Lot 11. BOLTS, William.

The merchant and speculator William Bolts (1739-1808) was often in conflict with the English East India Company due to his private trading operations in Bengal.

“”In 1772 he published the first volume of his “”Considerations on India Affairs””, in which he attacked the whole system of British government in Bengal, and complained of the arbitrary power exercised by the authorities, and of his own deportation by Verelst. The volume caused some excitement and was at once answered by Verelst himself in “”A View of the Rise, Progress, and Present State of the English Government in Bengal”” (1772), which Bolts attacked in a second volume of “”Considerations”” in 1775. This vigorous exchange of views developed into a bitter controversy and played an important part in fuelling the extensive public debate that was taking place on the subject of the East India Company’s operations in India””.

Description

First edition. 4to (21.5 x 28cm) xxxi, [1], 228, 165, [1]pp., large engraved folding map of Bengal, contemporary sprinkled calf gilt, red morocco label, carmine edges, light wear to corners, a fine example.

Provenance: William Constable (armorial bookplate); Robert Hayhurst (bookplate).

Bibliography

Higgs 5488; Goldsmiths’ 10874; Pickett p154.