A Narrative of the Late Transactions at Benares
Printed for J. Debrett, 1782.
First English edition. 8vo in fours. Nineteenth century tree calf, spine ruled gilt with red roan label lettered and decorated gilt. Edges speckled red. Lacking the advertisement leaf. A fine copy, remarkably fresh with the binding in beautiful condition. The last two leaves with page numbers shaved, but the remainder well-margined. Three stab holes to the inner margin. Bookplate of John Barneby to the front pastedown.
A rare and important account of the 1781 insurrection in Benares, written by the then Governor of Bengal. This event and others during Hastings's administration of the region led to a seven year impeachment trial following his return to Britain which was prosecuted chiefly by Edmund Burke. It became an important case in the debate about the transaction of rule in India by the East India Company.
The insurrection arose from the raja of Benares failing to pay a subsidy to the East India Company. Refusal to pay led Hastings to order the arrest of the raja, only for the arresting sepoys to be killed by the raja's personal guards. In response Hastings "organized military measures to crush the uprising and... imposed a settlement that fully incorporated Benares into British territory" (ODNB).
The first English edition, chiefly an attempt by Hastings to explain the matter to the East India Company, is rarer than the Calcutta edition of earlier in the year, with COPAC listing only six copies. Appended to the account are a number of affidavits and letters relating to his testimony.
ESTC T111557.
Stock ID: 38999
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