A view of the rise, progress, and present state of the English government in Bengal:

A defence by Harry Verelst (1734-1785) of the British administration in Bengal during his governorship.

'Verelst became a loyal supporter of Clive and from 1766 onwards repeatedly acted as governor during Clive's absence or indisposition, and finally succeeded to the latter's position in January 1767... William Bolts, a junior merchant who claimed to have been done great wrongs at the hands of Clive and Verelst, went to great lengths in publicly denouncing the supposed venality of their governments. His favourite target in Bengal was the governor himself. Back in Britain, in 1772, Verelst published his View of the Rise, Progress and Present State of the English Government in Bengal, defending his own and Clive's administrations, after a public attack was made on them by Bolts in his Considerations on India Affairs earlier in the same year' (ODNB).



First edition, 4to, [12], 148; [4], 253, [1] pp., contemporary tree calf gilt, red morocco lettering piece, lightly rubbed, short splits to joints but firm, head of spine worn, a very good copy.

Pickett, 900.