J. ROSS BROWNE: CONFIDENTIAL AGENT IN OLD CALIFORNIA

Hardback. J. Ross Browne combined a literary career with government service. He was well known as a travel writer, humorist, essayist and government servant. As a confidential agent for the US Treasury, in 1853 he was the first man assigned to ferreting out the misdeeds of federal officeholders in the nation's outposts - Minnesota, Texas, California, Oregon and Washington. He investigated the manner in which custom-houses, post offices and other establishments were being run and made recommendations for action. Extracts from Browne's witty and often satirical government reports enliven the biography. Illus., Epilogue, Postscript and Index. 218pp. lge. 8vo. h/back. With tiny label to fpd o/w Nr. F. in sl. shelf-worn Vg. pcdw.