going to England after he leaves Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to F. R. Wingate

President Roosevelt informs F. R. Wingate of his plans to go on safari in the British territories in Africa. He lists the places he intends to visit and the animals he intends to shoot. Most of the specimens will be donated to the Smithsonian Institute, although Roosevelt and his son Kermit may keep a few trophies for themselves. Roosevelt assures Wingate that he intends to travel as a private citizen, and does not want the leaders of any of the territories making special arrangements for him. He adds that he is interested to see how Wingate and others have managed the British possessions in Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred E. Pease

President Roosevelt informs Alfred E. Pease that he expects to be in Mombasa around April 22 and 23, and would like to accept the invitation to hunt on his ranch during the rainy season. Roosevelt is out of shape and hopes to become more fit at Pease’s ranch. He asks for advice about how much money to send for horses and supplies, which saddle to get, and which guns will be the best.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick John Jackson

President Roosevelt apprises Frederick John Jackson, Lieutenant-Governor of British East Africa, of his upcoming safari. Roosevelt plans to spend at least six months there hunting, to collect specimens for the Smithsonian Institution. While he does not want to be a bother, Roosevelt asks Jackson if he has any recommendations about where he should get porters, which stores he should use for supplies, and the best locations for shooting. He does not want any undue consideration or ceremony while he is in Africa, as he is traveling as a private citizen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. H. Patterson

President Roosevelt thanks J. H. Patterson for the letter, saying that it told him exactly what he wanted to know. Roosevelt is very excited about his upcoming safari in Africa, and says he will follow Patterson’s advice to make his main trip British East Africa, and describes his plans there. Much of his hunting will be done for the Smithsonian Institution, with whom he is partnering for the trip, although he would like to take two or three trophies for his own use, if it is permitted. Roosevelt would be very glad if Patterson would be able to visit him at the White House before he leaves office, and describes a visit he had with some other people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt is grateful for the assistance that Frederick Courteney Selous and Edward North Buxton are providing in planning his African safari. Roosevelt hopes to leave the United States in early April, and will stay first at the ranch of Alfred E. Pease in Nairobi, British East Africa. Other tentative plans include hunting in Uganda and along Nile tributaries. Roosevelt thinks he will arrange to make the trip on behalf of the National Museum of Natural History and hopes he will be allowed certain privileges not granted to non-scientific sportsmen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

Theodore Roosevelt was pleased to hear that British Army Captain Frederick Courteney Selous is at the front. He compares Selous’s position as an older officer to General von Hindenberg, the most successful German general, who is over the age limit for generals. Roosevelt regrets to hear that Selous’s corp was treated poorly in East Africa. He encloses two articles he wrote supporting universal military service and rigorous application of military law. Roosevelt has been distressed at the misconduct of the United States and the activities of the “professional pacifists.” If Germany keeps sinking ships carrying Americans, the public may demand a declaration of war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-08-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Bryce

President Roosevelt asks Ambassador Bryce to thank Mr. Jones for the interesting volume on the Roman Empire, which Roosevelt genuinely enjoyed. He received the glass sent by Edward North Buxton, and thanks Bryce for the trouble he took to get it to him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred E. Pease

President Roosevelt is concerned to hear about Lavender Mary Pease’s accident and hopes she is well again soon. Roosevelt has been reading Lord Alfred E. Pease’s volumes on his hunting and exploring in Africa, and has just received a double barreled rifle from Edward North Buxton.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt updates his son Kermit Roosevelt on recent happenings as he concludes his presidency. Irritated by the negative reaction to his “moderate” physical exercise order, Roosevelt recounts his recent, one-day ninety mile ride out to Warrenton, Virginia, which he hoped “would put a stop to any grumbling.” He also discusses the state of his relationship with Congress, which has soured as he nears the end of his term. Roosevelt does not expect to pass any legislation this winter, and, as such, feels that Congress cannot do him much harm. To conclude, Roosevelt fondly reflects on his presidency, noting that he and his wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, have enjoyed the White House “more than any President and his wife,” but are content and willing to leave it for a life of happiness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-14

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt asks Ambassador Reid if the rifle from Edward North Buxton could be sent to him immediately.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt provides Frederick Courteney Selous with an excerpt of a letter from Governor Frederick John Jackson which outlines a potential itinerary for his African safari. Jackson suggests starting at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch and staying close to Nairobi before going further afield. Roosevelt plans to amend the itinerary to make a loop into hunting grounds where J. H. Patterson hunted. Roosevelt expresses concern that reporters might try to arrange a caravan to follow him on his trip, and wonders if Jackson can prevent them from doing so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt celebrates Harvard’s victory over Yale in the football match. He tells his son Kermit that J. H. Patterson, who killed the man-eating lions of Tsavo, spent Friday at the White House. Carl Ethan Akeley, who has hunted elephants and rhinoceros, came to lunch the next day. Both gave valuable advice, and Roosevelt tells Kermit that they must be extremely cautious in Africa until they are used to what is being done. The arrangements are all made. Roosevelt also says that Kaiser William II has “come an awful cropper,” and been a “perfect fool.” The German people are finally angry about it. Roosevelt has finished the lectures he will be giving at Oxford and the Sorbonne. He hears that Senator Joseph Benson Foraker is preparing an attack against him, but he is indifferent.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to N. J. Elwes

President Roosevelt cannot accept N. J. Elwes’s invitation out of hand because his stay in England will be so short, and does not want to make any plans at present that are not connected to his delivery of the Romanes Lecture at the University of Oxford. However, he would like to see Elwes, along with Frederick Courteney Selous, St. George Littledale, Edward North Buxton, and John Guille Millais.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for what he said to Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, and will accept the offer of the special shooting license for himself and his son Kermit. He is glad that Crewe-Milnes understands that he does not want a fuss in Nairobi when he first arrives. Roosevelt wants to go directly to Mombasa, and from there to Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. Roosevelt also states that Reid’s feeling about the complications in the Balkans was justified, and that what Reid heard about his answer to the women’s suffrage people is true. He is amused with the cartoon of himself and the article on Reid, and shares Reid’s feeling on caricatures.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred E. Pease

President Roosevelt tells Alfred E. Pease that he will go to his ranch first upon arriving in Africa and afterward go to William Northrup McMillan’s. Roosevelt discusses Abel Chapman’s book on hunting and is concerned that he will have trouble getting wildebeest and hartebeest due to his poor skill at long-range shooting. He would also like to discuss with the Belgians the best locations for him to shoot a white rhinoceros.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Northrup McMillan

President Roosevelt thanks Sir William Northrup McMillan for his letter, and the invitation to stay at his ranch while on safari in British East Africa. Roosevelt outlines his initial travel plans and arrangements, and believes he will stay with McMillan after he visits Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. He discusses the different types of big game he would like himself and his son Kermit to shoot, but clarifies that his intent is to collect specimens for the National Museum, rather than to butcher game.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt has heard from John Jay White that William C. Judd is an “admirable man in every way.” Roosevelt tells Frederick Courteney Selous that White believes that Roosevelt could trust his son Kermit to Judd on their African safari. He encloses copies of notes by Hubert Silberrad, including his thoughts on Judd and R. J. Cunninghame.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Francis Richard Charles Guy Greville

President Roosevelt would like to have Francis Richard Charles Guy Greville, the Earl of Warwick, come to the White House and tell him about the big game in Africa. Roosevelt was especially pleased to hear that Warwick, at fifty-five, felt healthy and happy in British East Africa. Roosevelt himself is only fifty but has “led a very sedentary and harassing life,” and has “rather a game leg,” and acknowledges that his trip will have to be an “elderly gentleman’s trip.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-22