A Narrative of the Late Transactions at Benares

[INDIA] HASTINGS, Warren

[INDIA] HASTINGS, Warren 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

Sold

We have sold this item, but similar items
may become available in the future

Register interest Add to favourites

Browse related books

The History and Antiquities of Kiddington

WARTON, Rev. Thomas

£150.00

Life and Labour on an Aberdeenshire Estate 1735 - 1750

HAMILTON, Henry

£45.00

Cast the First Stone

MURTAGH, John M. / HARRIS, Sara

£20.00

Letters Between the Rev. James Granger, M.a. Rector of Shiplake, and Many of the Most Eminent Literary Men of His Time

[GRANGER, James] MALCOLM, J.P. (Editor)

£195.00

A Six Weeks Tour Through the Counties of England and Wales

YOUNG, Arthur

£450.00

The History of Catiline's Conspiracy

[ROSE, William (translator)] / SALLUST, C.C.

£750.00

The Story of the Malakand Field Force

CHURCHILL, Winston

£4,500.00

Winston S. Churchill

GILBERT, Martin / [CHURCHILL, Winston] CHURCHILL, Randolph S.

£2,500.00

The People's Rights

CHURCHILL, Winston

£6,000.00

Thoughts and Adventures

CHURCHILL, Winston

£3,950.00

Abbotsford

CROCKETT, W.S

£45.00

Libri De Re Rustica

COLUMELLA, Lucius Junius Moderatus / VARRO, Marcus Terentius / CATO, Marcus Porcius

£1,250.00

A Century of Sea Trading 1824 - 1924

CORNFORD, L. Cope

£55.00

Lord Randolph Churchill

CHURCHILL, Winston

£650.00

A Compendious Geographical Dictionary

[FORE-EDGE PAINTING]

£650.00

Pensées De l'empereur Marc-Aurele-Antonin

AURELIUS, Marcus / [FORE-EDGE PAINTING]

£500.00

The Holy Bible

[FORE-EDGE PAINTING] / FIELD, John

£3,500.00

The Byzantine Achievement

BYRON, Robert

£1,250.00

Der Fuehrer

HEIDEN, Konrad

£45.00

With Stoddart's Team in Australia

RANJITSINHJI, Prince

£10.00